6.4.2 Public Pressure, Including the Need for Popular Support

(This is an archived extract from the book Patterns of Power: Edition 2)

The population gives politicians power to use on its behalf (6.1.2). In a democratic system a politician is empowered by receiving votes (6.3.2.1) whereas people’s support is tacit in an authoritarian system (6.3.1), but in both cases politicians are dependent on popular support. This pressure can affect political governance in two ways:

· People might directly express their concerns (6.4.2.1);

· Politicians might take populist decisions to avoid discontent (6.4.2.2).