How did Canetti study power and crowds?
My method was one of relentless, almost obsessive, empirical observation. I was not content with abstract theory; I sought to gather evidence from the world as it is, in all its messy, vibrant, and often horrifying manifestations. I studied historical accounts, anthropological findings, my own experiences, and the details of everyday life – the way people queue, the dynamics of a protest, the rituals of power. I saw the 'trembling in the crowd' and sought to understand its source. My analysis of power, particularly in *The Mass and Power*, is rooted in the observation that 'the power of the ruler is the fear of his subjects.' This fear, carefully cultivated and manipulated, is a key ingredient in the formation and control of masses. I traced the evolution of commands and the methods of discharge that bind people together.
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