Political Challenges to Liberalism Chapter 10

To what extent should government reflect the will of the people? To answer this you need to know...

Does government serve or lead the people? How can government determine the will of the people? What are the weaknesses in democracy? What are the characteristics of a direct democracy? – How is direct democracy reflected in modern democracies? Initiatives, referendums and recalls How are elected representatives held accountable?

Does government serve or lead the people? What are the characteristics of representative democracy? – What is responsible government? How does Canada’s parliamentary democracy work? – Non-confidence votes? – Representation by population? – Single-member constituencies? – Members of Parliament? – Role of the House of Commons & Senate?

Does government serve or lead the people? How does the USA’s republican democracy work? – What is a republic? – What is meant by “checks & balances”? – What is the US Congress? House of Representaives? Senate? – What is the Electoral College and its role? – What are initiatives?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the US and Canadian systems? Which system does a better job of reflecting the will of the people? Which system is more effective? Efficient? Democratic?

What is proportional representation? Why does PR encourage smaller parties? What is more democratic – single member constituency or proportional representation systems? How would Parliament in Canada be different if PR was used? How might politics change?

What challenges do democracies face? Voter turnout? – Should voting be mandatory? What is the “elite theory of democracy?” What role does lobbying play in government? What is the ‘tyranny of the majority’? – Is the will of the people always consistent with the principles of liberal democracy? Should practicality or the common good trump popular opinion? – Homeless shelters? – The Loonie?

What is consensus decision making? Where is it practiced? – Nunavut and the NWT? – Quakers? – How does it work? What are its strengths and weaknesses?

What is authoritarianism? What forms do authoritarian systems take? – What are oligarchies? – What are one-party states? – What are military dictatorships? How are authoritarian systems of government “collective”? What techniques do authoritarian governments use? – Vision, Propaganda, Directing Popular Discontent, Controlled Participation, Terror What are the strengths and weaknesses of authoritarianism?