he challenges of today’s ‘polycrisis’—economic instability, environmental threats, and geopolitical competition—are unprecedented, and are straining both established and nascent democracies. Historically, bad–acting governments under economic, environmental, geopolitical, and other critical pressures have sought to quell resulting internal dissent, adding further pressure to nascent democracies. Often, they resort to cultural destruction and delegitimization combined with the systemic manipulation of educational systems to undermine social cohesion, collective memory, and critical thinking. We in the U.S. have long felt these tools of democratic suppression and ideological control were too distant, too foreign to take root. Yet especially in a time of polycrisis they can, and will, if we are complacent about our own commitment to democracy.
Cultural Destruction and Manipulation
Bad–acting governments have long used cultural destruction and manipulation to undermine democratic values and stifle dissent. By erasing cultural heritage through actions such as destroying cultural sites, these actors aim to weaken a population's collective identity and historical consciousness. This tactic is evident in various authoritarian regimes where tangible and intangible culture is destroyed, and historical narratives rewritten to align with the ruling party’s ideology. This serves not only as a physical erasure of history but also as a psychological tool to demoralize and control the minority.
Manipulation of culture in weaker democracies often extends to media and education systems. Governments can control information flow, censor dissenting voices, and propagate state–approved narratives. This stifles critical thinking, making citizens less likely to question authority. The suppression of academic freedom and a free press are clear indicators of this strategy. By controlling cultural and educational institutions, governments can shape public perception and maintain their grip on power even in times of great instability. Governments of mature democracies can occasionally be tempted by these tactics too, to varying degrees.
Education and Critical Thinking as Tools of Resistance and Resilience
In contrast, education and critical thinking are powerful tools to counteract these subversive and suppressive practices. Education is the backbone of an informed population capable of critical analysis and independent thought, one able to recognize and resist manipulation. Critical thinking skills enable citizens to question official narratives, seek out alternative sources of information, and engage in meaningful dialogue about their society’s direction.
Promoting education that emphasizes critical thinking, historical awareness, and media literacy is essential for the health of democracies. Doing so can empower young people to value their history and recognize attempts at manipulation. Additionally, actively supporting independent media and academia ensures a diversity of perspectives is explored and expressed without consequence.
In the U.S., the banning of books and the suppression of expression on college campuses are alarming trends. These actions mirror the tactics of cultural destruction and manipulation used by authoritarian regimes to undermine established systems. Both the left and the right share responsibility for these domestic threats.
To safeguard democracy globally, the U.S. must first safeguard its own. Citizens from across the political spectrum must unite to promote education and diverse cultural exposure. When education, culture, and the arts—the bastions of free thought and critical inquiry—become arenas for ideological battles, the very foundation of the world’s oldest democracy is at risk.
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Culture as ideology puts democracy at risk
The Rose Main Reading Room at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York City. Photo by Patrick Robert Doyle from Unsplash.
August 7, 2024
Today's polycrisis threatens democracies worldwide. Bad actors exploit cultural and educational systems to suppress dissent. To safeguard democracy, we must promote critical thinking and protect educational and cultural institutions, writes Gregory Houston.
T
he challenges of today’s ‘polycrisis’—economic instability, environmental threats, and geopolitical competition—are unprecedented, and are straining both established and nascent democracies. Historically, bad–acting governments under economic, environmental, geopolitical, and other critical pressures have sought to quell resulting internal dissent, adding further pressure to nascent democracies. Often, they resort to cultural destruction and delegitimization combined with the systemic manipulation of educational systems to undermine social cohesion, collective memory, and critical thinking. We in the U.S. have long felt these tools of democratic suppression and ideological control were too distant, too foreign to take root. Yet especially in a time of polycrisis they can, and will, if we are complacent about our own commitment to democracy.
Cultural Destruction and Manipulation
Bad–acting governments have long used cultural destruction and manipulation to undermine democratic values and stifle dissent. By erasing cultural heritage through actions such as destroying cultural sites, these actors aim to weaken a population's collective identity and historical consciousness. This tactic is evident in various authoritarian regimes where tangible and intangible culture is destroyed, and historical narratives rewritten to align with the ruling party’s ideology. This serves not only as a physical erasure of history but also as a psychological tool to demoralize and control the minority.
Manipulation of culture in weaker democracies often extends to media and education systems. Governments can control information flow, censor dissenting voices, and propagate state–approved narratives. This stifles critical thinking, making citizens less likely to question authority. The suppression of academic freedom and a free press are clear indicators of this strategy. By controlling cultural and educational institutions, governments can shape public perception and maintain their grip on power even in times of great instability. Governments of mature democracies can occasionally be tempted by these tactics too, to varying degrees.
Education and Critical Thinking as Tools of Resistance and Resilience
In contrast, education and critical thinking are powerful tools to counteract these subversive and suppressive practices. Education is the backbone of an informed population capable of critical analysis and independent thought, one able to recognize and resist manipulation. Critical thinking skills enable citizens to question official narratives, seek out alternative sources of information, and engage in meaningful dialogue about their society’s direction.
Promoting education that emphasizes critical thinking, historical awareness, and media literacy is essential for the health of democracies. Doing so can empower young people to value their history and recognize attempts at manipulation. Additionally, actively supporting independent media and academia ensures a diversity of perspectives is explored and expressed without consequence.
In the U.S., the banning of books and the suppression of expression on college campuses are alarming trends. These actions mirror the tactics of cultural destruction and manipulation used by authoritarian regimes to undermine established systems. Both the left and the right share responsibility for these domestic threats.
To safeguard democracy globally, the U.S. must first safeguard its own. Citizens from across the political spectrum must unite to promote education and diverse cultural exposure. When education, culture, and the arts—the bastions of free thought and critical inquiry—become arenas for ideological battles, the very foundation of the world’s oldest democracy is at risk.
