Despotic bottlenecks of freedom and democracy; Taking a look at John Stuart Mill, Karl Wittfogel and Alexis de Tocqueville

The terms of Despotism and freedom are of the famous terms of the history of political thought. In regard with despotism, the first thing that comes to the mind is that the ruling person dictates to the people under his command such that the people don’t have the feeling of security and freedom. Expressing the reasons for the emergence of despotism, Alexis de Tocqueville believes that people get dependent or adherent due to their interest to their personal affairs and as a result little interest and time remains for participating in the public affairs which follow particularly the public interest. From Tocqueville‘s point of view, the mass media is one of the factors creating despotism. The media drive people to isolation and when the society is driven to isolation it is only the central government who is active and therefore the government becomes the lone rider. Regarding the reasons for the emergence of despotism, John Stuart Mill is also of the opinion that customs and believes are very effective in restricting the minority. Going further to his points of view, he recognizes government’s authority as one of the other factors of despotism.