Democratic Bias

The ideological conviction that democratic systems—elections, majority rule, public deliberation—are inherently more legitimate, moral, and effective than any other form of governance, often to the point of dismissing their documented flaws (tyranny of the majority, voter suppression, political polarization) as mere "growing pains." This bias leads to the assumption that any policy or leader chosen by a majority vote is ipso facto right, and that non-democratic societies are inherently backward or illegitimate, ignoring that democracies can produce deeply unjust outcomes and that other systems may have different strengths.

Example: After a referendum passes a law stripping a minority group of rights, proponents dismiss ethical objections by saying, "The people have spoken democratically. To oppose this is to oppose democracy itself." This Democratic Bias treats the process (a vote) as a moral forcefield, absolving the outcome (oppression) from further critique.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Democratic Picking

The selective, self-serving invocation of democratic principles only when they benefit one's side, while ignoring or suppressing those same principles when they would lead to an undesirable outcome. It's a rhetorical strategy that treats democracy as a buffet, not a consistent commitment. "The people have decided!" is shouted in victory, but "The people are misinformed!" or "The system is rigged!" is the cry in defeat.

Example: A political faction fiercely supports a state's right to set its own laws (a democratic principle of localism) when it comes to restricting abortion, but then supports a sweeping federal ban (overriding local democracy) when a different state votes to protect abortion access. This is Democratic Picking—using the banner of democracy to defend power, not principle.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026

Psychology of Democratic Masses

The study of how large populations behave in democratic contexts—forming opinions, participating in politics, responding to leaders and events. Democratic masses are not simply collections of rational individuals; they're psychological entities with moods, biases, and dynamics that transcend individual psychology. The psychology of democratic masses examines how public opinion forms (often through emotion and identity rather than reason), how it shifts (through events, leadership, media), and how it can be manipulated (through fear, hope, division). It also examines the tension between mass psychology and democratic theory: democracy assumes a rational public, but masses are rarely rational. The survival of democracy depends on managing this tension—on institutions that channel mass psychology toward constructive ends.

Example: "She studied the psychology of democratic masses during an election season, watching as the public mood swung with every event, every ad, every speech. The masses weren't reasoning; they were reacting. Democracy wasn't failing; it was just human. The question was whether institutions could handle that humanity without collapsing."

by Dumu The Void February 16, 2026