Democracy, Contradiction, Power, and Ukraine

I will be touching on three related points in this post. First, Democracy is, among other things, a mechanism to reduce the concentration of power.  Second, there are a number of fundamental contradictions evident in both Democracy and human nature. Third, the invasion of Ukraine.

Democracy is:

durable but fragile;

temporal but enduring;

imperfect but uniquely oriented towards freedom, and;

in a constant struggle with power tendencies within Democracy but also the primary bulwark of freedom against tyranny and oppression. 

Our species shares these same contradictions which should not be surprising since we have invented Democracy.   

We:

are durable but fragile;  

die but we endure as a species;

are flawed but drawn towards freedom, and;  

continually struggle against power and the allure of power. 

We are intrinsically contradictory beings - we are not innately good or innately evil - we are an uncomfortable blend of both. Individually and collectively, we are simultaneously the children of light and the children of darkness (Reinhold Niebuhr).

Power is the central problem for Democracy and our species.  We humans are driven to seek power. I will explore the reasons for this in an upcoming post. Suffice it to say for the moment that this is simply a defining fact of our existence. Quite logically, the expression of this attraction to power results in some having more power than others.  The concentration of power inevitably leads to resistance. These are efforts to distribute power more equally and can be seen within Capitalism, among countries, and in race, gender, and class relations. As we resist concentrated power, we seek the power of freedom, self-determination, and agency.  So, we can see that there are essentially two kinds of power.  There is power that is concentrated to an extent that it exerts onerous and damaging control over others.  This kind of power is an end in and of itself - the only purpose is to sustain and increase itself.  Then, there is power that is focused on seeking and defending freedom and self determination - the power to be free.

Those seeking concentrated power will never cease or disappear. It is too fundamental to our nature.  And, at the same time, resistance to concentrated power will also never cease or disappear.  So, the power of freedom and collective self-determination rises up whenever concentrated power appears.  In a sense, the latter feeds the former.  When concentrated power diminishes, dispersed and collective power as freedom and community self-determination is enhanced.  

Unfortunately, there is not a simple or final answer to this contradictory reality.  Rather, we need to accept that freedom must be defended and nurtured ongoingly and relentlessly.  Isolation, fear, resentment, grievance, the raw seductive allure of power, the divisions of nationalism, and taking Democracy and freedom for granted are the lifeblood of those seeking concentrated power. Countering this requires continual vigilance, struggle, and resistance.  This means ongoing education (civic and otherwise), awareness, and action regarding: the problem of power; the nature of freedom and democracy, and; the development and tending of active citizenship and community engagement. It also can mean direct collective action, both peaceful and through armed resistance when all else fails.

Tragically and horrifically, we see this being necessary now as Russia invades Ukraine. In our highly interconnected world, the struggle to defend democracy and freedom anywhere means it is taking place everywhere.  The time of resistance to tyranny in individual countries staying isolated and minimally important to the rest of the world are long gone.  The world is powerfully interconnected and interdependent.  Communication is global and immediate, trade and financial systems navigate the planet with astounding speed. And, even with many parts and much diversity, we are now one vast human cultural system.  This links us together as we have not been for the vast majority our history. 

The simple fact that we are one people and one species is now crystal clear. Transcending all borders, we all have a responsibility to do what we can to support Ukraine’s powerful fight for freedom and its very existence. Their struggle is our struggle. So, in the defense of freedom and democracy, we are all Ukrainians.

Please do what ever you can to support Ukraine: write letters, attend protests, donate money, and whatever else you can think of. Then, do it again and again. We owe it to Ukraine and to the defense of freedom throughout the world.