<![CDATA[Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names?]]>Many countries include 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names, even though they are not democratic and do not serve their people. Examples:
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Lao People's Democratic Republic
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Democratic Republic of the Congo
And German Democratic Republic (East Side) in 1949–1990.
None of these states are democratic, power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of a small ruling elite. Who are they fooling with these names?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/topic/734bc1e7-9df7-490d-875a-1c5b74b16f10/why-do-authoritarian-states-have-democratic-or-people-s-in-their-namesRSS for NodeThu, 10 Sep 2026 11:52:26 GMTThu, 27 Aug 2026 19:15:11 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:21:24 GMT]]>if you stick strictly to the name "united states" then yes, it's the first entity to name themselves this. later entities include the united states of belgium but they appear later (1790).

however, the netherlands used the name "united provinces" and "(republic of the seven) united netherlands" from 1588, sooooo I guess it can count if you make your question broad?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/116773640847963937/statuses/117169801405817149https://fedi.wiki/post/https://mastodon.world/ap/users/116773640847963937/statuses/117169801405817149Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:21:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:17:52 GMT]]>In the Americas, and in the modern period yes, but the concept was not totally new. Switzerland was a kind of federal state since 1291: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Charter_of_1291

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27125244https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27125244Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:17:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:13:11 GMT]]>I mean it in Gramsci's terms. For the second question I would say the ones cited by OP are good examples but horizontal organization is my preferred one, look about EZLN ways of horizontal democracy. Again not saying they are the correct or morally good ones either.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://leminal.space/comment/24947210https://fedi.wiki/post/https://leminal.space/comment/24947210Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:13:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:05:00 GMT]]>Because they're too cowardly to own what they are

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.zip/comment/28502573https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.zip/comment/28502573Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:05:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:04:58 GMT]]>What does hegemony mean here? And what would a non-hegemonic democracy look like?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27125035https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27125035Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:04:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:58:52 GMT]]>Unrelated. For many intents and purposes the states of the US are in fact united. However the examples in OP are very much not democratic.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124923https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124923Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:58:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:56:21 GMT]]>Was the USA the first set of "united states"?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124885https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124885Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:56:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:51:59 GMT]]>So that absolute morons can say stuff like "the Nazis were socialist, it's right there in their name"

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25523310https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25523310Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:51:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:45:04 GMT]]>There was a point where the National Socialist Party was actually socialist. But Hitler and his ilk saw a party with popular momentum, joined it, co-opted it, and betrayed the socialist ideals.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25523187https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25523187Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:45:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:44:44 GMT]]>Can't believe you'd ask this question and leave out the People's Republic of China.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124676https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27124676Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:44:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:32:44 GMT]]>"Neither democratic, nor the people's, nor a republic."

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522983https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522983Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:32:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:31:49 GMT]]>The people are democratic.

The government, not so much.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://pawb.social/comment/23998127https://fedi.wiki/post/https://pawb.social/comment/23998127Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:31:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:30:14 GMT]]>Is there a competing definition of democratic?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522938https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522938Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:30:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:29:03 GMT]]>Because it's funny

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522920https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.world/comment/25522920Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:29:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:28:48 GMT]]>Unfortunately nuance has no place here, nor does the anti-colonialist context or distinction between party and governance.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12684399https://fedi.wiki/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12684399Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:28:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:56:39 GMT]]>Elections≠Democracy. Again, you are expecting liberal west (or hegemonic) "democracy". I am not making a moral judgement of either, just trying to explain that the definition of democracy that has been shoved to the people's brain of the global north (hegemony) is not the only or the correct one.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://leminal.space/comment/24945635https://fedi.wiki/post/https://leminal.space/comment/24945635Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:56:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:55:41 GMT]]>Luckily I love being annoying.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sopuli.xyz/comment/25349282https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sopuli.xyz/comment/25349282Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:55:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:54:10 GMT]]>Yes but when you say leg of lamb, most people don't give a shit which leg you're referring to.

There are multiple sets of states that are united under a single national government and are part of the American continents (Mexico and Brazil, for example) but only one of them claims to be THE United States of America.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.zip/comment/28501050https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.zip/comment/28501050Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:54:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:37:41 GMT]]>Like Citizens United bringing the division and destruction

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27814104https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/27814104Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:37:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:34:43 GMT]]>In the West we've been getting 50/50 splits on voting, whereas out east it's all 99/sent for re-education. Which of these seems more hegemonic to you?

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4303278/-/comment/16120342https://fedi.wiki/post/https://fedia.io/m/asklemmy@lemmy.world/t/4303278/-/comment/16120342Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:34:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:25:16 GMT]]>They have a concept of a plan

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27123299https://fedi.wiki/post/https://sh.itjust.works/comment/27123299Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:25:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:22:38 GMT]]>Probably for the same reasons you do not visit the forum, do not own slaves, and let women vote. You have a different understanding of democracy than the ancient Greeks. That is how it is with them too.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.ml/comment/27487043https://fedi.wiki/post/https://lemmy.ml/comment/27487043Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:22:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:21:59 GMT]]>same as why maga says its going to make things great or make bills they call beutiful.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12683786https://fedi.wiki/post/https://piefed.social/comment/12683786Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:21:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Why do authoritarian states have 'Democratic' or 'People's' in their names? on Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:18:01 GMT]]>A revolution without a solid, detailed plan for how to actually run the country afterword is just teenage angst exercised at a larger scale.

"We're going to be a social anarchist commune!" does not count as a plan. It's an aspiration at best.

If there is no plan laid out, with strong community buy-in, then what always happens is that the "revolution" gets co-opted by someone to serve their own power-hungry ambitions.

]]>https://fedi.wiki/post/https://infosec.pub/comment/23404117https://fedi.wiki/post/https://infosec.pub/comment/23404117Thu, 27 Aug 2026 20:18:01 GMT