 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Most political leaders acquire their position by causing large numbers of people to believe that these leaders are actuated by altruistic desires. It is well understood that such a belief is more readily accepted under the influence of excitement. Brass bands, mob oratory, lynching, and war, are stages in the development of the excitement. I suppose the advocates of unreason think that there is a better chance of profitably deceiving the populace if they keep it in a state of effervescence.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, preface
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Revised edition. All regimes want to hold major national events. This is not only because of the economic benefits, but also because it can help maintain the regime by drawing the public's attention to such events. Especially when the regime has a bad reputation, it can be the only aid to the collapse of the regime. The Olympic and World Expo bids, Abe's state funeral, mass lynchings by the media, fears of invasion of the country by a hypothetical enemy country, or at least one of the others are likely to work.