The concept of "democracy rule by cliques" refers to a situation where small, influential groups-often termed "sovereign cliques"-exert disproportionate control over democratic processes, potentially undermining the principles of equal representation and public accountability. This phenomenon can erode the foundational ideals of democracy, where power is meant to be vested in the people, by concentrating influence among a select few who operate within or outside formal government structures.
Understanding Sovereign Cliques in Democracy
Sovereign cliques are groups of individuals who penetrate key institutions, restructure them to exclude other players, and control agendas to serve their interests. These groups often blur the lines between public and private interests, relaxing market competition and government accountability. In the context of the United States, a prominent example is the Neoconservative core, a clique of about a dozen individuals connected since the 1970s, including figures like Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, and Douglas Feith. This group has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, by promoting each other into influential positions and coordinating efforts to pursue shared objectives, such as the Iraq War. Their ability to operate both within and outside formal government structures, and to establish duplicative governmental entities like the Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans in the Pentagon, has allowed them to bypass traditional checks and balances1.
The primary issue with such cliques is their lack of accountability to the public. They often exploit ambiguities in modern governance, shifting between roles and rules to maintain influence. Rather than facing restrictions, these groups may find opportunities extended by the government, further entrenching their power and weakening democratic norms1.
Mechanisms of Influence
Sovereign cliques employ several tactics that align with broader authoritarian strategies to consolidate power, even within democratic systems. These tactics, as identified by scholars of democratic backsliding, include:
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Politicizing Independent Institutions: Cliques may capture or influence institutions meant to operate independently, such as law enforcement or policy-making bodies, to align them with their agendas5.
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Aggrandizing Executive Power: By aligning with or influencing executive branches, cliques can centralize power, often sidelining legislative or judicial oversight5.
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Quashing Dissent: These groups may work to silence opposition or independent press, limiting public debate and criticism of their actions5.
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Corrupting Elections: While maintaining the facade of democratic elections, cliques might tilt rules or suppress votes to favor their interests or allies5.
In stable democracies like the U.S., legal frameworks are intended to prevent individuals from simultaneously holding conflicting roles (e.g., as government officials and private consultants). However, outsourcing and relaxed conflict-of-interest rules for private contractors can create loopholes that cliques exploit1.
Impact on Democratic Principles
Democracy, at its core, is defined as a form of government where political power is vested in the people, often through equitable and open competition for votes among political parties710. Key principles include the rule of law, a multi-party system, and the protection of minority rights, ensuring that governance reflects the will of the broader population67. However, when cliques dominate, they can derail these principles by:
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Reducing public input and accountability, as decisions are made by a narrow group rather than through broad deliberation or representation1.
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Undermining the multi-party system by concentrating power in ways that limit genuine political competition or opposition6.
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Weakening the rule of law by bypassing established institutions or creating parallel structures that evade oversight1.
Historically, thinkers like Aristotle and Montesquieu warned of the fragility of democracy, noting that rule by the many could degenerate into other forms of governance, such as oligarchy (rule by the few), when power becomes concentrated7. The rise of cliques within democratic systems mirrors this concern, as their influence can shift governance away from the public and toward private or narrow interests.
Global Context and Comparisons
The phenomenon of cliques ruling within democracies is not unique to the U.S. In Eastern Europe, post-communist transitions saw similar groups-often called "boundary shifters" or "institutional nomads"-play multiple roles in government, consulting, and NGOs to amass wealth and influence. These cliques prioritized loyalty to their own networks over institutional integrity1. Similarly, in countries experiencing democratic backsliding, such as Hungary, Poland, and India, ruling groups or parties have used identity politics and exclusionary tactics to consolidate power, often under the guise of representing the "true" will of the people, while marginalizing minorities and dissenters5.
Modern authoritarian tactics, often described as "salami tactics" for their gradual erosion of democratic norms, highlight how cliques can operate over time to dismantle checks and balances without a singular, dramatic event like a coup. This incremental approach makes it harder to pinpoint when democracy is truly undermined5.
Conclusion
The rule by cliques within democratic systems poses a significant threat to the ideals of equal representation, accountability, and public participation. By leveraging institutional ambiguities, bypassing oversight, and aligning with authoritarian tactics, these groups can shift power away from the people and toward their own interests. Understanding and addressing the role of sovereign cliques is crucial to safeguarding democracy, as their influence can subtly but effectively derail the mechanisms meant to ensure governance by and for all. Network analysis and social organizational frameworks, as suggested by anthropological studies, offer valuable tools for identifying and countering the impact of such cliques on democratic processes1.
Citations:
- https://watson.brown.edu/muabet/docs/an.2005.46.8.28.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_democracy
- https://www.moneylife.in/article/the-ruling-clique-versus-democracy/17967.html
- https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2022/global-expansion-authoritarian-rule
- https://protectdemocracy.org/work/the-authoritarian-playbook/
- https://www.liberties.eu/en/stories/principles-of-democracy/44151
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy
- https://www.okhistory.org/learn/government1
- https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/democracy
- https://www.ned.org/docs/Samuel-P-Huntington-Democracy-Third-Wave.pdf
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