Chapter 9: Cultural Psychology and Politics: Otherness, Democracy, and the Refugee Crisis

Orwell’s reflection on the notion of democracy remains as pertinent today as it was 70 years ago. It might even be more applicable now, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when we experience a historical period defined by the almost unanimous appreciation of democracy—an undisputed/undisputable ideal for contemporary societies. While political watchdogs take on the task of differentiating democratic and undemocratic (or less democratic) regimes around the world, the common, everyday use of the term tends to be rhetorical rather than factual. We might have only vague ideas about what exactly makes a democracy and yet many of us are either proud to be living in one or lament the lack of it (see, for example, Shin, 2012). Either way, we are confronted today, just as we were 70 years ago, with the need of understanding democracy and most of all debating its principles and the ways in which they are translated into practice. We believe, together with Moghaddam (this volume), that psychologists have a great deal to contribute to such debates.