A presentation on the Limits of a Liberal Democracy. Is Britain a Liberal Democracy?

1. Limits of a Liberal Democracy
Sachin Nandha Ph.D

5. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Ph.D Philosophy of Mind
Merton College, Oxford
Kings College London & Princeton University

6. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Democracy
“a democracy would be fully participatory
and would aim for the common good in order
to achieve excellence.”
Aristotle
“Let every soul be subject to the higher powers, for there is no
power but of God. The powers that be are ordained by God.
Whoever therefore resisted the powers has resisted the
ordnance of God, and they that resist shall receive to
themselves damnation.”
Bible, Romans 13 verse 1 & 2

7. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Democracy
Power of the People
Liberal
“freedom”
consent of the governed
right to life, liberty & property
welfare state, religious toleration, free market economies, globalisation

8. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Democracy
Power of the People
DirectRepresentative

9. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Representative Democracy
What is it?
Political plurality
Free & Fair elections
Quasi Oligarchy
Elected
members
Political
parties
Financial
Institutions
Interest
groups

10. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
People
Electorate
Religious Institutions
P r i v a t e b u s i n e s s
Special Interest
groups
Financial
Institutions
Government
Bank of
EnglandAcademia
Monarchy
NGOsy
Elected members &
Political parties

11. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Liberal Democracy
Anglo Judo-Christian Capitalist
Representative Liberal
Democracy

12. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Limits of a Liberal
Democracy
Rhetoric of the age
Mild thought control
Vilification of dissenters
Best alternative
Polarisation of debate

13. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Limits of a Liberal
Democracy
Bourgeoisie State
Financial Institutions
Private Business
Citizen to Consumer
Docile public

14. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Limits of a Liberal
Democracy
Media & Special interest State
Media corporations
Personality orientated
Distortion of policy
Suppression of non mainstream views
Walter Lippmann

15. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
Limits of a Liberal
Democracy
Subservient State
Free Market
Capital
Telos “narrow interests”

16. Sachin Nandha Ph.D
A Liberal Democracy
Citizens
Direct
participation
Nation State ?
Public control on
Financial
Institutions
Free Media