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The trouble with 'freedom'

John Gray looks at the relationship between freedom and democracy. He argues that whenever tyranny is overthrown, the result is not necessarily greater liberty throughout society.

"We like to tell ourselves an uplifting story in which freedom expands whenever tyranny is overthrown" writes John Gray. "We believe that...when a dictator is toppled the result is not only a more accountable type of government but also greater liberty throughout society".

But Gray believes otherwise. Using the nineteenth century liberal John Stuart Mill and his god-son Bertrand Russell, he advances his argument that liberty is one thing, democracy another.

"The reality" he says "is that when a tyrant is toppled we can't know what will come next".

Producer:
Adele Armstrong.

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10 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Aug 2012 08:50

Broadcasts

  • Fri 24 Aug 2012 20:50
  • Sun 26 Aug 2012 08:50

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