The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy

Christopher Lasch

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy" by Christopher Lasch is a thought-provoking analysis of contemporary society and its deepening divide between the elites and the rest of the population. Lasch argues that the rise of a disconnected and self-perpetuating elite class has eroded the foundations of democracy.

In his exploration, Lasch reveals how the elites, who comprise the intellectual and professional classes, have abandoned their responsibility towards the greater society. Instead of using their knowledge and resources to promote the common good, they have embraced a globalist ideology that prioritizes their own interests.

Lasch identifies the ways in which elites have consolidated power and influence, establishing a system that perpetuates their privileged position and marginalizes the majority. This includes the trend of outsourcing jobs, leaving behind the working class and middle class who face economic uncertainties. Moreover, Lasch examines the impact of mass media and the entertainment industry, which play a significant role in promoting the values and experiences of the elites, further alienating the average citizen.

The author highlights the consequences of this growing divide, particularly in politics. Lasch argues that democratic principles are undermined when the elites prioritize their own interests above those of the larger society. This results in a detached political class that is out of touch with the real concerns of the people, leading to disillusionment and the rise of populist movements.

Lasch's critique extends beyond the elites themselves, as he also questions the complicity of the intellectual class, including academics, in perpetuating this betrayal of democracy. He calls for a re-engagement of intellectuals with the problems affecting the majority, urging them to prioritize the well-being of society rather than positioning themselves as detached observers.

"The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy" is a compelling and incisive examination of the contemporary state of democracy. Lasch's work serves as a rallying cry for a return to democratic values and a challenge to the entrenched interests that threaten the foundations of a just society.

Explore More Books

See All
Mr. Putin
Way of the Warrior Kid 3
Energy And Civilization
War and Chance
Personal Knowledge
Obvious Adams
The Great Escape
Insanely Simple
A Thousand Splendid Suns
My Brother Ron
Prof. Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System
Violence and Social Orders
On Bullshit
Swarm Troopers
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
How to Read a Book
Treasure Island
The Tipping Point
George's Marvellous Medicine
What You Want
Why Nations Fail
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
The Status Syndrome
Chasing the Light
Pandaemonium
The Story of Civilization: The Renaissance
The Science of Conjecture
The Signal and the Noise
The Aeneid
Market Wizards
The Case for Nationalism
The E-Myth Revisited
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Greatness Mindset
The Road
What Do People Do All Day?
The Half-Life of Facts
Lost in Shangri-La
Who Am I
Endurance
The Mind Doesn't Work That Way
Resurrection From The Underground
American Buffalo
The Writing Life
Chasing Hillary
The Case Against Sugar
Applied Minds
The Double Helix
As One Is
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
Hacks
Save The Cat!
What is Life?
Daughter of the Heartland
How To Talk to Anyone
Learn or Die
The Second Mountain
Inside The House of Money
The Red Decade
Dune
I Wrote This Book Because I Love You
Radical Acceptance
One Summer
The Four Agreements
The Fourth Revolution
I Heard God Laughing
No Future Without Forgiveness
Scale
Putin's Kleptocracy
The Scout Mindset
The Net & The Butterfly
Jesse Livermore - Boy Plunger
Shattered
Have Space Suit - Will Travel
Bull by the Horns
Ringworld
Dapper Dan
The Making of Europe
Brotopia
Indigenous Continent
The Decadent Society
When
Eco-Farm
Kant and the Platypus
The Serengeti Rules
Flowers for Algernon
Eat a Peach
The Story of Philosophy
The Halo Effect...
Team of Rivals
Catherine the Great
The Ancient City
Direct Truth
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
Radical Son
The Essential Wooden
The Dream of Reason
A World-Class Education
Cultural Strategy
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing