I just love to see that 3rd world events that were previously explained by "slave mentality" or by "lack of democracy institutions development" are happening in the 1st world countries.
Also, be brave in these uneasy times.
We’re not really a first world country. I’m not sure that we ever were.
I mean, by the original meaning of "first world country" we were by definition.
The first and second world countries were the US and USSR after WW II, and their immediate spheres of influence. The term "third world country" was, if I recall correctly, originally a self-assigned label to essentially say "we're not part of this shit-flinging fight". Which then people started viewing as "too poor to be worth dragging into either major power's sphere of influence" and then just "poor".
But it is a lack of democracy institutions development. "Slave mentality" too, although I prefer different phrasing.
There's the trick: what do you call democracy? Usually, the word "democracy" is reduced to the word "elections" and here the field where the autocrats like to play.
"Slave mentality" too
In my experience, this one is usually used as a token of some superiority over another nation or over your very neighbors who elect candidates you don't like.
Usually, the word “democracy” is reduced to the word “elections” and here the field where the autocrats like to play.
That's the problem. For a functional country, or "democracy" for short, you need mechanisms to prevent a collapse into autocracy. And general participation of citizens in decision making, which is related to my second point.
What I mean by "slave mentality" is better described as "rejection of personhood". People supporting authoritarian governments reject their own status as a person, by rejecting their own (and everybody else's) political agency. Usually by looking for some great leader to be a saviour, as long as you keep your head down and obey.
Political rights are what makes you a full person in a society.
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