The enemy within: Demagogy and ‘the marketplace of ideas’

Unlike authoritarians of old, the current crop of authoritarian demagogues does not explicitly reject the democratic framework. Instead, they undermine it from within. Rather than engage their opponents on the issues, demagogues delegitimize them. As ancient Greeks had observed, turning political rivals into enemies is highly effective because it answers a need. Demagogy is driven by demand. This poses a distinct challenge to the ideals of free speech and freedom of the press, which are justified and understood in terms of market competition or ‘the marketplace of ideas’.