Politics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Politics is a complex subject. There are many ways of governing with numerous types and subtypes. In this paper we attempt to first simplify politics by defining its main features. We show that political ideologies can fit into a dimensional space and define three major contemporary styles. Following this we compare and contrast fascism and communism and introduce totalitarianism using North Korea as an example. We then turn our attention to democracy, showing that the strength and weakness of democratic institutions lies in how they deal with diversity. The classical liberal approach is presented as a model for effective democratic governance. We end with the current most serious threat to democracy: populism and nationalism. These are both forms of tribalism that pit group identity against individualism. Dictators succeed by appealing to tribalist tendencies. Democracies can win only if they are representative and pluralistic.