Political Cynicism

POLITICAL CYNICISM IS the belief that the government—whether democratic or not—does not serve the public good, but rather serves the interests of the governing elites. This belief can take different forms, varying in scope and depth. At its most general level, it can be defined as a lack of trust in government. Political cynicism can have profound effects—electoral and otherwise. While political cynicism has recently become more popular, it is not, by any means, a new idea, as it can be traced back to the writings of Plato.

Political cynicism can be either local or universal in scope. While a local cynic believes that his or her own government does not care about its people, a universal cynic holds that all governments are in place for the purpose of furthering the interests of those in power. [Page 512]Political cynicism also varies in depth. Deep or ardent cynics consistently hold that the government is self-interested and cares nothing for the public; therefore they believe the government does not keep its promises and cannot be trusted. Milder cynics share this lack of trust in government, but are not necessarily critical of the government's motives; rather, they usually point to specific failures of the government or its lack of adequate resources.

Regardless of the truth of political cynicism's claims about government, it is important in its effect on voting behavior, specifically, and its effect on democracy, in general. Since the 1960s, political cynicism in the United States has increased, as more voters have come to see the government as self-interested and untrustworthy. This trend has been blamed for the concurrent decline in voter turnout, as those who are more cynical toward government are naturally less likely to vote. More broadly, this rise in cynicism has aroused concern for the quality and sustainability of American democracy, as deeper political cynics see democratic legitimacy as a myth propagated to deceive the public into consenting to be governed. V.I. Lenin, a notable political cynic, considered an election a chance for the oppressed to choose between oppressors. A politically cynical population thus is not only less likely to vote, but also less accepting of government and its laws.

Despite its recent upsurge in public attention, political cynicism is not a new idea. One of the earliest philosophical statements of it is found in Plato's Republic, in which the character Thrasymachus argues that justice is defined by the strong to serve their interests, and that terming it as justice manipulates the weak into obedience.