The ideas of democracy in E. M. Forster’s journalism (based on “Two Cheers for Democracy”)

Abstract

The article examines the conceptual foundations of democracy in E. M. Forster’s journalism, primarily in the collection “Two Cheers for Democracy”. Special attention is paid to the problem of ambivalence of democracy: Forster recognizes its imperfection, but considers it to be the most acceptable form of the government system. The author analyzes the key contradictions of the democratic system, including its exposure to the pressure of mass consciousness, the commercialization of political processes, and the danger of majority tyranny. The research focuses on the humanistic concept of individualism, proposed by Forster as a counterweight to state control and unification. The aim of the work is to identify the evolution of Vorster’s views on democracy under the influence of historical events in the first half of the 20^th century and the aspects of his criticism relevant to modern political discourse. In the course of our study, we analyzed the writer’s key essays, which allowed us to conclude that his democratic skepticism was combined with a conviction of the need to protect the individual in a mass society. The results obtained make it possible for us to consider Forster’s journalism to be an important source for understanding modern challenges to democracy, including the issues of civil liberties, political responsibility and the moral foundations of power.