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THIS REPRINT OF WALTER LIPPMAN'S THE PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY, THE AUTHOR ARGUES, AFTER WWII, THAT DEMOCRACIES MAY BE DOOMED, DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE TO ACT WITH AUTHORITY AND DECISIVENESS, WHICH PUTS DEMOCRACIES AT A VAST DISADVANTAGE IN THEIR COMPETITION WITH TOTALITARIAN ADVERSARIES. THE AUTHOR STUDIES THE INCREASINGLY DISRUPTIVE IMPACT OF MASS OPINION ON DEMOCRATIC POLICY FROM WWI INTO THE THIRTIES. THE AUTHOR FINDS A RULE: THAT AT CRITICAL JUNCTURES, WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH, THE PREVAILING MASS OPINION WILL IMPOSE A VETO UPON CHANGING THE CURRENT COURSE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IN ORDER TO PROVE THAT THE MALADY OF DEMOCRATIC STATES IS A DERANGEMENT IN THE RELATION BETWEEN THE MASS OF PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT, THE AUTHOR LOOKS AT THE RELATION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE POWER AND THE ELECTED ASSEMBLY, WITH EXAMPLES GOING BACK TO NORMAN ENGLAND. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT WESTERN LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES ARE A DECLINING POWER IN HUMAN AFFAIRS, DUE TO THEIR DISABILITY IN COPING WITH THE MOUNTING DISORDER. THE AUTHOR ASKS HOW IF WE REJECT THE VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE IN A KING OR POPE, HOW DO WE REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, AND IS THE ASSEMBLY REALLY MORE EFFECTIVE.