Week 16 Notes: 1/4- 1/8

Comparative Systems Basic forms of government – Democracy – Autocracy – Oligarchy – Socialism – Communism

Democracy Qualities of democracy: – Free and fair elections – Active participation of citizens in govt. – Protection of human rights – Equal application of laws to all – Majority rule Ex. U.S., Europe, much of Asia/Latin America

Democracy Total democracy – citizens make all decisions collectively – Pro: all voices heard on all issues – Con: very slow, complicated – Ex. ancient Greece Representative democracy – citizens elect representatives to make most decisions for them – Pro: more efficient, less complicated – Con: everyone may not feel represented – Ex. all modern democracies

Democracy Types of representative democracy: 1. presidential system – executive and legislature elected separately Pros: checks and balances, harder for one party to control Cons: gridlock – when nothing gets done in govt because parties can’t agree Ex. U.S., Brazil

Democracy 2. parliamentary system – voters elect legislature, legislature chooses chief executive – Pros: executive more accountable, cooperation more likely – Cons: one party can push their agenda past minority groups – Ex. Britain, Canada, Japan

Parliamentary democracy Presidential democracy

Democracy Pros of democracy: people have say, greater freedom and equality Cons: slow, corruptible

Closing 1. Using diagrams or illustrations, show the difference between: – Total democracy and representative democracy – Parliamentary systems and presidential systems 2. In what ways does the United States not fully measure up to the 5 qualifications for a democracy? Try to think of at least 2 specific ways.

Autocracy Qualities of autocracy: – 1 authoritarian leader holds all power – Little to no individual freedom – Little to no tolerance of dissent Ex. North Korea, much of the Middle East, Africa

Autocracy Types of autocracy: – Monarchy: Rule is passed down through a family blood line Ex. Saudi Arabia Constitutional monarchy = unelected monarch and elected legislature share power – Ex. Jordan – Fascism: Rule is held by a political party or ideology Ex. Nazi Germany

Autocracy Pros of autocracy: efficient, stable Cons: often violent, little freedom

Oligarchy Qualities of an oligarchy: – Authoritarian power shared by a small group, such as a single political party – Little freedom for most citizens – Little tolerance of dissent Ex. China, Russia

Oligarchy Types of oligarchy: – Theocracy: rule by a religious group Ex. the Vatican, Iran, Israel Pros/Cons similar to an autocracy

Socialism and Communism States where govt. exerts significant control over major industry, & equality is valued over individual freedom Communism: control over all industry Socialism: control over major industries such as transportation and communications – “communism lite”

Socialism and Communism In the modern world: – Democratic-socialists: countries with strong democratic govts and large social welfare states Ex. Denmark, Sweden – Autocratic-socialists: countries with socialist dictatorships Ex. Cuba, Venezuela

Socialism and Communism Pros: very little economic inequality Cons: less freedom, arguably little motivation for innovation – For Communism: no proven, functional model

Anarchy The lack of a functional govt. – Govt may exist but is unable or unwilling to provide a stable rule of law – Violent, unsafe, corrupt Ex. Syria, Somalia