In contemporary political discourse, the distinction between overt totalitarian regimes and covertly controlled facade democracies has garnered significant attention. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been a prominent critic of these dynamics, highlighting the mechanisms through which power operates in ostensibly free societies. This article delves into Assange’s perspectives, contrasting the explicit oppression in totalitarian states with the subtle manipulations in facade democracies, where unseen forces such as big banks, super-rich families, and secret services orchestrate societal control. Totalitarianism vs. facade democracy presents a dichotomy we should be aware of.
The visible oppressor: totalitarianism
Totalitarian regimes consolidate power under a dictator, a single-party system, or a military junta. In these systems, the enemy is visible, and control mechanisms are overt.
Governments in these regimes employ direct suppression. Through censorship, propaganda, and secret police forces, they ensure dissent is crushed. Citizens are fully aware of the oppressive system they live under. Consequently, this visible oppression often fosters resistance. Historical examples, such as the underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Europe or dissident groups in the Eastern Communist Bloc, illustrate how people unite when the oppressor is obvious.
The invisible hand: Facade democracy
Facade democracies give the illusion of freedom and choice, yet they conceal the real forces that control policy and society. Assange highlighted how these systems maintain power through deception.
People believe in elections and public debate, assuming they have influence. However, key policies remain unchanged regardless of who wins. The system ensures that, no matter the political party, the fundamental power structures stay intact. Behind the scenes, big banks, super-rich families, and secret services wield real influence. These groups operate beyond public scrutiny, shaping laws, economies, and international relations. As a result, citizens misdirect their frustrations at powerless elected officials while the true rulers remain hidden.
Totalitarianism vs. facade democracy: Interconnected financial power and secret agreements
Western financial power is highly interconnected. Major banks hold mutual shares in one another, reinforcing their dominance over the economy. They share members of the board of directors, ensuring that financial decisions align with the interests of the super-rich families who own them.
These financial elites extend their reach beyond banking. They control multinational corporations, dictating trade policies and economic flow. Governments, rather than acting independently, function as administrators for these interests.
Furthermore, the whole shadow financial system is closely linked to intelligence agencies and secret societies connected to the financial system. Intelligence agencies do not operate independently. Instead, they align their activities with elite economic interests. Covert operations, surveillance, and engineered political shifts serve to protect and expand financial empires. Any movement or leader that threatens this power structure is swiftly neutralized.
Manufactured consent and controlled dissent
Facade democracies do not need brute force. Instead, they control narratives through media and psychological manipulation.
Mainstream media, owned or influenced by elites, shapes public perception. It dictates what people focus on while keeping other issues hidden. Citizens are allowed to criticize certain policies or politicians, reinforcing the illusion of free expression. However, this controlled opposition never targets the system’s true power structures. Instead, the frustration of the people is channeled in safe directions that do not threaten elite interests.
The illusion of ignorance: Journalists and politicians
Facade democracies rely not only on financial and intelligence networks but also on those who maintain the illusion of legitimacy. Among them, journalists and politicians play a crucial role in preserving the system while pretending not to see its inner workings.
Many journalists act as if they are uncovering corruption, yet they rarely question the deeper structures of power. They may expose individual scandals, highlight political failures, or investigate business fraud, but they never connect the dots between big banks, intelligence agencies, and the secret alliances that dictate global policy. Instead, they focus on distractions—covering elections, partisan debates, and corporate rivalries—while the true centers of power remain untouched. They act as gatekeepers, controlling what can and cannot be discussed, ensuring that public discourse never threatens the ruling elite.
Politicians follow the same pattern. They claim to serve the people, promising reforms and accountability. However, they never acknowledge who truly controls the system. Whether they belong to the left or right, they avoid mentioning how financial networks shape policies, how secret services influence governments, and how multinational corporations dictate laws. Even when exposed to undeniable evidence, they act as if they are unaware. They perform their roles in the political theater, arguing over minor policy changes while leaving the underlying structure intact.
By pretending they do not see the real forces behind the system, journalists and politicians give legitimacy to the facade. Their silence is not ignorance but complicity. They sustain the illusion that democracy functions while ensuring that no real challenge to power ever emerges.
Democracy: Case study: The Gorilla scandal
The Gorilla scandal in Slovakia reveals the inner workings of facade democracy. Leaked wiretap files exposed discussions between politicians, officials, and business executives about kickbacks for procurement and privatization contracts.
A recording from this scandal revealed how elites view democracy. One statement claimed: “Democracy is a shitty system. The voter knows nothing about anything; the voter is shit. The voter perceives only the absolute surface.” This reflects a broader truth—those in power manipulate the system while the electorate remains unaware. Democracy functions only at a surface level, while real control remains in the hands of a select few.
Insidious control: A system designed to maintain illusions
Unlike totalitarian states, facade democracies do not rule through fear. Instead, they use media, finance, and psychological tactics to maintain control.
Surveillance is subtle, not blatant. Social and economic pressures silence dissent rather than direct oppression. People believe they are free because they have choices, but all options serve the same interests. Politicians change, yet policies favoring corporate and financial elites remain untouched. The real decision-makers are not elected officials but financial networks and intelligence agencies operating in the shadows.
The path to real accountability
Breaking free from facade democracy requires systemic changes. Corruption must be exposed, and clientelism eradicated.
Political parties must be truly independent. They must distance themselves from corporate and financial interests. A party that is genuinely free from clientelism, ensuring no decisions are made through private deals, is essential for restoring real democracy.
Additionally, the media must also be free from control. It should not be owned by private corporations or state entities. Instead, independent journalism must be strengthened. Media should investigate not only politicians but also itself, ensuring it is not entangled in clientelist networks. Journalists exposing corruption and secret alliances must be protected from retaliation.
Totalitarianism vs. facade democracy: Conclusion
Assange’s insights, along with scandals like Gorilla, reveal the truth behind facade democracies. Totalitarianism rules through fear. Facade democracy rules through deception.
Real change requires understanding who holds true power. Politicians and elections are distractions. The real rulers are financial elites, intelligence agencies, and secret networks. As long as people remain unaware of these hidden forces, facade democracies will continue operating under the guise of freedom, serving the interests of the few while the majority believes they are in control.
The Gorilla scandal exposes how corruption and elitism thrive under the illusion of democracy. The influence of big banks, super-rich families, secret services, and covert societies ensures that the public remains distracted while true power stays untouched.
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