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Democracy and the Market: Harnessing Self-Interest for the Common Good
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Elections & Politics

Democracy and the Market: Harnessing Self-Interest for the Common Good

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Sources not specified Context piece
  • The article argues that democracy requires a robust defense against non-democratic forces in Pakistan.
  • It refutes the idea that non-democratic leadership is inherently selfless, stating all leaders harness societal power.
  • Both democracy and market economies are designed to channel selfish motivations toward the common good, drawing on historical philosophical ideas.

Pakistan's history necessitates a strong defense of democracy, particularly against non-democratic forces that often amplify failures under democratic rule to justify their interventions. These forces promote the idea of a selfless leadership prioritizing national interest over personal gain. However, the article contends that this premise is flawed, as no leadership is truly selfless, especially in politics. All contenders for power harness existing societal strengths, including the institutional backing that non-democrats often rely on.

ambitious, vindictive and rapacious

— HamiltonReferencing Hamilton's description of political actors in the Federalist Papers.

The author draws parallels with foundational political thought, referencing Hamilton's view in the Federalist Papers that political actors are inherently "ambitious, vindictive and rapacious." This perspective, rooted in philosophical traditions, suggests that human beings, particularly those seeking power, are driven by self-interest. David Hume's assertion that systems of rule should assume every person acts out of private interest, and Montesquieu's argument that power must be a check on power because those invested with it tend to abuse it, are cited to support this view.

every man ought to be supposed a knave, and to have no other end, in all his actions, than private interest

— HumeQuoting Hume on the assumption of self-interest when devising systems of rule.

Immanuel Kant's philosophy is also invoked, suggesting that even a society of 'devils' could function under a well-structured constitution, as their selfish inclinations would naturally counteract each other, producing outcomes similar to those achieved by moral virtue. The core argument is that both democracy and market economies are fundamentally designed to harness these inherent, often negative, individual motivations. By channeling these self-serving impulses, these systems aim to foster the common good for all citizens.

Constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it … it is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power

— MontesquieuCiting Montesquieu on the tendency for power to be abused and the necessity of checks and balances.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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