Issue - Winter 2010
Overland 199: Book pirates, the pros and cons of the Greens, Cate Kennedy on disconnecting for creativity, and much more … have a look ›
Listen to Overland editor Jeff Sparrow on Aural Text on Melbourne radio 3RRR, 12 pm every Wednesday.
Winning poems from the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize now online.
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Thinking about democracy
It is odd, how we think of democracy these days – as something ordinary, inherent to the West, something to strive for yet something taken for granted, also. It is a concept that has plagued the politically vexed mind since time immemorial, well, at least since our ancient forebears. Aristotle envisioned it, Plato feared it (‘Democracy passes into despotism’), as did Mill, and Machiavelli idealised it, believing that the majority would preclude oppression, which was preferable to the tyranny of the few, who would always look to subjugation to maintain control and order. It used to be a radical concept: tyrannical or feudal systems didn’t benefit the majority and were subject to the whims and natures of the privileged minority. ... read more
Written by Jacinda Woodhead on 29-07-2010, 4 user comments
Special online only content: Maxine Clarke on Australia’s blackface history.
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Recent posts
- Thinking about democracy: Jacinda Woodhead
- Where poetry and the Greens meet: Koraly Dimitriadis
- The democratisation of publishing (and a bit of Clay Shirky for good measure): Jacinda Woodhead
- The passing of Generation Kill: Stephen Wright
- In defence of the pledge of allegiance: Louise Pine
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