Hermans, a Dutch psychologist, has authored a highly relevant discussion of democracy in our contemporary world of “fake news,” “identity politics,” “hate speech,” “authoritarianism and the need for a strongman.” His main thesis is that democracy exists fundamentally in the social psychological interaction between individual human minds and society. “In this book I have tried to bring together the concepts of self and society, to bridge the gap between our inner world and the social and societal external world… . I have concentrated on the similarities and connections between democracy at large and our inner democracy” (p. 167).
Among the book's most interesting contributions is the exploration of “the power-holder” (Chapter One) and “the truth-holder” (Chapter Two), which leads to an examination of political intolerance (Chapter Three). Hermans explored the dynamics of these themes within the mind and argued that the structure and operation of social democracy is based on the same principles of “inner democracy” as it functions within the human mind. Democracy (both inner or social) involves all aspects of the self – including as an individual, as a member of groups, as a human being, and as a part of the Earth.
He notes that the historic roots of democracy are not only from the Greeks, but also from our hunter-gathering ancestors who valued egalitarian sharing (as distinct from agricultural societies with a hierarchy and territorial structure). Inner democracy, he argues, is stimulated by “flexible change of perspectives, tolerance for uncertainty, discerning inner contradictions, the importance of empathy, and the acknowledgement of multi-voicedness in the other person” (p. xxv). Impeding factors to inner democracy include “exclusive truth claims,” “strong negative emotions,” and “narcissism.”
He provides a case example about how the skills of inner democracy can be enhanced through psychotherapy and illustrates that the basic skills can and should be taught. One of the most important of these skills is dialogue – both inner dialogue with our multiple voices and dissonant dialogue with others – to solve the truly complex problems of modern society. The book deals also with contemporary issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and our divided society into separate political camps. He cites one study suggesting that advice is more valued when it comes from “an expert in their own camp” (p. 62).
In the chapter on power, Hermans recalls the classic Milgram (obedience) and Zimbardo (prison) studies. This led me to review the samples used in those studies and to wonder whether the all-male samples contributed to the startling findings. I learned that the Zimbardo study was ended only after his girlfriend observed the sadistic and dehumanizing behavior of the “guards” (and, as she commented in a film about the experiment, threatened to stop dating Zimbardo because he was tolerant of it). This point made me wonder if the dynamics of inner democracy Hermans discusses might have different elements from male and female perspectives; but he did not focus on gender in this book.
As the subtitle implies, an important goal of this insightful and thoughtful book is to help equip educators and parents as well as citizens with concepts and skills to promote democracy by empowering the mind against a polarizing society.