
Transcriber's Note:
THE CULT OF INCOMPETENCE - By EMILE FAGUET - Of the French Academy
THE CULT OF INCOMPETENCE.
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I. - THE PRINCIPLES OF FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER II. - CONFUSION OF FUNCTIONS.
CHAPTER III. - THE REFUGES OF EFFICIENCY.
CHAPTER IV. - THE COMPETENT LEGISLATOR.
CHAPTER V. - LAWS UNDER DEMOCRACY.
CHAPTER VI. - THE INCOMPETENCE OF GOVERNMENT.
In this incisive essay the author turns a critical eye toward the workings of contemporary democracy, tracing how good intentions can give way to a subtle, pervasive culture of inefficiency. Starting with a clear outline of governmental forms, he shows how the separation of powers often becomes tangled, leaving responsibility drifting between institutions. The prose, though translated from French, retains a sharp wit that highlights the paradox of elected bodies that promise competence yet frequently deliver the opposite.
The writer moves from theory to concrete examples, illustrating how legislative and judicial bodies can become mired in ritual rather than results. By examining historical moments of reform and the lingering ideals of liberty, he asks whether modern governance has simply strayed from its founding principles. Listeners will find a thought‑provoking blend of historical insight and pointed commentary that encourages anyone interested in politics to question why competence sometimes seems a prized rarity.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (268K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Gerard Arthus, Meredith Bach and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2008-11-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1916
A sharp, readable French critic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he became known for making literature feel lively, clear, and worth arguing about. His essays and histories helped generations of readers approach great writers without academic fog.
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