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Every nation is governed by a select minority, a ruling class, which always crafts a narrative to justify its authority. This narrative could be based on divine right, the mandate of heaven, or popular elections. Regardless, every ruling class invests in a story that grants itself legitimacy.
Gaetano Mosca, an Italian political theorist, referred to this narrative of sovereignty as a political formula. It may be tempting to dismiss these narratives as self-serving falsehoods, concocted by the ruling class for their own benefit. However, Mosca cautions against this view. Rulers do not like to see themselves as villains, and the exercise of pure power takes a toll on the people, leading to unrest.
Any ruling class that seeks longevity and stability must establish a narrative that resonates with both itself and its subjects, establishing legitimacy through shared beliefs. For our current managerial elite, that narrative revolves around efficiency and progress.
However, this narrative now hangs in the balance.
While the political formula of our liberal democracy purports that the people are sovereign, this can never truly be the case. The political formula's purpose is to elevate one group above all others, granting them exceptional powers and privileges. This narrative works best when it draws from shared elements of culture and tradition, allowing the ruling class to wield power confidently, while the subject class freely accepts its legitimacy. Therefore, the narrative must be tailored to the character of the nation it upholds.
Early religions naturally provided this narrative, often rooted in tribal affiliations. The gods associated with a particular city were specific to its people, grounding the power of the ruling class in something deeply personal to the in-group. While effective, this tribal approach hindered large-scale cooperation, lacking a basis for shared values among different tribes.
To address this, great religions emerged, enabling civilizational coordination among diverse peoples who shared a common reference point. However, these religions also created supranational organizations that competed for sovereignty with the rulers of specific groups. This led to the historic tension in the West between the authority of the pope and the power of individual principalities. The Peace of Westphalia and the establishment of nation-states largely resolved this tension, favoring ruling classes.
In the United States and other Western liberal democracies, the political formula shifted to elections and popular sovereignty. The people were theoretically sovereign, but they immediately delegated power to a small group of elected officials who governed in their name. While this remains the official narrative, the actual framework of these nations has transitioned to a managerial system over time. Consequently, the political formula has slowly aligned with this reality.
As a result, legislative bodies like Congress have increasingly delegated their powers to bureaucratic agencies, based on their managerial expertise. Decision-making has shifted away from elected officials, who now engage in ceremonial debates, while real policies are crafted and implemented by "experts" shielded from public scrutiny. The public is assured that while elections are crucial and democracy is sacred, politicians are valuable only to the extent that they "trust the science" and ultimately defer decision-making authority to our new priestly class.
The events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed the reality of this political formula. While elected officials held theoretical power, the response of most nations was driven by international organizations promoting a medical consensus.
Gaetano Mosca, an Italian political theorist, referred to this narrative of sovereignty as a political formula. It may be tempting to dismiss these narratives as self-serving falsehoods, concocted by the ruling class for their own benefit. However, Mosca cautions against this view. Rulers do not like to see themselves as villains, and the exercise of pure power takes a toll on the people, leading to unrest.
Any ruling class that seeks longevity and stability must establish a narrative that resonates with both itself and its subjects, establishing legitimacy through shared beliefs. For our current managerial elite, that narrative revolves around efficiency and progress.
However, this narrative now hangs in the balance.
While the political formula of our liberal democracy purports that the people are sovereign, this can never truly be the case. The political formula's purpose is to elevate one group above all others, granting them exceptional powers and privileges. This narrative works best when it draws from shared elements of culture and tradition, allowing the ruling class to wield power confidently, while the subject class freely accepts its legitimacy. Therefore, the narrative must be tailored to the character of the nation it upholds.
Early religions naturally provided this narrative, often rooted in tribal affiliations. The gods associated with a particular city were specific to its people, grounding the power of the ruling class in something deeply personal to the in-group. While effective, this tribal approach hindered large-scale cooperation, lacking a basis for shared values among different tribes.
To address this, great religions emerged, enabling civilizational coordination among diverse peoples who shared a common reference point. However, these religions also created supranational organizations that competed for sovereignty with the rulers of specific groups. This led to the historic tension in the West between the authority of the pope and the power of individual principalities. The Peace of Westphalia and the establishment of nation-states largely resolved this tension, favoring ruling classes.
In the United States and other Western liberal democracies, the political formula shifted to elections and popular sovereignty. The people were theoretically sovereign, but they immediately delegated power to a small group of elected officials who governed in their name. While this remains the official narrative, the actual framework of these nations has transitioned to a managerial system over time. Consequently, the political formula has slowly aligned with this reality.
As a result, legislative bodies like Congress have increasingly delegated their powers to bureaucratic agencies, based on their managerial expertise. Decision-making has shifted away from elected officials, who now engage in ceremonial debates, while real policies are crafted and implemented by "experts" shielded from public scrutiny. The public is assured that while elections are crucial and democracy is sacred, politicians are valuable only to the extent that they "trust the science" and ultimately defer decision-making authority to our new priestly class.
The events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed the reality of this political formula. While elected officials held theoretical power, the response of most nations was driven by international organizations promoting a medical consensus.
