1. Democracy Demos + Kratos = The rule of the people

2. Direct versus indirect forms of democracy. Do the people make the laws and take all of the decisions in the US? (Why is direct democracy problematic?) Representative democracy is an indirect form characterized as “competitive elitism” and “polyarchy” by Joseph Schumpeter and Robert Dahl respectively. Is democracy a “bourgeois” political system as Marxists maintain?

3. Liberal or representative democracy is a political regime with six essential criteria: 1.Equal and universal adult suffrage. 2.Representative assembly at the level of the political community. 3.Civic rights which assure the free expression of opinion and the free organization of currents of opinion.

4. Criteria continued… 4. Decisions taken by a (mostly) numerical majority. 5. Guarantees of the rights of minorities against abuses on the part of majorities. 6. The rule of law.

5. Aristotle’s View (384 322 BCE) He examined various political regimes and concluded that it was possible to characterize governments by looking at two questions: (1) Who governs? and (2) Whose interest is served by the decisions made by those in power?

6. Aristotelian regimes Goal?OneRuler Few Rulers Many Rulers Public Interest MonarchyAristocracyPolity Self Interest TyrannyOligarchyDemocracy

7. The “Guardian” critique of democracy. (Plato 427-347 BCE) Are humans unequal by nature? If so, why set up a political system on the basis of a fallacy? Plato believed in the “rule of the wise” ie., Philosopher-Kings. As suggested in “The Republic” society should be divided into three parts: Philosopher-Kings, Soldiers/ Auxiliaries, the citizens. The first two groups are specialists in governance.

8. Virtue is knowledge Plato argues that virtue (wisdom, courage, moderation) can be taught. Instrumental knowledge + moral knowledge = virtue (Was Plato right?) To rise to the top of society means to excel in intellectual work i.e., to keep studying! (He ran his own school in Athens - The Academy.)

9. Communism of the Guardians In order to keep the Guardians focused on the “public good,” and to prevent corruption (the use of public power for private gain) they were forbidden property as well as marriage. Only the citizens could lead what we would consider normal lives.

10. Modern forms of “Guardianship” Marxism-Leninism-Maoism-Castroism etc…(special knowledge?) Military Regimes (special virtues?) Theocracies/Islamism (God’s rule)

11. Global Dimensions of Democracy Are there social pre-requisites required to make democracy work well? (Social structure; income per head; literacy rates; social demand; elite agreement; cultural requisites; political culture). Should we seek to promote democracy globally? (Human rights and dignity, global peace). Should we democratize the global political system? (The UN and global decision making).