Democracy is weakened by its abuses: freedom becomes tyranny, the people transform into a mass, a mob. The desire for progress evolves into a fanatical crusade.

Today, the great dangers to democracy do not come from external enemies - fascism, communism, terrorism - but from internal and familiar enemies that threaten its existence. So how will we protect democracy from its deviations?

Faithful to his method, Tzvetan Todorov analyzes the hot topics (turmoil in Arab countries, tyranny of the markets, rise of populism) through a historical overview covering the entire period from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.

'The Internal Enemies of Democracy' is an essay that helps us understand more deeply the world around us.