The Eritrean Public Is Not a Person

Author’s note: We condemn Eritreans in sweeping categories yet often treat the very individuals behind those labels with patience and respect. Why does political judgment become harsher when its target is an imaginary public? This essay examines how collective blame allows responsibility to disappear, and why democratic change may require learning to speak with citizens […]

The Eritrean Public Is Not a Person
Author’s note: We condemn Eritreans in sweeping categories yet often treat the very individuals behind those labels with patience and respect. Why does political judgment become harsher when its target is an imaginary public? This essay examines how collective blame allows responsibility to disappear, and why democratic change may require learning to speak with citizens […]