Types of Government Searching for justice

What is Justice? Justice is fairness? Justice is fairness? Justice as harmony? Justice as harmony? Justice is what God commands Justice is what God commands Divine command Divine command Justice is a human value Justice is a human value It is variable It is variable Justice of the strong – “Might makes right” Justice of the strong – “Might makes right”

What is Justice? “Justice means minding one's own business and not meddling with other men's concerns.” - Plato “Justice means minding one's own business and not meddling with other men's concerns.” - Plato “Justice commands us to have mercy upon all men, to consult the interests of the whole human race, to give to every one his due.” – Cicero “Justice commands us to have mercy upon all men, to consult the interests of the whole human race, to give to every one his due.” – Cicero

Aristotle’s Theories Believed in only 3 basic forms of government: Believed in only 3 basic forms of government: Rule by the one (monarchy or dictatorship) Rule by the one (monarchy or dictatorship) Rule by the few (oligarchy or aristocracy) Rule by the few (oligarchy or aristocracy) Rule by the many (democracy) Rule by the many (democracy)

Aristotle’s Theories Source:

Worst Form of Governments “The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.” - H.L. Mencken American journalist and literary critic

Authoritarian systems The state holds all power The state holds all power Several types: Several types: Monarchy: government power vested in a king or queen (Saudi Arabia) Monarchy: government power vested in a king or queen (Saudi Arabia) Variants: Variants: Absolute Monarchy (Louis the XIV in France) Absolute Monarchy (Louis the XIV in France) Constitutional Monarchy (modern Great Britain) is no longer an authoritarian system of government Constitutional Monarchy (modern Great Britain) is no longer an authoritarian system of government Constitutional Monarchies are much closer to democracies Constitutional Monarchies are much closer to democracies

Absolute Monarchies Louis XIV (of France) King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Constitutional Monarchies (monarch shares power) Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom King Abdullah of Jordan

Authoritarian systems Theocracy: government claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority (Iran) Theocracy: government claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority (Iran) Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. Types of authoritarian systems, cont’d. Types of authoritarian systems, cont’d. Fascist government: policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state (Nazi Germany) Fascist government: policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state (Nazi Germany)

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. Totalitarian government: a system in which absolute control is exercised over every aspect of life (North Korea) Totalitarian government: a system in which absolute control is exercised over every aspect of life (North Korea) Communism is a totalitarian form of government Communism is a totalitarian form of government

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. My favorite Communist Party Propaganda Poster My favorite Communist Party Propaganda Poster

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. Oligarchy: rule by a small group of elites Oligarchy: rule by a small group of elites America has been called an oligarchy America has been called an oligarchy Rich businessmen control the Senate in this cartoon Rich businessmen control the Senate in this cartoon

Warning The next slide may be offensive to some students (and / or their parents). This is to demonstrate other people’s political views – not the instructor’s!!

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. Both Bush and Obama have been accused of being a part of an American oligarchy

Authoritarian systems, cont’d. An oligarchy is a government in which a small group exercises control especially for selfish purposes An oligarchy is a government in which a small group exercises control especially for selfish purposes An oligarchy of cats An oligarchy of cats Night time in Mr. B’s House Night time in Mr. B’s House

Nonauthoritarian systems Anarchy: the absence of government and laws Anarchy: the absence of government and laws No government No government

Problems with anarchy - no government, no laws Problems with anarchy - no government, no laws Most people think mob rule Most people think mob rule Some people say that anarchy is a “live and let live” kind of system where everybody minds their own business, but … Some people say that anarchy is a “live and let live” kind of system where everybody minds their own business, but … What do you think will happen without a police force? What do you think will happen without a police force?

Nonauthoritarian systems Anarchy: the absence of government and laws Anarchy: the absence of government and laws Democracy: government that vests power in the people; based on popular sovereignty Democracy: government that vests power in the people; based on popular sovereignty Popular sovereignty: the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power Popular sovereignty: the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power

Democratic systems Today there are 3 major forms or types of democracy (with different synonyms) Today there are 3 major forms or types of democracy (with different synonyms) Pure democracy (sometimes called Greek Democracy) Pure democracy (sometimes called Greek Democracy) Everybody gets a vote, for every issue or policy Everybody gets a vote, for every issue or policy Lets build a new hospital, or lets go to war Lets build a new hospital, or lets go to war

Democratic systems Representative Democracy Representative Democracy Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials) Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials)

Democratic systems Constitutional Monarchies Constitutional Monarchies The monarch has mostly ceremonial power The monarch has mostly ceremonial power Real power is held by the people (usually through parliaments and prime ministers) Real power is held by the people (usually through parliaments and prime ministers) In reality most constitutional monarchies are simply a representative democracy with a monarch In reality most constitutional monarchies are simply a representative democracy with a monarch

Democratic systems Republic Republic A representative democracy without a monarch A representative democracy without a monarch Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials) Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials) Roman Senate United States Senate

Back to Aristotle The forms of government (ranked in order goodness): The forms of government (ranked in order goodness): 1. Rule by the one (monarchy) 2. Rule by the few (aristocracy) 3. Rule by the many (constitutional democracy) 4. Rule by the many (democracy) 5. Rule by the few (oligarchy) 6. Rule by the one (tyranny)

Democracy and Aristotle Sort of surprising, don’t you think, that democracy is not the best form of government Sort of surprising, don’t you think, that democracy is not the best form of government After all that is what we are taught in school After all that is what we are taught in school

Democracy and Aristotle But no, Aristotle put democracy (the good and bad form) in the middle of his list But no, Aristotle put democracy (the good and bad form) in the middle of his list Democracy is a mediocre form of government Democracy is a mediocre form of government Low risk / low gain – never horrible, but never great Low risk / low gain – never horrible, but never great Meanwhile, the rule of the one is a high risk / high gain government Meanwhile, the rule of the one is a high risk / high gain government You could have a wonderful king or emperor who really cares about the people You could have a wonderful king or emperor who really cares about the people But then his son turns out to be a moron (or worse) But then his son turns out to be a moron (or worse)

“Democracy is the worst form of government … except for all the others.” “Democracy is the worst form of government … except for all the others.” – Winston Churchill – Winston Churchill

A Modern View