Per Joseph Conrad biographer, Najder (from Joseph Conrad: The Chronicles): Conrad’s distrust of democracy sprang from his doubts whether the propagation of democracy as an aim in itself could solve any problems. He thought that, in view of the weakness of “human nature” and of the “criminal” character of society, democracy offered boundless opportunities for demagogues and charlatans. Conrad kept his distance from partisan politics, and never voted in British national elections.
