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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
John Ralston Saul
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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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