week 5: domestic repression; aristotle, deibert and yom.

Domestic repression

• Things states do to impose their might and power. 

• “The measures govts take to neutralize threats to their rule and maintain power. These measures cann include arrests, restrictions on speech and association, surveillance, torture, disappearances, and killings

• More straightforward than our other topics. Repression is things govts do to keep us down. Point blank period. 

• Observers suggest that repression is on the incline. 

• Terms like “democratic regression, democracy under siege, democratic backsliding” to describe current times. 

• Statistically, this is right in a way. # of Ppl living in regressive states has doubled in the last 20yrs. 

  • But also, the current moment is important to view from a historical lens

  • Alternatively, democracy has increased by 50% since the 19th century. 

  • When ppl talk abt the terms above, they’re talking abt the period from the 90s-2000s. Theres concerns that authoritarian states will be the majority of global govt. 

Aristotle intro

• Bron 20yrs post peloponnesian war 

• Greek intellectual 

• Wrote so much abt everything

• Student of plato (plato was student of socrates)

• I hate reading him. 

• Said to be a poltiical commentator, but also insight on how to be a purpose driven individual. Phl200. 

• Very important for repression adn tyranny, despite not writing much abt it. 

Tyranny as unnatural

• Aristotle was opposed to tyranny. The worst form of govt ever. But he wastn opposed just cuz it was violent and repressive, but it got in the way of individuals flourishing. Got in the way of the good life. 

• Unnatural: something thats not innate. Not consistent w any parrt of us. 

• Is tyranny unnatural?

  • I say yes. 

  • But ig alternatively, religion could be used as a point to say “no, its not unnatural”. 

  • According to the chart, democracy is fragile. And actually, authoritarianism was super super popular

• Are we hardwired for freedom or obedience?

• Milgram experiment, the shocks thing. 

  • When u can build a connection via physical appearance, maybe ur less likely to be obedient to the tyrant. 

  • In cases where we cant see the ppl we’re hurting, maybe we’re less likely to be tyrannical. 

  • The set up in the experiment may not be conclusive to aristotles claim. 

Break

Aristotles tyrannical society

1. In a tyrannical society, the ppl focus largely on economic issues, whether escaping grinding poverty or pursuing wealth

   1. Money obsessed for pleasure. The love of wealth. 

2. Tyrannical society is apolitical: do not engage in politics

   1. No voting, protests, justice, etc. 

3. Misuse of leisure time

   1. Focusing on amusement, distraction, instead of deep inquiry and engagement. 

   2. No pursuit of excellence. 

4. Little sense of community

   1. Loneliness. 

   2. Selfish and exploitative. 

In sum

• Tyrannical ppl are repressed and isolated

Aristotle in modern authoritarianism

• Examples

  • In china, amny are said to have benefited economically, reducing likelihood of engaging in anti govt protest/revolution

  • Russia, the public suggested to be apolitical, avoiding political discussion and action in favour of amusements and other distractions

  • Germany, widespread social alienation and a loss of community contributed to the rise of nazis. 

• Hes not just describing others, but when hes talking abt money distractions, could he be describing us LOL

• Contemporary life in a modern democracy. 

• Is modern democracy repressive?

  • On the one hand, no LOL anyone who lived in an actual authoritarian state would say that modern democracy is absolutely not repressive.m

  • Modern dems are characterized by 

    • Free press

    • Free and fair elections

    • Human rights centred constitution

  • But maybe

    • Democracies CAN engage in poltiical repression

    • SPYWARE ARTICLE!

    • Online surveillance is such a huge issue. Major violation. 

    • Deeper level. Ways of operating and societal norms. 

• Is canada repressed?

  • In an aristotilian sense, is canada repressed?...

1. First characteristic of a repressed society, is a public focused largely on economic matters

   1. Canadians say yes! 40% of us are stressed abt money. Whether its poverty or love of wealth, it might support the idea that we are in tyranny. 

2. Next characteristic is a public that is apolitical

   1. In canada, only 60% of eligible voters voted. 

   2. And in our age demographic, we are horrible! We need to vote omfg. 

3. Next characteristic is a public that spends leisure time on amusement

   1. Oh god

   2. Canadians spend leisure time on amusement, tvs, movies, videos, etc. and social media. To an extent, this media consumption can be political and informative, but still man. 

4. Widespread loneliness and no community

   1. Pre-pandemic stats said that quite a bit of canadians were lonely. POST pandemic would def be wayyyy more in favour of aristotle. 

• According to aristote, it seems that canada is tyrannical. 

• But obvi we cant say that canada is authoritarian, but we can say its mixed accordingng to aristotle. 

• He also talks a lot abt what a tyrant is. 

• How would i make a repressed society

  • Be kim jong un. 

  • Make everything abt me

  • Be super narcissistic. LOL 

  • Based on the readings though

    • Major censorship. Controlling the media

    • No elections HAHA

    • Curfew 

    • Big military spending

    • No questioning me. 

    • Education

    • Depoliticize the public. 

    • Emphasis on stem, defunding the arts and sciences.