“the essence of the present moment is the confrontation between democracy and authoritarianism”

‘Russia announced the fight against global autocracy’ – Konstantin Kosachev, Izvestia newspaper

The most vocal and actively aggressive of nations which, in name at least, are supporters and proponents of ‘democracy’ (however that may be defined) must surely be seen to be those of the so-called ‘western’ nations located in Europe and, in particular, those of the anglo-saxon or english speaking variety, scattered there and more widely in other parts of the globe.

But do these nations actually embody and exhibit the precepts, principles and ideology – since an ideology it is (hence the divergence and confusion surrounding it), and I struggle to find a single word to cover all of the things it is said to be – of democracy? My answer to that question would be in the negative. In fact, it is my belief…