Introduction
In his introduction to a series of studies on world history, John Buchan (1875-1940) recalled that the great historian Lord Acton had uncovered as many as two hundred definitions of ‘liberty.’ A study of history, said Buchan, is the only way to untangle these various definitions — as it is for other catchwords of our own day such as ‘democracy’ and ‘populism.’
TAKE any of our contemporary phrases — ‘self-determination,’ ‘liberty,’ ‘the right to work,’ ‘international solidarity,’ and so forth. They all have a kind of dim meaning, but as they are currently used they have many very different meanings, and these meanings are often contradictory. I think it was Lord Acton who once said he had counted two hundred definitions of ‘liberty.’
Perhaps the worst sinner in this respect is the word ‘democracy.’ As commonly used, it has a dozen quite distinct meanings, when it has any meaning at all, and we are all familiar in political discussions with the circular argument — that such and such a measure is good for the people because it is democratic; and if it be asked why it is democratic, the answer is, ‘Because it is good for the people.’
‘Democratic’ really describes that form of government in which the policy of the State is determined and its business conducted by the will of the majority of its citizens, expressed through some regular channel. It is a word which denotes machinery, not purpose.
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