The 5 Characteristics Of A Demagogue
History speaks of great dangers stemming from rabble-rousers.
Thomas Macaulay, 19th century British historian and politician, was a very shrewd political observer. Based on years of experience, he issued a very stern warning. It was against one specific type of political operator: the demagogue.
“In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues.” — Thomas Macaulay
While we are well into the 21st century, these words still apply. We might have once thought we were entering the “end of history”, but human nature came back with a vengeance.
Today’s era is marked by division and chaos. And it’s very easy to point to specific individuals who thrive in this disorder, and who actually stoke this turmoil even more.
They don’t build. They destroy.
The word demagogue originally comes from Greek, and has come to signify a “rabble rouser.” It’s the type of politician who rouses the common masses by appealing to their basest emotions.
A demagogue taps into the fact that most people are not persuaded by logic. Rather, it is feelings and emotions that drive a person’s decisions. The internal make-up of…
