Where is Democracy Headed?
July 5, 2025•533 words
"The end of history will be a very sad time." ~ Francis Fukuyama
"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." ~ Steve Biko
"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
World-Renowned Political Science Professor Fukuyama is critiquing mainly United States of America, but many Western democracies can be included. They're faltering and the possibility of going through a third wave of democratization which might be pulling towards a more authoritarian style of leadership.
You’re living through a seismic shift in how power operates, those who fail to adapt will be overtaken. The “Overton window,” which once defined what society could publicly discuss or believe, is now unstable, tugged forcefully by ideological outsiders, especially the rising far right, who understand that controlling power means reshaping reality itself.
Since the 2008 financial crash, liberal democracy has been in retreat, replaced by authoritarian figures, tribal digital groups, and extreme rich oligarch opportunists. The old political center no longer commands respect. Even Francis Fukuyama, once the voice of liberal democratic victory, now advocates for social democracy, not out of idealism, but because unregulated capitalism leads to collapse. Today’s power isn’t gained through war, but through controlling institutions, public narratives, and perception. Governments now offer benefits like healthcare not out of morality, but to prevent societal breakdown. The ultimate power lies in crafting the systems others are forced to operate within, not merely reacting to crises, but bending them to your advantage.
Control has extended from institutions into the minds of individuals. Social media, arguably the most potent tool of influence ever created, has shattered consensus and amplified bias, even racism and discrimination, leaving many confused and vulnerable to manipulation. Fukuyama initially underestimated its impact, you must not. People now live in tailor-made digital realities, making them easier to control.
To counter this, Fukuyama proposes “middleware,” independent filters to interpret digital content, challenging the dominance of tech platforms and restoring narrative power to a competitive intellectual elite. But this isn't just a tech fix, it's a strategy in the ongoing war over ideas.
At the heart of this struggle is a conflict between two philosophical views: Rousseau’s belief that the individual’s inner self is pure and should be freed, versus Hobbes’s belief that the self is dangerous and must be controlled through structure and authority. The modern obsession with self-authenticity, and authoritarianism comes at the expense of collective responsibility. Will Canadians follow in the footsteps of their American brothers and sisters? Or, will we continue down a more collective, a more humane equal and equitable, caring for all in our beautiful Canadian society?
We will forever care for all of our people, our indigenous people, our refugees, our new Canadians, our permanent residents, and equally, our born Canadians, it doesn't matter of their religion. We are a nation-state. A Country of people from all countries and we are extremely proud and honoured of our people.
To truly gain influence in this era, you must cut through these illusions. Power is never given, it must be taken, and it begins with mastering how people see themselves and the world.