How democracy shoots itself in the foot?

In Britain and much of the western world, we are taught that democracy is ‘good’ and that other forms of government (totalitarian, dictatorship) are ‘bad’.

Democracy is often heralded as the height of human civilisation, born from a system of governance “by the people, for the people” which is the epitome of impartiality, justice and equality. However, whilst this propagates free speech and protects the rights of all, it is also, fundamentally, its own fatal flaw.

The inherent characteristics of a democratic government; free speech, free press and as the Americans put it ‘liberty and justice for all’ shield the rights of all-including the violent, bigoted and ignorant. Recent activity by the Scottish Defence League (SDL), an off shoot of the English Defence League, clearly demonstrates how democracy shoots itself in the foot.

Last Sunday, members of the SDL, entered a multi-racial area of Glasgow in order to commemorate William Mckeeney who had been killed last year by two youths who are Asian. Even though directly against the wishes of the victim’s family, the small gathering of SDL members caused major upheaval and unrest in the surrounding community when they came to lay a wreath outside of his home.

Honouring a murder victim is admirable as every human life is precious, but why was it necessary to do so in a community whose inhabitants the SDL had such open contempt for and with a police escort as though they were the victims? Moreover, these same persons disseminate racism and discrimination based on a notion of racial superiority and an ideology which is predicated on exclusion. Surely this is in direct conflict with the notion of democracy. The concept of ‘far-right democracy’ is an oxymoron in total opposition with social equality. Quite simply far right ideology and democracy cancel one another out. Could you imagine individuals belonging to minority groups being safe or afforded the same courtesy in a largely SDL community?

In Britain and much of the western world we are taught that democracy is ‘good’ and that other forms of government (totalitarian, dictatorship) are ‘bad’ but from what I see democracy is not inherently good, it is what we make it. It is both a sword and a shield. The tragedy of this poor gentleman’s demise was lost amidst the pointed ramifications of the laying of the wreath.

Ashlea Williams

Archive picture - SDL members pictured in Glasgow in February 2012