The political regimes of democracy and republic are often mistaken as synonyms, when in fact they are not. A true democracy means that every individual participates in the governing process from start to finish: from voting to government service and the promulgation of various laws. In theory, the people in a democracy could unite and impose their will at any moment. A republic, on the other hand, offers certain democratic activities, such as voting, to establish a ruling body of elected officials that are then supposed to act on behalf of the people for a set period of time before the next election. Deneen argues that while the term “liberal democracy” suggests that liberalism and democracy are intrinsically intertwined, liberalism merely creates a new aristocracy that is just as corrupt and removed from the common citizen as the old aristocracies.

Culture is the shared heritage of thought, customs, activities, and creative endeavors that unite a particular community or society in a common life. Cultures tend to vary from place to place and throughout time. Deneen approves of the ancient idea of culture, which asserted that culture is a natural reflection of human nature and a valid means of fulfilling human needs and desires.