Democracy: What is It? February 26th, 2004

Democracy – Basic Elements consent of the governed (process) consent of the governed (process) – free and fair elections in which government can be defeated – equality of political rights protection of individual rights (outcome) protection of individual rights (outcome) – freedom of speech (including free press) – civil liberties

Democracy – Basic Elements basic elements basic elements – consent of the governed (process) – protection of individual rights (outcome) when is a political system democratic? when is a political system democratic? – continuum – can have more or less of the two values above – the point at which a system is a democracy is contestable some systems are obviously democracies some systems are obviously democracies some systems are obviously non-democratic some systems are obviously non-democratic some systems are in between some systems are in between

Democracy -- A Process Representative (Delegate) Democracy Direct Democracy Participatory Democracy Representative (Trustee) Democracy Opportunities for Mass Participation HIGH LOW

Democracy -- The Outcomes Low High Protection of Individual Rights Communitarian Emphasis on General Welfare of the Community Libertarian Emphasis on Limited Government and Rights of the Individual

MODELS OF DEMOCRACY Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Majoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy

Models of Democracy majoritarian democracy majoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participation most important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare

Models of Democracy elite democracy elite democracy most important goal is the general welfare most important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society –actually values low mass participation

Models of Democracy liberal democracy liberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rights most important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it

Models of Democracy majoritarian democracy majoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participation most important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare – majoritarian democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged groups liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged groups

Models of Democracy elite democracy elite democracy most important goal is the general welfare most important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society –actually values low mass participation – elite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-making majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-making

Models of Democracy liberal democracy liberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rights most important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it – liberal democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority) majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority)

Models of Democracy – Viewing Democracy Over Time elite democrats elite democrats – the masses will always be incapable of making decisions for the long-term common good liberal democrats liberal democrats – elites and the majorities will always be prone to infringing individual rights if given the chance majoritarian democrats majoritarian democrats – elites will always be self-serving – masses can learn over time to become better democratic citizens if given a meaningful opportunity to do so elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great

CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimum protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimum protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy choice of models is completely normative choice of models is completely normative there is no “right” model there is no “right” model the best model of democracy is contestable the best model of democracy is contestable

CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES... typology of models of democracy as a “map” for comparing democratic systems typology of models of democracy as a “map” for comparing democratic systems – tells us what to look at in undertaking comparisons – emphasizes the relative nature of models of democracy democracy as a concept is multi-faceted and complex democracy as a concept is multi-faceted and complex – forces the consideration of two questions to what degree are different political systems based on different models of democracy? to what degree are different political systems based on different models of democracy? to what degree do different political systems look like their underlying model of democracy in practice to what degree do different political systems look like their underlying model of democracy in practice

Things to Remember... there is no one, single, accepted model of democracy there is no one, single, accepted model of democracy – within a range of basic elements (consent of the governed, protection of individual rights), democracy means different things to different people