Why Democracy?

What are the Challenges of decision making? School boards should be allowed to decide what students wear to school School boards should be allowed to decide what students wear to school Local governments should be allowed to make rules about curfews for teenagers Local governments should be allowed to make rules about curfews for teenagers Governments should censor music, movies, and videos Governments should censor music, movies, and videos Corporations should be allowed to advertise in public schools in return for providing schools with sports equipment Corporations should be allowed to advertise in public schools in return for providing schools with sports equipment

What is your point of view on the previous statements? No matter what your answer, you probably know someone who thinks differently! Canada is a pluralist society – one made up of many groups, and in which we accept a range of opinions and values How can we reach decisions that are fair to all individuals in our pluralist society? How can we even decide who will make these decisions?

A Question of Ideology Ideologies are sets of values and beliefs Ideologies are sets of values and beliefs They influence the way we think and act as citizens They influence the way we think and act as citizens They affect how societies are organized and the way decisions are made They affect how societies are organized and the way decisions are made Some people believe that humans are naturally good and intelligent and therefore should be free to pursue their own goals without rules Some people believe that humans are naturally good and intelligent and therefore should be free to pursue their own goals without rules Some people are more distrustful of human nature and believe that people are naturally selfish and greedy and therefore have a limited ability to make public decisions Some people are more distrustful of human nature and believe that people are naturally selfish and greedy and therefore have a limited ability to make public decisions

Buzz Moment Stop and think about the statements at the beginning of the presentation….. Stop and think about the statements at the beginning of the presentation….. Now look back at the two groups of people with differing views of human nature….. Now look back at the two groups of people with differing views of human nature….. How do you think each group might respond to each statement? How do you think each group might respond to each statement? This is the reason why we have lively debates on civic issues! This is the reason why we have lively debates on civic issues!

Decision-Making Systems Who should have authority to make decisions for a society? Who should have authority to make decisions for a society? What process should be used to make decisions? What process should be used to make decisions? How should citizens be involved in decision making? How should citizens be involved in decision making?

Throughout the world, different groups of people have found different answers to these questions Throughout the world, different groups of people have found different answers to these questions The methods they use to make decisions reflect their ideologies and other factors The methods they use to make decisions reflect their ideologies and other factors To understand how decisions might be made in different ways, it is useful to look at 2 distinct types of decision making: Autocracy and Democracy To understand how decisions might be made in different ways, it is useful to look at 2 distinct types of decision making: Autocracy and Democracy

Autocracy A system of government in which a few rulers have power to make decisions for the people A system of government in which a few rulers have power to make decisions for the people Citizens are expected to accept decisions made by the leaders Citizens are expected to accept decisions made by the leaders Their personal freedoms are limited Their personal freedoms are limited Citizens have very little opportunity to participate in the way public decisions are made Citizens have very little opportunity to participate in the way public decisions are made In some situations, leaders use force to control any opposition In some situations, leaders use force to control any opposition These governments often exist in countries that have been troubled by unrest These governments often exist in countries that have been troubled by unrest Those citizens who support such governments hope that a powerful leader will bring strong and stable government Those citizens who support such governments hope that a powerful leader will bring strong and stable government

Democracy A system in which decisions are controlled by the people A system in which decisions are controlled by the people The term comes from the Greek words, demo, meaning “people” and cracy, meaning “rule” The term comes from the Greek words, demo, meaning “people” and cracy, meaning “rule” Citizens have a say in questions that affect them Citizens have a say in questions that affect them They are expected to participate in various ways They are expected to participate in various ways They are free to have differing views and goals They are free to have differing views and goals Citizens are expected to act responsibly; this means that each person is expected to make choices, but must accept the consequences of those choices Citizens are expected to act responsibly; this means that each person is expected to make choices, but must accept the consequences of those choices Each person must also fulfill certain duties Each person must also fulfill certain duties

In Reality… There are few countries with decision-making systems that are purely democratic or autocratic There are few countries with decision-making systems that are purely democratic or autocratic Usually, there are some variations of both forms Usually, there are some variations of both forms In recent years, people in many autocratic countries have challenged their form of government and more democratic systems have spread In recent years, people in many autocratic countries have challenged their form of government and more democratic systems have spread In Canada, governments make decisions in a manner that respects democratic ideals and principles In Canada, governments make decisions in a manner that respects democratic ideals and principles

Compare Autocratic and Democratic decision making PlusMinusInteresting Autocratic Democratic

It’s Your Turn! You will now be placed into groups of 4 You will now be placed into groups of 4 We are now going to do a placemat activity We are now going to do a placemat activity Using the paper you have been given, each of you write, in your own corner, your definition of democracy and what it means to you Using the paper you have been given, each of you write, in your own corner, your definition of democracy and what it means to you Once you have each written your own definition, work cooperatively with your group members to construct one definition and meaning in the centre of the sheet Once you have each written your own definition, work cooperatively with your group members to construct one definition and meaning in the centre of the sheet What conclusions have you made? What conclusions have you made?

Let’s see what they had to say…. Take a look at your handout and let’s see what some other students said what democracy is to them……. Take a look at your handout and let’s see what some other students said what democracy is to them……. Are there any similarities to yours? Any differences? Are there any similarities to yours? Any differences?

What Does Democracy Mean? At one level, democracy is about personal freedom At one level, democracy is about personal freedom At another level, it is about equality and social justice At another level, it is about equality and social justice Some of the beliefs central to democracy include: Some of the beliefs central to democracy include: Citizens should have a voice in decision making Citizens should have a voice in decision making All citizens should be treated as equal All citizens should be treated as equal All citizens should have fundamental rights and freedoms All citizens should have fundamental rights and freedoms Citizens should have a sense of responsibility to other people in the community Citizens should have a sense of responsibility to other people in the community Citizens should have a sense of what is socially just Citizens should have a sense of what is socially just

Where Does our Democracy Originate From? The kind of democracy we practice in Canada is traced back to ancient Greece, in the middle of the 5 th Century BCE The kind of democracy we practice in Canada is traced back to ancient Greece, in the middle of the 5 th Century BCE Residents of the independent city states of the time were unhappy that all important decisions were being made by a small group of privileged people Residents of the independent city states of the time were unhappy that all important decisions were being made by a small group of privileged people They began to rebel, insisting on being more involved in the decisions that affected their lives They began to rebel, insisting on being more involved in the decisions that affected their lives The leaders of the city states began to listen to the views of citizens on important issues The leaders of the city states began to listen to the views of citizens on important issues Eventually, all native-born free men over the age of 18 were allowed to participate in civic affairs Eventually, all native-born free men over the age of 18 were allowed to participate in civic affairs They had the right to vote, hold office, own property, and defend themselves in a court of law They had the right to vote, hold office, own property, and defend themselves in a court of law They also had freedom of speech and freedom of assembly They also had freedom of speech and freedom of assembly However, these rights did not extend to women, foreigners or slaves However, these rights did not extend to women, foreigners or slaves

With rights came responsibilities With rights came responsibilities Citizens of Greek city states were expected to serve in the army, navy and courts of law Citizens of Greek city states were expected to serve in the army, navy and courts of law They were expected to participate directly in the monthly meetings of the governing body, the Assembly They were expected to participate directly in the monthly meetings of the governing body, the Assembly At these meetings, they discussed public issues, decided on questions of public policy and established laws At these meetings, they discussed public issues, decided on questions of public policy and established laws Many of the ideas about democracy that were introduced at this time continue today Many of the ideas about democracy that were introduced at this time continue today Through time, large modern nation-states replaced the city states Through time, large modern nation-states replaced the city states As they did so, democratic decision making evolved throughout the world As they did so, democratic decision making evolved throughout the world Philosophers argued their ideas of what citizenship should mean Philosophers argued their ideas of what citizenship should mean Democratic ideals spread Democratic ideals spread Groups of people in democratic movements all over the world produced documents confirming their rights and freedoms as citizens Groups of people in democratic movements all over the world produced documents confirming their rights and freedoms as citizens

Democracy Today For much of human history, people were considered “subjects” of a ruler, rather than “citizens” of a country For much of human history, people were considered “subjects” of a ruler, rather than “citizens” of a country In modern society, respect for citizens and their rights is considered the most important foundation for democratic nation In modern society, respect for citizens and their rights is considered the most important foundation for democratic nation As you have seen, there are more countries with a democratic system of government than ever before As you have seen, there are more countries with a democratic system of government than ever before Some countries have been democracies for over a hundred years, others are new and fragile Some countries have been democracies for over a hundred years, others are new and fragile Many societies in the world today are undergoing massive changes Many societies in the world today are undergoing massive changes Some countries that once provided security, stability and order – whether democratic or autocratic – are now facing less certain futures. Some countries that once provided security, stability and order – whether democratic or autocratic – are now facing less certain futures. In the democratic world, it is up to citizens to chart a course for the future In the democratic world, it is up to citizens to chart a course for the future