FROM CIVIL SOCIETY

TO OCHLOCRACYHasanović Jasmin

BA of political sciences

Győr, 2015.

Introduction• Is civil society a shining example of democratic

practice, or it can easily turn into its opposite?• Civil society as ochlocracy, the direct rule of the

mob or mass?• Does democracy (or its lack) producing

ochlocracy that is leading to a new type of totalitarism, or just maintaining the existing order?

• Neo-liberal order totalitarian by itself?

Main goals of the presentation:

• Comparation of the two above mentioned phenomena; the civil society and ochlocracy

• See how civil society can turn into ochlocracy• Demistify the role of ochlocracy in democratic

societies with emphasis on the ideology of neo-liberalism and postmodern globalized world

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• The idea and the term democracy by itself is inseparable with civil society

• How?• The term itself „is derived from two ancient Greek

words: demos (‚the people‘) and kratos (‚strength‘)“ (Robertson, 2002: 136).

• So speaking, democracy is „the rule of demos“ (Haywood, 2004: 133).

• Demos in Ancient Greece – poor, the mass.

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• Democracy can exist only by the people who are actively participating in political and social activities.

• Affirmative political maxims like:o Voluntas populis suprema lex estoo Vox populi, vox dei

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• European citizenship – the rule of the will of the people becomes the highest political ideal

• The sovereign will of the people – from it orginates and relies on it so the government, so the regime and so the state (Zgodić, 2009).

• People with hist will on the highest throne of political values.

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• The people and its will, so, are inseparable with politics, as „an activity through which people create, maintain and change the rules by which they live“ (Haywood, 2004: 12).

• And, on the other hand, such defined politics, is inseperable with the state (civitas).

• So, the connection between the people and its will, politics, and state is civil society fuel for democratic practice

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• Civil society today became a vision and wish of all democratic societies, as a concept of establishing and fulfilling individual freedoms.

• Civil society is consisted of non-profit, non-governmental and non-political organizations which were founded by citizens or legal persons, whose wish to act derived by the same interests, motives and aims.

• Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon also defines civil society as individuals and organizations in a society which are independent of the government.

Civil society as a shining example of democratic

practice

• Therefore, democracies need civil society that uses its democratic right to act as the corrective of democratic system and, in that way, is showing the flaws of the system.

The other side of the coin

• There are also figuring other determinants of the role of the people an its will in their participation in decision-making process.

• People are understood as vulgus (lat. masses)

• A special term was coined „to express contempt for the rule of vulgus: ochlocracy“ (Zgodić, 2009: 371).

What is ochlocracy?• Ochlocracy is the term to describe „the direct

rule of the mob or mass, or, perhaps, its effective ability to indirectly – but crucial – influences on the government“ (Zgodić, 2009: 371).

• The will of the people is now somewhat infamous; it is a totalitarian fetish

• Unlike populus like demos – the political community, vulgus is illiterate political mass liable to demagogs

Between demos and ochlos

• Ochlocracy is a type of tyrany• In the engagements of its actors, ochlocracy

mimics itself in a willingness to appears as a democracy

• Relying on demagogs and dictators, ochlocracy contains democratic illusion, where the ochlos (scum) is trying to show up like demos (political people)

Between demos and ochlos

• The demagogs producing ochlocracy knows that the power of masses is destructive and inconstant

• Ochlocracy is held by demagoguery, crypto-pracitces, corruption, mediocrities etc.

• Demagogs are using the democracy, and its lack to mobilize the masses

• Populism today: o Right populism (Germany, France, Hungary...)o Left populism (Greece, Spain...)

What we want to say?• Democracy is producing ochlocracy• Ochlocracy is existing at the same time with

democracy• Ochlocracy is not democracy

• Because of the mass that makes civil society, it should therefore not be seen as a complete, clean, innocent and perfect example of democracy, but with caution of influence of demagogues

What we want to say?• Manipulated civil society is „most likely to be

found in those transitional states that have previously functioned under centralized state bureaucratic rule but are currently taking steps to join the global community of democracies and are expected to demonstrate an active commiment to developing civil society“ (Enjolas et al, 2009: 87)

• Political parties in transition states are weak, unstable and unreliable

What we want to say?• The lack of the globalized world and its efforts to

impose liberal democracy as the only truth shows unsuccessfull in practice

• Neo-liberalism within the mantle of postmodernism as self-proclaimed existing order act actualy totalitarian by itself, trying to sublimates all spheres of social activity within the comprehension of capital, individualism, privatisation etc.

• Civil society is trying to respond and oppose such a concept

What we want to say?• Next to the totalitarism of the neo-liberal

paradigm, civil society on the other hand due the unfinished processes of transition from modern to postmodern political discourse, and supported by radical ideas, which are prohibited in this environment, seeks to change the current politican concept

• Not only in transition societies, but also in developed western democracies

What we want to say?• Right populism – responds to failed

cosmopolitanization, not outdated of the nation-state concept, the protection of national borders etc. (for example: PEGIDA)

• Left populism – responds to failed democratisation , neoliberalism, stege of the capitalismto citizens, etc. (for example: Syriza)

What we want to say?• Postmodern political paradigm is unreal• Neoliberalism is showing its totalitarian

aspirations

• Second modernity (Ulrich Beck)

Ochlocracy vs. democracy

• The aspirations of ochlocratic demagogs are not only to change the democratic course of society, but also to appear as a democracy

• In reality – the rule of national or class elite• Liberal democracies see no threat in

ochlocracy, comparing ochlocracy with political apathy, claiming that a mass mobilisation of the mob is not possible

• Political apathy – in favor of neo-liberal aspirations within which ochlocratic aspirations just maintain the existing order.

Ochlocracy vs. democracy

• But, what when the political apathy gets face in the form of a party, or political movement?

• In other words – what when the ochlocratic aspirations subsume the civil society?

Conclusion• Ochlocracy is not the same like democracy,

although it is a democratic creation

• Ochlocracy is existing along with democracy

• It is important to recognize ochlocratic moments and populism in the society, preventing that civil society becomes an ochlocratic, populist apparatus

• Democracy can very easly turn into its opposite

Thank you for your attention