- Hardcover: 220 pages
- Publisher: Transaction Publishers (31 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765800888
- ISBN-13: 978-0765800886
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,287,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Synopsis
The core of this book is a systematic treatment of the historic transformation of the West from monarchy to democracy. Revisionist in nature, it reaches the conclusion that monarchy is a lesser evil than democracy, but outlines deficiencies in both. Its methodology is axiomatic-deductive, allowing the writer to derive economic and sociological theorems, and then apply them to interpret historical events. A compelling chapter on time preference describes the progress of civilization as lowering time preferences as capital structure is built, and explains how the interaction between people can lower time all around, with interesting parallels to the Ricardian Law of Association. By focusing on this transformation, the author is able to interpret many historical phenomena, such as rising levels of crime, degeneration of standards of conduct and morality, and the growth of the mega-state. In underscoring the deficiencies of both monarchy and democracy, the author demonstrates how these systems are both inferior to a natural order based on private-property.Hoppe deconstructs the classical liberal belief in the possibility of limited government and calls for an alignment of conservatism and libertarianism as natural allies with common goals. He defends the proper role of the production of defense as undertaken by insurance companies on a free market, and describes the emergence of private law among competing insurers. Having established a natural order as superior on utilitarian grounds, the author goes on to assess the prospects for achieving a natural order. Informed by his analysis of the deficiencies of social democracy, and armed with the social theory of legitimation, he forsees secession as the likely future of the US and Europe, resulting in a multitude of region and city-states. This book complements the author's previous work defending the ethics of private property and natural order. Democracy - The God that Failed will be of interest to scholars and students of history, political economy, and political philosophy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hoppe is not afraid to butcher, bleed and shrink-wrap that most sacred of sacred cows - democracy. As the title suggests, Hoppe considers democracy to be a horrible step backward in the evolution of human government, and he makes a compelling case for his thesis.
The book is actually a series of essays on the nature of government and economics, each of which stands on its own. However, the book is better consumed as a whole because he builds the case against democracy in an orderly, rational - an imminently readable - manner.
This would be a good book if Hoppe did nothing more than skewer western civilisation's sacrosanct belief in the innate superiority of democracy over other forms of government. He does that quite well, thank you.
But what sets DTGTF above your typical run-of-the-mill libertarian cant is that Hoppe not only destroys the theoretical foundations of democracy but also actually provides the theoretical and practical framework for an alternative form of government that might actually work.
I digested this book slowly over a couple of months' time just because my little mind needed the extra time to get wrapped around new and rather startling ideas. While not lengthy, it is extensively footnoted, and the footnotes alone make compelling reading.
DTGTF is not a perfect work, but then the subject does not lend itself to perfection. I would liken this work to that which a road builder undertakes when blasting a tunnel through a mountain. Dynamite does not lend itself to finely detailed work, but if you need to blow a hole through a mountain of faulty beliefs, nothing does the job quite like dynamite.
Recommended with no reservations.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I liked this clearly writtten book with its novel viewpoint and analysis about the perils of government which is not limited in its scope and is firmly believed to be acting for the good by way of democracy. It occurred to me after reading chapter 1 that the current situation in Burma is simply the Junta exercising its high time preference to leapfrog the democratic process and go straight to the logical consequences of contemporary democracy. This would be a valuable book for the Burmese pro-democracy leadership to read, so that they might not repeat the mistakes of the world's most recently liberated states.
The conclusion that the state should be replaced by insurance companies and contracts is reasonable, and does currently work in certain classes of international business activity to circumvent the complications and delays of inter-state law, but I suspect--if computer security is anything to judge by--security and sophisticated scare-mongering would become a dominant preoccupation and divert capital from more productive activity.
The state as a monopoly is democratically granted its temporary monopoly, and although any constitution is simply a piece of paper which may be capable of abuse by interpretation and manipulation, it is up to the electorate to exercise good judgement in their electoral choices. Which is another good reason for many to read this book at this juncture in time. Furthermore--as a crude metaphor--just because a metal ladder doesn't specify that it should not be leaned against overhead electricity cables, sufficient 'a priori' knowledge should avoid this from happening instead of having to legislate for the banning of metal ladders and pursue claims for damage or death through the courts and seek compensation by way of insurance.
The conclusion that the state should be replaced by insurance companies and contracts is reasonable, and does currently work in certain classes of international business activity to circumvent the complications and delays of inter-state law, but I suspect--if computer security is anything to judge by--security and sophisticated scare-mongering would become a dominant preoccupation and divert capital from more productive activity.
The state as a monopoly is democratically granted its temporary monopoly, and although any constitution is simply a piece of paper which may be capable of abuse by interpretation and manipulation, it is up to the electorate to exercise good judgement in their electoral choices. Which is another good reason for many to read this book at this juncture in time. Furthermore--as a crude metaphor--just because a metal ladder doesn't specify that it should not be leaned against overhead electricity cables, sufficient 'a priori' knowledge should avoid this from happening instead of having to legislate for the banning of metal ladders and pursue claims for damage or death through the courts and seek compensation by way of insurance.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I won't say a lot, but I'll say this:
Some years back; I don't remember why I bought the book (I must have been on the recommendation of a friend), and it stood unread on my shelf for some time, before i finally picked it up. The title was provoking, as I was still a firm believer in democracy before I read it, but when I finally turned the first pages, I got hooked - it was like new doors of knowledge were opening up for me, and it was disconcerting, because (as many others who read this book can attest to, I'm sure), the message of the book broke down the political illusions we create for ourselves. And the more I read, the more I realized that a blind faith in democracy today is just as bad as outright supporting tyranny.
H.H. Hoppe convincingly shows how the rise of democracy (publically "owned" government, as opposed to privately owned government, such as monarchies) around the start of the 20th century has resulted in a massive success for socialism (and thus erosion of private property rights), and a dire failure of sound financial and monetary policies. And, of course, the eternal growth of the state, which is now invading more and more of our personal lives and taking away our economic freedoms.
You should not read this if you are reluctant to have your political opinions challenged. Read it enough, and you may become an anarchist - consider yourself warned!
Some years back; I don't remember why I bought the book (I must have been on the recommendation of a friend), and it stood unread on my shelf for some time, before i finally picked it up. The title was provoking, as I was still a firm believer in democracy before I read it, but when I finally turned the first pages, I got hooked - it was like new doors of knowledge were opening up for me, and it was disconcerting, because (as many others who read this book can attest to, I'm sure), the message of the book broke down the political illusions we create for ourselves. And the more I read, the more I realized that a blind faith in democracy today is just as bad as outright supporting tyranny.
H.H. Hoppe convincingly shows how the rise of democracy (publically "owned" government, as opposed to privately owned government, such as monarchies) around the start of the 20th century has resulted in a massive success for socialism (and thus erosion of private property rights), and a dire failure of sound financial and monetary policies. And, of course, the eternal growth of the state, which is now invading more and more of our personal lives and taking away our economic freedoms.
You should not read this if you are reluctant to have your political opinions challenged. Read it enough, and you may become an anarchist - consider yourself warned!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Proof positive there is nothing so absurd someone won't publish it
Once every couple of generations it seems along comes a German with a grudge against democracy and a very bad book. Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by Sa Buckley
Courageous scholarship
In this courageous and scholarly book, Professor Hoppe challenges many of the common assumptions about democracy, arguing for its replacement by anarcho-capitalism. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2010 by birchden
Serious subject; very feeble book.
As I type this, I see four Amazon reviews, all praising this book fulsomely. They may be planted reviews to help the author; who knows. Read more
Published on 30 May 2009 by Rerevisionist
Mandatory reading for everyone who cares about our society
This is a wonderful book, wonderfully written. The way historical events affect political and economic and social transformations are nicely put together. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by Riccardo Ronco
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