The Fake of Democracy
The Black Spy Podcast 228, Season 23, Episode 0007
This week Carlton King asks - is Democracy a con?
In this critical thinking episode of the Black Spy Podcast Carlton poses the seldom asked question how could the USA be the leader of the free world from 1945 onward when African American 1/5 of the US population were effectively denied the right to vote, have substantial schooling, suffered extreme discrimination in housing - employment - policing - judicial sentencing - banking & finance (loans not being available to blacks) and indeed any type of social, cultural and national interaction. Moreover, the final nail in the US's democratic credentials is that from the end of the US civil war in 1865 all the way through to the early 1980's, the lynching of African American men and indeed women was not unusual.
So I ask, how could the USA be seen as the leader of the Free World - possibly it was because the West:
Central & South America
the European colonies in Africa and Asia and
Settler states in these areas and Oceana
treated their African and black and brown subjugated peoples in exactly the same manner.
So often, in the modern era, democracy is compared and contrasted as such:
At its core, democracy means rule by the people — people participate in choosing leaders and shaping public life through free, fair, and inclusive elections and meaningful civil liberties. It also presumes equal rights and protections for all citizens.
Historical contradictions: Today's democracies — including the United States — have often fallen short of this ideal. In U.S. history, Black Americans and other minorities were legally excluded from voting and full citizenship well into the 20th century; segregation restricted basic civil rights long after the U.S. became a global power claiming to champion "freedom." These contradictions reflect democratic backsliding — where institutions and practices don't live up to democratic principles, often due to inequality, exclusion, or political manipulation.
Venezuela and democracy: Venezuela's recent elections (e.g., July 2024) have been widely criticized for lacking transparency, fairness, and real competition, with opposition candidates disqualified and results disputed. Many governments, including the U.S. and EU, refused to recognize the outcome. Meanwhile U.S. policy — refusing to recognize Nicolás Maduro's presidency and pushing sanctions or pressure — illustrates how geopolitical interests and claims about "democracy" intersect with power politics.
Comparisons with Russia and China: Russia and China hold elections or consultative processes, but these often lack competitiveness, independent media, and checks on power that typify liberal democracy. Critics argue these systems do not meet international standards of democratic legitimacy, even if leaders are formally chosen.
Conclusion: Democracy is a normative ideal, not a fixed reality. All political systems, including those that call themselves democratic, have gaps between theory and practice. Assessments of democracy must look beyond elections — at fairness, rights, freedom of expression, rule of law, and equal participation — not merely at who occupies office.
So let us see how the Black Spy assess this question.
Once again this is a must listen episode that educates whilst entertaining, to provide listeners with a real understanding to today's world.
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