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Let the Playing Field Level the Playing Field by Dennis Joiner explores many ways in which the common man can create an equal and just world. At the same time, there are myriad perspectives and insights in Dennis Joiner’s seminal dissection of the modern world; the methods to counteract what can be seen as a spiritual decay all hinges on the fact that democratic norms exist.

What happens then if this is gone? Can safeguards keep themselves from attacks within? Or are they weaker than we imagine them to be?

Of the People, By the People, for the People

As Churchill once lamented, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” Now, this was not any criticism of the democratic mode of governance. Instead, it was a reminder that all forms of government have their strengths and their weaknesses.

And it is self-destructive to ignore these in pursuit of idealism.

Thus, it is extremely important that we have an understanding of how our systems work and how they can be destroyed. This is not to give people bad ideas but to encourage them to think of methods to counter these threats.

Democracy is not an immutable fortress. It is a structure built on delicate foundations and is actually quite vulnerable to erosion from both external pressures and, perhaps more insidiously, internal decay.

Can Safeguards Keep?

The narrative of democratic decline is often framed as a violent overthrow, a sudden coup. However, history and contemporary observation reveal that democracies fall because of more insidious and gradual factors.

Photo by Amine M’siouri

The belief that democratic systems are inherently resilient is patently false. There is no form of governance that can withstand the test of time.

Many assume that established democracies are impervious to authoritarian backsliding and internal dictatorial takeovers.

Contemporary politics aside, this assumption ignores the fundamental nature of politics and a total misunderstanding of how systems and norms work. Nothing that comes from human hands can last if no human hands are there to maintain it. As such, there must be active maintenance of a democracy for it to continue.

How Norms Are Eroded

Democratic norms are the glue that holds a democracy together. These are the unwritten rules and expectations that should guide the citizens of a democracy. More often than not, though, they are only passively understood instead of being actively promoted.

These democratic norms include mutual toleration, forbearance, and a commitment to fair play.

Mutual toleration requires political opponents to accept each other’s legitimacy, even when they disagree and even, most importantly, when they themselves lose.

Forbearance involves restraint in the use of institutional powers, recognizing that some actions, while technically legal, can undermine the spirit of democracy. As such, there must be an ideological barrier in a democracy that only allows those who value democracy as the only ones allowed to govern.

When the two aforementioned norms erode, the third norm mentioned erodes as well. When there is no longer tolerance and forbearance, political actors are more willing to exploit institutional loopholes and engage in behavior that undermines democratic principles.

This wholesale breakdown of trust and mutual respect weakens the foundations of democratic governance.

Subverting Democracy from Within

Perhaps the clearest situation where democracy is near its death knell is when its institutions are no longer functioning as they should. When institutions no longer work, they have become mere weapons of the political class.

Authoritarian-minded leaders often employ a strategy of gradual institutional capture, using legal and procedural means to consolidate power.

This can involve–but is not limited to–packing courts with loyalists, manipulating electoral laws, and undermining independent oversight bodies. The goal is not to abolish democratic institutions outright but to transform them into instruments of control, which is to say to name themselves as monarchs without naming themselves as monarchs.

Judicial independence, a crucial safeguard against executive overreach, is a frequent target. By appointing judges who are politically aligned, leaders can ensure favorable rulings on key issues, effectively silencing dissent and neutering the judiciary’s role as a check on power.

Legislatures can also be turned into rubber stamps, with ruling parties using their majority to stifle debate and pass legislation without meaningful scrutiny. Opposition parties may be marginalized, their voices silenced through procedural tactics or outright intimidation.

Photo by Rosemary Ketchum

What can be done? There are a lot of ways, but that will have to be in another article. In the meantime, let us envision the possibility of a better world.

Dennis Joiner’s Let the Playing Field Level the Playing Field is available online for purchase. If you want to grab a copy of the book now, click this link to take you to the appropriate page.