ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. For thousands of years now there have been two opposed ideals or visions of human society struggling for the allegiance of men's minds. The first is based on superstition and magic and the other is based on freedom, intelligence, and co-operation; its appeal is to reason and scepticism, tolerance, and humanity. Power is beyond us. Either it is given us from the unknown, or we have not got it. The first half of the twentieth century witnessed the collapse of old empires, the failure of parliamentary governments, the rise of totalitarian dictatorships and violent revolutions. At a time when democratic governments seemed unable to act effectively, the great personalities of the day, almost all of whom were critics of democracy made sweeping promises, which appeared severe economic problems that ultimately led to the Great Depression with the ethnic and class conflicts.
