D

1
D
Theories of Democracy
THEORIES OF DEMOCRACY
Tthe
2
Definitions of Democracy

• It has been said that democracy is the worst form
  of government except all the others that have
  been tried. (Winston Churchill)
• Direct democracy participation by all those
  considered citizens by the society
• Indirect democracy citizens represented by
  elected officials
• Positives/Negatives of both?

3
European Heritage

• American democracy resulted from several factors

Magna Carta
Voltaire
Self-rule by the American colonists
Enlightenment philosophers
Religious and economic freedoms
English Common Law
4
European Enlightenment Thinkers

• John Locke Two Treatises of Civil Government

To understand political power aright, and derive
from it its original, we must consider what
estate all men are naturally in, and that is, a
state of perfect freedom to order their actions,
and dispose of their possessions and persons as
they think fit, within the bounds of the law of
Nature, without asking leave or depending upon
the will of any other man. Every man has a
property in his own person. This nobody has a
right to, but himself. All mankind... being all
equal and Government has no other end, but the
preservation of property.
Advocated individual rights coupled with
responsibilities to society also the destruction
and re-creation of governments that violated the
rights of its citizens
The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but
to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the
states of created beings capable of law, where
there is no law, there is no freedom.
5
European Enlightenment Thinkers

• Thomas Hobbes (1588- 1679) Leviathan

During the time men live without a common power
to keep them all in awe, they are in that
conditions called war and such a war, as if of
every man, against every manThe condition of man
. . . is a condition of war of everyone against
everyone No arts no letters no society and
which is worst of all, continual fear and danger
of violent death and the life of man, solitary,
poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
I put for the general inclination of all mankind,
a perpetual and restless desire of power after
power, that ceaseth only in death.
Advocated strong authoritative government to
protect property and society also balance
between power and rights
6
European Enlightenment Thinkers
So long as the people do not care to exercise
their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will
do so for tyrants are active and ardent, and
will devote themselves in the name of any number
of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles
upon sleeping men.

• Voltaire

Jean-Jacques Rousseau
If there were a people consisting of gods, they
would be governed democratically. So perfect a
government is not suitable to men. (Compare to
Madisons If men were angels, no government
would be necessary.)
The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so
dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of
a citizen in a democracy. (Suggested the
separation of powers with checks and balances
placed on each of them)
Baron de Monte- squieu
7
European Enlightenment Thinkers
It is not from the benevolence of the butcher,
the brewer, or the baker that we expect our
dinner, but from their regard to their own
interest. No society can surely be flourishing
and happy, of which the far greater part of the
members are poor and miserable.

• Adam Smith

English Traditions of 18th Century republicanism
Consent of the Governed
Written constitution
8
Limited Government
Duties of government
What are those duties?
9
Robert Dahls Theory of Traditional Democracy

• 1. Equality in voting

                              
LBJ signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965
(and this leads to )
10
Robert Dahls Theory of Traditional Democracy

• Effective Participation
• Enlightened Understanding

11
Robert Dahls Theory of Traditional Democracy

• Citizen control of the agenda
• Inclusion

12
Three Key Elements
Protests against Vietnam
Majority Rule
Minority Rights
Representation
13
Contemporary Views on Democracy

• Pluralism policies are created and passed by
  the actions of groups operating on behalf of
  their members group politics
• Examples
• local politics
• State governments
• lobbying groups
• Key characteristic COMPROMISE

14
Contemporary Views on Democracy

• Elite and Class Theory policies and governing
  directed to and by the top 5 of society

Examples
Tax Policy
Corporate Welfare
Fact 98 of the 100 Senators are millionaires
15
(No Transcript)
16
Contemporary Views on Democracy

• Hyperpluralism Interest groups too powerful to
  be opposed, each having their representatives in
  the legislative and executive branches interest
  group liberalism
• Government does not choose between competing
  groups both are told yes
• i.e. Government pays money to both tobacco
  growers and for cancer research
• Government pays farmers subsidies, then pays more
  money for food programs

17
The Iron Triangle!
Department of Agriculture
Farming Groups
Farm State Senators/Reps
18
The Iron Triangle!
Department of Defense
Military Contractors Unions
Senators/Reps with large defense companies in
State/district
19
Challenges to Democracy

• Technological changes
• control by elites

Use of the Internet
20
Challenges to Democracy

• Media consolidation into fewer hands
• Example Rupert Murdoch

21
Challenges to Democracy

• Limited participation

US Census data - Age / Voting percentages Age
18-24 - Registered 39.2 Voted 16.6 Age 25-34
- Registered 52.4 Voted 28.0 Age 35-44 -
Registered 62.3 Voted 40.7 Age 45-54 -
Registered 69.3 Voted 50.7 Age 55-64 -
Registered 74.0 Voted 63.3
22
Challenges to Democracy

• Money in Campaigns
• 2004 over 1 billion spent
• Total for all 2004 elections - 4 billion
• 2008 - 1 billion by Obama alone

23
Challenges to Democracy

• Diverse political interests
• gridlock inability to accomplish major
  policy goals due to opposing influences on
  political system