From End Times (Peter Turchin, 2023) p238
What is little appreciated is that although democratic institutions are the best (or least bad) way of governing societies, democracies are particularly vulnerable to being subverted by plutocrats. Ideology may be the softest, gentlest form of power, but it is the key one in democratic societies. The plutocrats can use their wealth to buy mass media, to fund think tanks, and to handsomely reward those social influencers who promote their messages. In other words, they wield enormous power to sway the electorate toward the opinions that promote their interests. Cruder forms of power, such as swaying elections and lobbying politicians, are also quite effective in promoting the political agendas of the rich. Finally, just as in war, money is the most important fuel powering organizations. Naked enthusiasm is not enough for a sustained, longterm effort, although money plus enthusiasm is better than just money. The plutocrats can afford (literally) to plan, and implement their plans, for the long term.
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