Destroying Democracy: Neoliberal Capitalism and the Rise of Authoritarian Politics
Edited by Michelle Williams and Vishwas Satgar
Part One begins with an introductory chapter that traces the threats to democracy and rising authoritarianism. How neo-liberal capitalism eroded both the administrative capacity and state legitimacy of democratic states, by invoking both equality of opportunity and liberty to prevent state control, thereby undermining democratic systems' effectiveness.
Part Two of the volume explores the undoing of three democracies – the US,
Brazil and India – through the lens of neo-liberal capitalism and its concomitant ecological devastation. How, Covid-19 worsened the tendencies towards authoritarianism, concentrating power and wealth with a few entities. For example, India is witnessing market-based development with a coercive majoritarianism, where populism fuels fascism. Or South Africa, instead of ensuring transparency, information-sharing and accountability, chooses ‘enclosed structures, invited spaces, securitized politics, secretive deals and unilateral decision making’. The book concludes by pointing out the dire need to enable citizens and movements to define political agendas and hold politicians accountable.
