Author: M. Farahi Tujegi
Islam and Democracy (Part 21)
Democracy: Minority Rule and Rejection of the Majority
What remains of the rule of the people?
When we examine the underlying and hidden layers of democracy, peeling away its outer shells and artificial appearances, its darker truths emerge, rising like the midday sun from behind the clouds of lies and deceit, dispelling the black night of deception and the shackles of democracy.
The points mentioned above highlight the main powers of the minority in a democracy. It is certain that the discussion about minority rule has persisted for some time, as from the perspective of democracy, the most important goal is to be governed by the majority, not the minority—a notion that has deafened the ears of the sky. But is it true? It is up to the readers to judge.
Rennie states that some exaggerate, claiming that democratic systems are merely a form of dictatorship by popular vote. We would argue that it is more accurate to say that democracy represents the rule of the oligarchs or the minority who govern through general elections. Even if a popular government exists or will exist one day, it will likely be temporary, with minority or individual rule quickly reestablishing itself.
The prevailing law in the world of politics is that Darwinian principle: “the conflict of survival.” Thus, one of the criticisms raised against the sovereignty of the people is that it can pave the way for tyranny and oppression under the guise of the people’s rule. Safeguards against this outcome are required. This safeguard is essentially the right to freedom, as it protects the liberties of the minority against the oppression of the majority. However, we have seen that what we face is not merely a question of majority versus minority, but rather a question of minority rule. In this case, we must explain these issues to Westerners and ensure that freedom acts as the protector and guardian of the people against the tyranny of the minority. There is nothing wrong with elucidating an issue to Westerners, as they have mistakenly accepted many ideas.
The main problem lies in presenting certain facts upside down and to the left, leading to distorted results. If these facts are accurately explained, everything will certainly find its proper course.
