demagoque = demagogoUn demagogue / d U m U or / or demagogue is a political leader in a democracy that appeals to the emotions, fears, prejudices and ignorance of the lower classes in order to gain power and promote political motives. Demagogues are generally opposed to deliberation and advocates an immediate and violent action to address a national crisis, but they accuse the moderate and thoughtful opponents of weakness. Demagogues have appeared in democracies from ancient Athens. They exploit a fundamental weakness in democracy: because the maximum power is in the hands of the people, nothing stops people to give that power to someone who appeals to the lowest common denominator of a large segment of the population.
