Concept in Definition ABC

The word that we analyze comes from the Greek and is formed by the root chlo, which means multitude, and by cratos, which translates as government. Thus, in its literal sense, ochlocracy is the rule of the multitude.

The degeneration of government systems

In his treatise on the Politics the Greek philosopher Aristotle exposed the different forms of government, as well as their corresponding degenerate versions. It showed that the monarchy can lead to tyranny, the aristocracy is in danger of becoming an oligarchy and the democracy it can end in demagoguery.

One of the forms of demagoguery is precisely ochlocracy. In conventional demagogy, a politician has the skill rhetoric to manipulate the people, while in the oclocracy it is the people who take the floor and end up imposing their will. Obviously, it is not a form of government in a common sense, but rather a social phenomenon that manifests itself when the crowd ends up imposing their criteria.

A brief analysis of the power of crowds

In today's democracies, political parties and institutions are not going through a good time, as large sectors of the citizenship they are suspicious of conventional politics. Thus, somehow broad social layers become a new actor in public life.

Millions of deeply disenchanted people have opinions on all kinds of matters of general interest, even if their sources of information are biased. Although these people do not have any political tool to change reality, there is no doubt that their opinions end up having a certain weight in society as a whole. It is in this weather social where the idea of ​​ochlocracy emerges.

The force Social media has multiplied the voice of the disenchanted popular masses. Purely visceral critical opinions, disqualifications without any kind of argumentation and permanent complaint towards everything are some of the forms of communication that the ordinary citizen uses to express his ideas and concerns. The problem with this social current is its irrationality.

Citizens can and should participate, comment or criticize on all matters of interest general, but it would be desirable that their interventions were something more than the simple shouting of the crowd. Otherwise, oclocracy, that is, the power of the popular masses, becomes present.

On some occasions this deeply disillusioned mass finds a populist ally along the way. There is no populist leader without a corresponding crowd to support him.

Photo Fotolia: Bakhtiarzein