[CP Entry] eRepublik Democracy – Failed, Flawed, or Just Right

Day 495, 15:28 • Published in Canada Canada • by Zanalan

The history of the eRepublik developers has influenced the style of government in the game. After 44 years of Romanian Communism, it is only natural that they would celebrate the transition to democracy. That celebration gives us the eWorld we live in.

Tocqueville could have been looking at eRepublik when he spoke of the tyranny of the masses. In our world the citizenry has an opportunity to join any political party, or create their own party if their views are not represented. This should be the basis of democratic freedom. Instead, the masses maintain power.

One would expect that citizens have the opportunity to make their viewpoint heard. One would expect that citizens would be able to stand for election and defend their viewpoint. However, in our adopted world, this opportunity is only available to the five largest parties. This restriction on candidacy reinforces the tyranny of the masses.

The suggestion that smaller parties do not deserve to clutter the candidate list runs counter to the concept of an open democracy. An open democracy should allow everyone to stand for election. The electorate should decide who is worthy of consideration. This restriction is the greatest flaw in eRepublik democracy. Despite this flaw, we commend the creators for giving us a semblance of democracy.

Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried.” Given the alternatives, most of us will hold our noses and admit that our e-democracy is just right.