"Culture is downstream from law," is an oversimplified rebuke of populist delusions about power. The culture of the governing elites, which is derived from their base values and what Pareto calls sentiments, is enforced downwards onto the ruled through both formal laws and unofficial policies. The main point is that culture flows downward from the sovereign, which is he who decides the exception, to the populace. In order to change the culture, it is necessary to change the governing elites.
The people's opinions do not matter and have never mattered. Culture is downstream from law.
What defines law? Are the elites not part of the culture?
"Culture is downstream from law," is an oversimplified rebuke of populist delusions about power. The culture of the governing elites, which is derived from their base values and what Pareto calls sentiments, is enforced downwards onto the ruled through both formal laws and unofficial policies. The main point is that culture flows downward from the sovereign, which is he who decides the exception, to the populace. In order to change the culture, it is necessary to change the governing elites.