Just Finished Reading: Our Own Worst Enemy – The Assault From Within on Modern Democracy by Tom Nichols (FP: 2021) [219pp] 

I was definitely not alone in being surprised by the recent US Presidential election result. One thing it did show me, and no doubt many others, is that I clearly do not understand the American psyche. I’ve been working on my USA:WTF project over the last few years and I’m planning to ramp it up a bit further going forward but I’ll also be reading a sprinkling of books prompted by the US election and this is the first of them. 

To begin with I wasn’t that impressed with the authors analysis of why Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies were elected the first time (what the author would say about a repeat election after a 4 year break I can imagine). He seemed to be saying that we in the West, and not just in the USA, have had it too good for too long and, no doubt like those cheering the outbreak of war in 1914, were eagerly looking forward causing a bit of fun chaos and breaking stuff. This, I thought, was more than a little crass. Firstly, it posited that everyone has ‘never had it so good’ (which to be honest in an absolute historical sense is true, but even so) as if no one out there is suffering – even comparatively – and second that this (relative) comfort was responsible for us “hungering for the Apocalypse”. As I said, crass. 

Thankfully, his arguments improved a great deal after that! Part of the problem, he maintained, is resentment prompted by both disparities in wealth (sometimes considerable if not actually obscene) and the fact that social media in particular can show us – if we feel the need/desire to check – just how much other people have that many are apparently denied. It's not just the yachts and private planes but the ability to peek directly into your neighbours living rooms – via real-estate websites (apparently an addictive ‘hobby’ to many) - to count TVs, bathrooms & parking spaces to say nothing of local house prices! Such things have, again according to the author, severely strained the idea of citizenship and replaced it with envy. What is worse, indeed corrosive, is the idea that Democracy should solve this and has singularly failed to do so. The ‘problem’ isn’t the system that has produced such wide disparities in wealth and comfort but the political failure to respond to it (of course disregarding the fact that we, generally, get the government we ‘deserve’ because we, as voters, put them there. The ‘fault’ of politics is OUR fault). The answer to this ‘conundrum’? Get rid of Democracy and put someone in power to ‘deal’ with the issue and sort it out. Of course, this is where a deep ignorance of history comes in handy. 

Naturally, social media comes in for a LOT of criticism throughout this slim volume. Not only does it allow people to snuggle into their own silo it also allows (indeed encourages) people to marinate in a sea disinformation and misinformation that feeds peoples existing prejudices. Critical thinking is ignored or actively discouraged and conspiracy ‘theories’ are given free rein to damage everything and everyone they touch. In that kind of environment trust, in each other or in government institutions (or indeed in the very idea of government) begins to evaporate and Democracy itself becomes progressively questioned and questionable. Such trends tend not to end well. 

After a rather shaky start I eventually found at least some of the authors arguments somewhere between interesting and persuasive. Although I certainly don’t think he ‘nailed it’ I do think he was on to something and I’ll be following some of his ideas going forward. I do agree that some of the greatest dangers to Democratic government come from inside rather than outside and that these dangers need addressing. Democracy, across the world and not just in the US, is far from perfect and can be improved for the benefit of all. But we need the will and the belief to see it as worth fixing, worth saving. I believe it is. The alternative, however enticing to some, will be far from pleasant. More US election prompted books to come – although not all will be as ‘on the nose’ as this one! Worth a read if only to prompt thought and discussion.