Chapter 2 MAJORITARIAN OR PLURALIST DEMOCRACY?

Learning Outcomes 2.1 Distinguish between the two theories of democratic government used in political science: procedural and substantive. 2.2 Compare and contrast the majoritarian and pluralist models of democracy. 2.3 Evaluate the challenges facing countries trying to move toward a democratic form of government. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 2

The Theory of Democratic Government  Ancient Greeks Classified Governments by Number of Citizens Involved in Process  Classifications Run as Continuum:  Autocracy  Oligarchy  Democracy Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 3

The Theory of Democratic Government  The Meaning and Symbolism of Democracy  Democracy: ancient Greek  Demos = common people and kratos = power  What constitutes democracy: two views  Democracy is a form of government  Democracy is in the substance of government policies Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 4

Time to Vote Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 5

The Theory of Democratic Government  The Procedural View of Democracy  How government should make decisions:  Who should participate?  How much should each vote count?  How many votes needed for a decision?  Universal participation  Political equality  Majority rule Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 6

The Theory of Democratic Government  A Complication: Direct Versus Indirect Democracy  Participatory democracy – rare in U.S.  E-government  Representative democracy  Responsiveness Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 7

Let the People Decide Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 8

The Theory of Democratic Government  A Complication: Direct Versus Indirect Democracy  Four principles of procedural democracy:  Universal participation  Political equality  Majority rule  Government responsiveness to public opinion Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 9

The Theory of Democratic Government  Substantive View of Democracy  Substantive democratic theory  Substance of government policies, not procedures  Government policies should guarantee civil liberties  Disagreement: social vs. civil rights  Conservatives – narrow view  Liberals – broader spectrum Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 10

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The Theory of Democratic Government  Procedural Democracy Versus Substantive Democracy  Substantive: no criteria for determining if country is democratic  Procedural: criteria can produce social policies that clash with minority rights  Choose to focus on either procedures or policies  Compromise: balance legitimate minority and majority interests Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 12

Institutional Models of Democracy  Institutional Mechanisms Necessary for Democratic Government  Establishing procedures and organizations to translate public opinion into policy  Elections  Political parties  Legislatures  Interest groups Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 13

Institutional Models of Democracy  Majoritarian Model of Democracy  “Government by the people”: majority rule  Popular election of government officials  Deciding government policy - initiative, referendum, and recall  Assumes citizens are knowledgeable, want to participate, and make rational decisions in voting Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 14

Now That’s a Town Meeting Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 15

Institutional Models of Democracy  Alternative Model: Pluralist Democracy  Pluralism – innumerable groups that share economic, religious, ethnic, or cultural interest.  “Government by the people”: people operating via competing interest groups  Two mechanisms:  Interest groups  Decentralized structure of government Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 16

My Moms Got Married! Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 17

Institutional Models of Democracy  Majoritarian Model Versus the Pluralist Model  Majoritarian model: mass public control  Conclusive elections  Centralized government  Cohesive Political Parties with well-defined programs Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 18

Institutional Models of Democracy  Majoritarian Model Versus the Pluralist Model  Pluralist model: interest groups control  Strong interest groups  Decentralized government Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 19

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Institutional Models of Democracy  Undemocratic Model: Elite Theory  Identified and stable minority makes most important government decisions  Control key financial, communications, industrial, and government institutions  Power derived from wealth  Define issues and affect outcomes  According to elite theory, U.S. is an oligarchy  Powerful few manage issues and constrain outcomes Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 21

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Institutional Models of Democracy  Elite Theory Versus Pluralist Theory  Difference: durability of ruling minority  Pluralist: struggle between competing interest groups  Wealthy groups have an advantage over poorer, inadequately organized groups  Critical weakness in pluralism: appears to justify disparities  Levels or political organization  Resources among different segments of society Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 23

On Tonight’s Menu, Lots of Green Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 24

The Global Trend Toward Democracy  Two Models of Democratic Government  Majoritarian – no government achieves high degree of responsiveness demanded by model  Pluralist – no government offers complete and equal access to all competing groups  Some nations approach ideals closely enough to be practicing democracies Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 25

The Global Trend Toward Democracy  Establishing Democracies  Governments meet some criteria for procedural democracy and not others  Global Trend toward democratization since 1975  Slight drop in recent years  “Arab Spring” Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 26

The Global Trend Toward Democracy  American Democracy: More Pluralist Than Majoritarian  U.S. political system low according to majoritarian model, but fits pluralist model well  American people’s trust in government has fallen  Would Americans be more satisfied with another form of democracy? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 27