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The Fragility of the Liberal Democracies and the Challenge of Totalitarianism
(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Joel Fishman - The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis triggered rioting, looting, and arson across the U.S. Mayors of several major cities and governors of some states where violence took place chose not to act and ordered the police and firefighters to stand down. Such inaction created a state of anarchy, leaving the public without protection. The fragility of the liberal democracies is a serious dilemma. There is a short distance between "peaceful demonstrations" and mob violence. The dynamics of political warfare and the methods of mob violence are knowable. Because it is a matter of self-defense, we must use this knowledge to safeguard our democracies and our freedoms. Dr. Joel Fishman, a fellow of the Jerusalem Center, is a historian and former editor of the Jewish Political Studies Review.