Theory of Democratic Government Chapter 2

The Theory of Democratic Government Ancient Greeks classified governments by the number of citizens involved in the process A. The classifications run as a continuum –Autocracy— Rule by One –Oligarchy- Rule by few –Democracy – Rule by many 2

B.Democracy has a symbolic value that overshadows its meaning a. many of the world’s political parties contain it. b. example North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea c. It is not enough to know that the people govern one needs to know WHO the people are and HOW they govern

The Meaning and Symbolism of Democracy Defining who governs in a democracy and how the people will govern important Americans believe in democracy, but unsure if promoting democracy should be foreign policy goal Two viewpoints about what constitutes a democracy– 2 Schools of thought about what constitutes a democracy 4

Public Support for U.S. Policy of Promoting Democracy Abroad 5

2) The Procedural View A. Who should participate?– everyone universal participation 3) How much should each participant’s vote count? Equally ---which leads to political equality 4) How many votes needed for a decision? a. MAJORITY leads to majority rule 8

b. The above can only happen in a DIRECT DEMOCRACY 1) INDIRECT Democracy- Representative citizens choose representatives to make official decisions for them c. RESPONSIVENESS- states that elected representatives should respond to public opinion -they should do what the “majority” want no matter -this principle is unsettling to some people, who fear the enactment of “undemocratic” decisions as a response to majority rule

5. SUBSTANTIVE View evaluates democracy on the basis of the substance of government policies a. Most Substantive Theorists require that democratic government must ***** Guarantee CIVIL RIGHTS & Liberties b. Some would add social and economic rights to the list

***Extra not in notes: Direct vs Indirect Democracy Small societies can function with participatory democracy –Some local governments use in the U.S. –E-government might allow more participants in larger governments The framers of the U.S. Constitution created a representative (indirect) democracy (REPUBLIC) –Requires addition of government responsiveness to public opinion to principles of decision-making 11

PROCEDURAL VIEW 3 rd to last page of packet: 1. Universal Participation 2. Majority Rule 3. Political Equality 4. Responsiveness a. Direct Democracy = Participatory democracy b. Representative Democracy Republic – Indirect democracy PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS ***Clashes with Minority Rights

SUBSTANTIVE -- end of packet 1. Government Policies should Guarantee Civil Rights Freedoms of…… 2. Social Rights 3. Economic Rights Problems ***does not provide precise or clear criteria to determine what is democratic

Health Care: Government’s Responsibility? 14

II. INSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRATIC MODELS--4 A. REPRESENTATIVE MODEL Has to have some means to determine what people want. 1) the use of Institutional Mechanisms!!! establishes procedures to promote government responsiveness. Examples: ELECTIONS, POLITICAL PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS

Now That’s a Town Meeting. For almost seven hundred years, citizens of Appenzell Inner-Rhodes, the smallest canton (like a township) in Switzerland, have gathered in the town square on the last Sunday in April to make political decisions by raised hands. At a recent meeting, Appenzellers adopted a leash law for dogs, approved updating property files on a computer, chose a new building commissioner, and acted on other public business before adjourning until the next year.

B. MAJORITARIAN MODEL -Classic theory of Democracy 1. Rule by the People 2. Assumes Mass Participation 3. Assumes the People are well informed! Encourages citizens to participate through the Initiatives, Referendum, and Recall

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C. Pluralist MODEL- developed to accommodate the reality that people are not well informed about their government 1) based on the idea of pluralism, that people form groups along ECONOMIC, religious, ethnic or cultural lines. 2) INTEREST GROUPS are created to influence policy makers 3) pluralists interpret democracy as government by the people operating through competing interest groups. 4) this model also favors a DECENTRALIZATION and organizationally complex gov’t. It also gives people OPEN ACCESS to public officials who consider their views. 20

Pluralism extra-- Interprets “government by the people” as people participating via interest groups Two major mechanisms: –Interest groups –Decentralized government Works well in U.S., but declining civic participation a concern

MODELS OF DEMOCRACY MAJORITARIANPLURALIST Government by the majority of the peopleGovernment by the people operating through competing interest groups Institutional mechanisms used- Pluralism: groups share economic, example- Elections religious, ethnic or cultural interests 21 states allow for Decentralized Government *InitiativesMultiple centers of power *Referendums *Recalls Responsiveness to ORGANIZED Groups not mass public opinion Citizens can control their government If they have adequate mechanisms **Allows minority groups to rule for popular participation However not all groups have equal influence on government decisions Also assumes citizens are knowledgeable about government and want to participate

D. Elite Theory --An Undemocratic Model: 1) assumes that important government decisions are made by a SMALL but powerful group of people who have great WEALTH and extensive business connections 2)Elite theory holds that ONE small group RULES rather than MANY different groups who win on different issues. 3) Research suggests that an identifiable elite does NOT regularly win on government issues. (however ALEC- The American Legislative Exchange Council, counts among its members some 2,000 state legislators and corporate executives is becoming questionable) 23

Controversial theory that important government decisions made by small group of wealthy businesspeople –Control key financial, communications, industrial, and government institutions –Define issues and effect outcomes to serve their interests –According to elite theory, U.S. is an oligarchy –***U.S. Gov’t can better be described as Pluralistic rather than elitist, however all groups are NOT EQUALLY REPRESENTED in the political system.

On Tonight’s Menu, Lots of Green 25

Elite Theory vs. Pluralist Theory Key difference is durability of ruling minority Pluralist theory involves struggle between competing interest groups –Wealthy groups do not always win, but do have an advantage –Poorer groups usually not organized well 26

III. Establishing Democracies Democratization is occurring in numerous countries today A. Countries have to now take into account MARKET economies and the COMMUNICATION revolution B. Emerging Democracies are FRAGILE b/c 1) ethnic and religious conflicts(Iraq) 2) political and economic instability (Russia) 3) this instability often leads to attack by opponents of democracy thus leading to the question of legitimacy of the new democratic government. (Egypt)

American Democracy: More Pluralist Than Majoritarian American pluralism flawed because poor less likely to join interest groups U.S. political system not very majoritarian, but becoming more so because of increasing partisanship –Some argue that ideological activists have “hijacked” the two parties 28