Are Karl Popper’s reflection on democracy actual today?

Abstract

Abstract. Survey of Karl Popper's talk “Reflections on the theory and practice of the democratic state” with comments is presented. It is argued, although today we live in the world whose realities have gone far beyond what Popper explored, a number of his ideas and conclusions retain their validity and actuality.

History teaches that from the very beginning democracy is neither devoid of various kinds of faults and manifestations of evil, nor of mercy and goodness. Therefore, democratic state should neither be idealized nor demonized. According to Popper, democracy is not popular sovereignty and not people’s rule. It is social institution, which not only rejects dictatorship, but also equipped to defend itself. An essential feature of democracy is the real possibility of getting rid of the government without bloodshed, through a regular peaceful way. Various freedoms are necessary for responsible citizens to prevent excessive concentration of state power and its abuse. However, realization of these freedoms is limiting by law: it should not lead to the “excesses” of freedom, harm proper rule, democratic state.

Popper's call, the media that poorly elucidate the achievements of democracy must be persuaded to see and tell the truth, to develop a self-critical attitude, and correct themselves, is just a regulative principle or a goal to strive for, despite the current unsatisfactory situation and doubts about the possibility of its complete change for the better. Contemporary information warfare is carrying out by means of harmful fakes and various kinds of manipulations, including those regarding democracy, disseminated through the media regularly and massively. To counteract this, it is not sufficient to rely solely on persuasion or on ban measures by the state. An effective national system of such counteraction, not excluding the legally regulated participation of the state, should involve decent non-state media professionals, as well as specialized civic organizations, information volunteers. However, the problem of countering the harmful media content will not be sufficiently solved without media education for the widest audience: ideally, every user of any “screen” should be ready to provide himself with skilled “first aid” against “informational damage”.