After millennia of autocratic rule, we see democracy as the way to prevent tyranny and power accumulating in the hands of the few. But democracy has not prevented power from concentrating in corporations, in media giants, in government bureaucracies and amongst the educated elite. Some question whether democratic governments are really sovereign or whether a host of other unelected institutions and organisations are in control. The left point to the power of giant corporations and to the highly concentrated ownership of media and social media organisations. The right to the influence of bureaucrats or the so-called 'deep state', and left-leaning academic elites who control education and influence government policy.
Can democracy prevent the concentration of power without itself becoming tyrannical? Are attacks on federal employees or universities a victory over unelected elites or the abuse of government? Is democracy unable to control the accumulation of power and should we instead see value in the competing power of an oligarchy of organisations each of which need to be defended and constrained?
