Certain governments are suggesting that bloggers and tweeters aren't 'real' writers and, so, don't merit protection. A writer is anyone from a Nobel laureate to a debut blogger. They all get PEN's attention.
John Ralston SaulRead
Our civilization is locked in the grip of an ideology - corporatism. An ideology that denies and undermines the legitimacy of individuals as the citizen in a democracy. The particular imbalance of this ideology leads to a worship of self-interest and a denial of the public good. The practical effects on the individual are passivity and conformism in the areas that matter, and non-conformism in the areas that don't
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques corporatism as an ideology that undermines individual rights and the public good in a democracy.
John Ralston Saul's quote highlights the detrimental effects of corporatism on both individual identity and democratic governance. He argues that this ideology fosters a culture of self-interest, leading individuals to become passive and conformist concerning important societal issues while encouraging non-conformity in trivial matters. This imbalance ultimately threatens the collective well-being and the true essence of democratic citizenship.
Themes
CorporatismDemocracyIndividualismPublic GoodSelf-Interest
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a political debate to emphasize the influence of corporate interests on democracy.
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