Final answer:
The term 'democratic Caesarism' refers to an idea where personalistic dictatorships are seen as necessary by some for maintaining order, which may be supported by a veneer of democratic legitimacy but remains authoritarian in practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'democratic Caesarism' describes the idea where personalistic dictatorships are sometimes perceived as necessary to maintain order and advance their country. This concept lies in a gray area where an individual's authoritarian control is viewed as a stabilizing force or is somehow supported by democratic means, such as an election, but this does not make the regime less authoritarian in practice. The term reflects a situation where the democratic process is ostensibly upheld, but the actual political power is consolidated in the hands of a single ruler or a small elite group, often justified by the promise of efficiency or maintaining order.
In considering democratic Caesarism, it's essential to understand the complexities of democratic ideals and their implementation. Democracies aim to promote basic human rights and justice for all citizens, but the emergence of a ruler with concentrated power poses the risk of a democracy devolving into a tyranny or oligarchy, as expressed by philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. Such rulers often justify their authoritarian grip on power by casting doubt on the ability of the majority to govern effectively and pursue the good of the whole society.