Critically assess the relevance of Hobbes’ Leviathan in contemporary politics. Does his argument for order over liberty still hold in surveillance states, populist movements, and fragile democracies? Can modern democracies maintain stability without resorting to Hobbesian authoritarianism?

~ Polity Prober

Hobbes in the 21st Century – Surveillance, Populism, and Political Breakdown

Introduction

Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan (1651) remains one of the most influential works on state power, sovereignty, and political stability. Arguing that individuals must submit to an all-powerful sovereign to avoid the chaos of the state of nature, Hobbes prioritizes order over liberty, shaping debates on authoritarianism, governance, and security.

In the 21st century, Hobbes’ ideas remain strikingly relevant. Governments worldwide have expanded their powers in response to surveillance technologies, populism, and political instability. The rise of digital authoritarianism, strongman leaders, and national security measures raises a critical question: Does Hobbes’ justification for absolute sovereignty still hold in modern governance, or do democratic institutions prove that stability can exist without authoritarian control?

This essay critically examines Hobbes’ relevance in the age of surveillance, populism, and democratic backsliding, assessing whether his philosophy justifies modern state intervention or poses a challenge to contemporary democratic norms.

I. Hobbes and Modern Surveillance States – A Digital Leviathan?

1. The Justification for Mass Surveillance

Hobbes argues that a sovereign must have absolute control to ensure stability. In today’s world, many states justify mass surveillance in similar terms:

  • National security – Governments argue that preventing terrorism, cybercrime, and political extremism requires monitoring citizens.
  • Social order – Surveillance helps track dissent, misinformation, and protests, reducing threats to the state.
  • Predictive governance – AI-driven security and biometric data allow states to preemptively control threats, creating a modern Leviathan that watches over citizens at all times.

2. Case Studies: Surveillance as a Hobbesian Mechanism

  • China’s Social Credit System – Uses AI, facial recognition, and internet surveillance to monitor behavior, rewarding obedience and punishing dissent.
  • U.S. and NSA Mass Surveillance – Post-9/11 security laws expanded state surveillance, resembling Hobbes’ argument that civil liberties must be sacrificed for safety.
  • EU’s Digital Governance – While more democratic, the EU also uses strict data laws and border surveillance to maintain order.

3. The Critique: Does Surveillance Undermine Democracy?

  • Hobbes sees obedience as necessary, but modern democracies argue that surveillance erodes civil liberties and privacy.
  • Critics argue that security-based governance can be misused for repression, suppressing dissent rather than protecting citizens.
  • Question: Can a balance exist between state control and personal freedoms, or does Hobbes’ Leviathan justify permanent digital authoritarianism?

II. The Resurgence of Authoritarianism – A Return to Hobbesian Politics?

1. The Justification for Strong Leaders

Hobbes’ argument for absolute sovereignty is echoed by modern authoritarian leaders, who claim that:

  • Democracy is weak – Too much political division leads to instability.
  • National unity requires strong rule – A powerful leader is needed to make decisive decisions.
  • Fear ensures order – If people fear punishment, they will obey the state, preventing anarchy.

2. Case Studies: Modern Hobbesian States

  • Russia (Vladimir Putin) – Uses centralized power, state-controlled media, and security forces to maintain order, justifying authoritarianism as a necessary defense against external and internal enemies.
  • Hungary (Viktor Orbán) – Uses emergency laws, nationalism, and media control to consolidate power, arguing that liberal democracy causes instability.
  • China (Xi Jinping) – Implements one-party rule and total digital surveillance, resembling Hobbes’ Leviathan in its demand for absolute obedience to the state.

3. The Democratic Response: Are Liberal Institutions Enough?

  • Hobbes argues that liberty leads to conflict, but modern democracies rely on checks and balances to prevent tyranny.
  • Countries like Germany, Canada, and Japan show that stability does not require absolute power, challenging Hobbes’ premise.
  • Question: Do authoritarian regimes prove Hobbes right, or do they misuse his theory to justify oppression?

III. Populism and Fear-Based Politics – A Hobbesian Strategy?

1. The Role of Fear in Populist Movements

Hobbes argues that fear compels obedience—modern populist leaders use similar tactics:

  • Crisis rhetoric – Populist leaders claim that nations are in moral, economic, or security crises to justify extreme policies.
  • Enemy creation – Identifying foreigners, elites, or political opposition as threats mirrors Hobbes’ logic that an external enemy unites society.
  • Promise of strong leadership – Populists claim they alone can restore order, mirroring Hobbes’ call for an absolute sovereign.

2. Case Studies: Hobbesian Populism in Action

  • Donald Trump (U.S.) – Used nationalism, security threats, and law-and-order rhetoric to justify policies restricting immigration, surveillance, and media freedom.
  • Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil) – Emphasized military power, state control over dissent, and hostility toward political opposition, claiming that a strong state prevents anarchy.
  • Narendra Modi (India) – Justifies strong state control over religious minorities and internet censorship in the name of national security and stability.

3. The Critique: Can Fear-Based Politics Sustain a Democracy?

  • Hobbes assumes fear stabilizes society, but modern democracies thrive on pluralism and debate.
  • Populist movements risk undermining democratic norms, eroding trust in institutions.
  • Question: Does Hobbes’ model support populism, or does it ultimately lead to political breakdown?

IV. The Limits of Hobbesian Sovereignty in a Globalized World

1. Can a Global Leviathan Exist?

Hobbes’ model assumes a single sovereign, but globalization challenges this:

  • International organizations (UN, WTO, EU) act as quasi-sovereigns, but lack enforcement power.
  • Multinational corporations and digital platforms influence politics beyond state control, challenging Hobbes’ vision of centralized power.
  • Cybersecurity threats and global crises (climate change, pandemics) require cooperation rather than authoritarian rule.

2. The Challenge of Supranational Governance

  • The EU operates as a collective Leviathan, balancing state sovereignty with international governance.
  • The UN lacks enforcement power, proving that global governance remains fragmented and ineffective.
  • Hobbes’ emphasis on state-centered sovereignty struggles to account for modern transnational issues.

Thus, while Hobbes’ theory explains why states prioritize security, it struggles to address power in an interconnected world.

V. Can Hobbes Be Reconciled with Democratic Governance?

1. The Case for Hobbes in the 21st Century

  • Emergency powers and crisis management – Governments still use Hobbesian logic in war, pandemics, and financial crises.
  • The necessity of order – Even in democracies, laws and policing rely on state authority, proving Hobbes was partially correct.
  • Security vs. liberty remains a modern dilemma – Issues like terrorism, AI governance, and cyber warfare require balancing freedom with control.

2. The Case Against Hobbes

  • Modern democracies prove that checks and balances work, contradicting Hobbes’ absolute sovereignty.
  • Constitutionalism and human rights protect against authoritarian excesses, which Hobbes dismisses.
  • The decline of absolute monarchies and dictatorships suggests Hobbes’ model is outdated.

Conclusion

Hobbes’ theory remains deeply relevant in modern governance, surveillance, populism, and political crises. His argument that fear ensures stability is reflected in authoritarian regimes, populist movements, and digital surveillance states. However, modern democracies challenge his model, proving that order can exist without absolute power.

Ultimately, Hobbes provides a powerful framework for understanding political stability, but his rejection of constitutionalism and individual rights makes his model incompatible with liberal democracy. His ideas remain useful as a warning against authoritarian excesses, but democracy must balance security with liberty, proving that Hobbes’ Leviathan, while insightful, is not the only path to political order.

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