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#20A ELITISM #20B AUTHORITARIANISM
I have problems with democracy. I think most people are ill-prepared to decide what is best for society. Assemblies of such people are not to be trusted: I fear their collective strength. Society is best served by a select group of clear-sighted, capable leaders / experts. Highly educated, trained, and groomed to wield power, they should oversee maintenance of law & order, promote production of wealth, and guide the masses toward ends they deem to be appropriate. (Note: Elitists often identify with "capital" rather than “labor,” and with “capable leaders / experts” rather than the collective wisdom of common folks. )  If its regime rules wisely, I am willing to submit to the authority of the leader(s) of a non-democratic authoritarian socio - political system.  While some may be able to meekly accept subjugation of individual rights, I would be more comfortable living under a system in which a social contract exists by which law and order can be maintained, and the duties and rights of citizens are spelled out.  Whether the leader(s) is (are) from the aristocracy, single political party, military dictatorship, dogmatic religious organization, etc, I believe these people have legitimacy to the extent they have the consent of those they govern. 

WV Theme #20A: Elitism 

WV Theme #20B: Authoritarianism 

--Alternate Concise Characterization with Wikipedia Entries

--Alternate Concise Characterization with Wikipedia Entries

appreciates criticism of democracy needs social contract before accepting authoritarian rule
values idea that competence rises to top / Meritocracy accepts autocratic rule (government vested in one person)
comfortable with social stratification distinctions Right Wing Authoritarianism type personality traits
comfortable with highest social class / Aristocracy accepts rule by a single party state 

summary Wikipedia article: Elitism 

summary Wikipedia article: Authoritarianism

Numerical Characterization with TFJD code: 3211 Numerical Characterization with TFJD code: 1112
Numerical Characterization with Emotional Volatility VI index: 4 Numerical Characterization with Emotional Volatility VI index: 18

Related Words, Beliefs, Background--39 entries               Songs            self-test            Discussion from The Worldview Literacy Book  

Questions to Test Compatibility Between This Theme or These Themes and Your Worldview

playing  card related:  these are club worldview themes: individual <---> group             card #20 concise description

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #20A: Elitism 

Academic Elitism   (from online encyclopedia)
Oligarchy (from online encyclopedia)
Mixed Government (from online encyclopedia)
Elective Monarchy (from online encyclopedia)
Social Class (from online encyclopedia)
Mixed Government (from online encyclopedia)
Elective Monarchy (from online encyclopedia)
In Focus: What is Elitism?
Worldview Watch issue #3: Populism vs. Elitism
Worldview Watch issue #36: Kennedy, Shakespeare, Conspiracism, Elitism, and Missing the Real Story
Worldview Watch issue #45, posted 7/29/2015 Confucius, Singapore, China, and Political Meritocracy 
"Plato: The Failure of Democracy and Platonic Elitism in Modern Times" (Frostburg State U. philosophy forum)
In Defense of Elitism, by William A. Henry III (review of this 1995 book by writer for Time magazine )
The Future of the Firm (a report on McKinsey, the world's leading management consulting firm in The Economist Sep 21 2013)
"Social Mobility in America--The Meritocracy Paradox" (article from The Economist Feb 9 2013)
"Embarrassed Meritocrats" (opinion piece re: Chinese meritocracy in The Economist Oct 27 2012)
Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy by Christopher Hayes (more on this 2012 book from Amazon)
The Revolt of the Rich by Mike Lofgren (Aug 27 2012 article in The American Conservative re "financial elites") 
"The Death of Meritocracy" (article in The Economist Feb 11 2012)
"A Crisis from the Top: The Unwisdom of Elites" by Paul Krugman (May 9, 2011 NY Times article)
"The Case for Elitism" by Emer O'Kelly (position paper from The Arts Council in Ireland)
"The False Accusation of Elitism", by Linda Silverman (essay on gifted education and charges of elitism)
"Superiority Complex: We have democratized elitism..."
Environmental Elitism
On the Meaning of Elitism (animal rights perspective)
Elitism vs. Checks & Balances in Communicating Scientific Information to the Public, by Arthur Kantrowitz
Yes I'm an Elitist, and Why That Doesn't Mean I Hate You
The Elitism Myth
Wealth and Democracy, by Kevin Phillips (excerpts from this book)
The Meritocracy Myth (book by UNC sociologists)
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best Run Companies (read this 2004 book at Google Books)
Dictionary of Vocational Psychology: Elitism
quotes related to elitism

More to Explore -- Worldview Theme #20B: Authoritarianism

Authoritarian Personality (from online encyclopedia)
Fascism (from online encyclopedia)
Monarchy    (from online encyclopedia)
Consent of the Governed (from online encyclopedia)
Worldview Watch issue #4: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Worldview Watch issue #32: Authoritarianism vs. Democracy in Turkey
Worldview Watch issue #45, posted 7/29/2015 Confucius, Singapore, China, and Political Meritocracy 
Past Alternatives vs. Democracy: Autocracy & Aristocracy
Social Science Information Gateway: Authoritarian Government (links to 50 recent articles involving this)
The Beijing Consensus: How China's Authoritarian Model will Dominate by S. Halper (review of 2010 book)
Qiushi Journal  (official English website of the "Organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China")
Lee Kuan Yew--Asia's City Statesman (article / obituary for authoritarian Singapore leader in The Economist March 28 2015)
Choosing Confucianism: Departing from the Liberal Framework--interviewing Daniel A. Bell (Oct 19 2012 post) 
A Confucian Constitution for China by Jiang Qing and Daniel A. Bell (July 10 2012 NY Times op-ed article)
China's Security State by Guo Xuezhi (more on this 2012 book from Cambridge University Press)
China Modernizes: Threat to the West or Model for the Rest? by R.  Peerenboom (excerpts of 2008 book at Google Books)
Democracy Kills, by Humphrey Hawksley (review of this 2009 book)
"Not the End Of History? Democracy vs Technocracy" by William Hooper (Aug 2012 post on TheOligarch.com )
"Crying for Freedom: Democracy's Decline" (article in The Economist,  January16-22  2010 issue)
"Fear--The Foundation of Every Government's Power" by Robert Higgs (2005 article)
What is Fascism? by Chip Berlet  (from preface to Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party)
What is Fascism? (article by Matthew Lyons from the book Right Wing Populism in America)
Authoritarian and Democratic Technics, by Lewis Mumford
The Authoritarian Specter, by Robert Altemeyer (book review of book from Harvard University Press)
The Internet and State Control in Authoritarian Regimes
quotes related to fascism
quotes related to authority

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