Philosopher Martha Nussbaum writes, "Monarchs feed on fear from below. Fear of the monarch's punishment ensures compliance. And fear of outside threats ensures voluntary servitude."
Physicist Alan Lightman ponders this and other questions in his new book, "Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine."
Ideological extremism and a stark indifference to the lies and ruthless policies of the Trump administration have turned the GOP into a party of collaborators.
With the advent of the Trump presidency, language is undergoing a shift in the United States: It now treats dissent, critical media and scientific evidence as a species of "fake news."
The crises we face are being met by a president who urges police to "take the gloves off" and promotes a "law and order" campaign steeped in racism.
What kind of democracy is possible when the institutions crucial to a vibrant civil society are vanishing?
The president’s dangerous rhetoric toward North Korea is symptomatic of democratic collapse.
In a U.K. commencement speech, the author urges grads to "confront the poisonous authoritarianism that is emerging in many countries today." (Pictured, an anti-Trump march in London.)
Any viable attempt at developing democratic politics must address the role of education and civic literacy as central to politics itself.
Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges, drawing on history and his own experience, outlines how to effectively oppose the Trump regime.
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