Is there any fact or idea that you thought was true for the majority of your life but turned out it wasn't? I am pretty sure there was and the reason I assume this is because I also had multiple sessions of acknowledgement. Now let's approach this term with a more real, relatable example.
What I am about to explain is a term that many people have misunderstood. It is about democracy and its misinterpreted opposite term; communism, along with totalitarianism. Democracy is when power is held by elected representatives or is directly vested in the people of a state(a political term referring to a territory where the government exercises sovereignty). Communism is a political and economic ideology advocating for the fair distribution of resources through government control over markets and personal property.
A common misconception comes through in political terms such as linking democracy with capitalism and communism with dictatorship. When discussing democracy and communism, nearly 8 out of 10 people perceive these terms as incompatible. This phenomenon is likely due to ideological conditioning, compounded by the international recognition of the Korean Peninsula's division which reinforces certain biased perspectives. However, communism does not imply dictatorship; rather it is an ideology advocating state control of all market aspects to achieve collective equality over individual freedom.
Does capitalism always align with democracy? Many less-developed countries (LDCs) have experienced "development dictatorships," where a government prioritizes rapid economic development over democratic processes. In these cases, a capitalist system can thrive under authoritarian rule, as seen in South Korea's historical experience. Leading to the conclusion that democracy does not always link to capitalism.
Etymologically, democracy is more accurately a form of political order (crazy) rather than an ideology (ism). The fundamental principle of democracy—"none shall govern, and none shall be governed"—suggests that each individual is inborn with free will. Therefore considering this term both theoretically and conceptually, communism does not necessarily fit into the category of dictatorship.
The misconception arises because "dictatorship" is often invoked when a state faces an extreme crisis, where a constitutional solution appears inadequate. In such situations where emergency elections may be held, the constitution may be temporarily suspended. However, this does not automatically render a state undemocratic. Autocracy, a form of dictatorship, leads the state to be undemocratic. This usually happens when the situation deteriorates into totalitarianism where the government exercises unlimited control over citizens' lives. Therefore, when a single political entity seizes power outside of an emergency context, the state becomes an autocracy, which indeed stands in opposition to democratic principles.
Many of you reading this might have thought that the opposite term of democracy is communism. But as this article says, this is a common misconception made by the majority of people and it is a view that needs to be corrected. Do not blind faith in facts that you know. Do not accept what you know as indisputable facts. Instead, challenge the notions you hold dear, what you call "common sense."
[Source: The Saturday Evening Post]
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