Democracy : from theory to dictatorial dyspraxia to anarchist eupraxia

Abstract

In theory: Democracy is the 鈥渞ule of the people by the people and for the people鈥� (Lincoln, 1863). In practice: 鈥淒emocracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few鈥� (Shaw, 1903). This paper addresses the gap between democratic theory and practice by attempting to analyse 鈥渄emocracy鈥檚 crisis of meaning鈥� (Trend, 1996:7). It examines the processes through which the theoretical ideal of rule by the people is despoiled to dictatorial practices, typified by regimes of democratic dictatorship arising from the authoritarian rule of representative forms of democracy resulting in the tyranny of the powerful, to regimes of dictatorial democracy arising from the totalitarian rule of global neo-liberal capitalism. These contradictions indeed suggest 鈥渕ore than a simple gap between theory and practice鈥� (Trend, 1996:9) and demand a new praxis for democracy. Despite the hegemonic dyspraxia of these kleptocratic and corporatocratic regimes on both a local and global level, the eupraxia of anarchism through co-operative forms of self-governance offers a glimpse of hope for democratising democracy by closing the gap between theory and practice.