The Conflict Between Democratic Citizenship and Consumer Culture

Summary

The article argues that modern consumer culture is fundamentally incompatible with the traditional liberal democratic ideal of an informed, engaged citizenry. It posits that democracy requires citizens who are productive, thoughtful, and oriented toward the common good, but contemporary society increasingly produces passive consumers focused on immediate gratification rather than civic responsibility. The tension between the 'productive minority' that sustains democratic institutions and the 'consumptive majority' that undermines them creates an existential crisis for democracy in an age dominated by consumption-oriented values.