Democracies and the Use of Force Against Citizens
Democracies collapse not only when institutions fail, but also when leaders turn their weapons on the people they are sworn to serve.
History teaches us that when leaders use force against their own citizens, it can have severe consequences. The use of tanks, tear gas, and troops against citizens may restore order in the short term, but it can also strip a nation of its moral authority.
Once that authority is gone, no election, no speech, no military victory can restore it.
A democracy that silences dissent with force may still call itself free, but it will be viewed as no different from dictatorships by the world and its own people. The foundation of democracy is trust, which is a fragile currency that cannot be restored once lost.
Author's summary: Leaders using force against citizens undermines democracy.
- Tanks in the streets
- Tear gas in the squares
- Troops facing down their own citizens