Democratic Regimes 2022 PDF

**Democratic Regimes** Annette Seegers 2022 Copyright **Our question is: How can we tell if a regime is a democratic?**[^1^](#fn1){#fnref1.footnote-ref} **We are not concerned with what \"democracy\" should mean, but with what it does mean in scholarly context and to describe a political system...

**Democratic Regimes** Annette Seegers 2022 Copyright **Our question is: How can we tell if a regime is a democratic?**[^1^](#fn1){#fnref1.footnote-ref} **We are not concerned with what \"democracy\" should mean, but with what it does mean in scholarly context and to describe a political system.**[^2^](#fn2){#fnref2.footnote-ref} ***Three answers:*** ***Minimalist = procedural*** ***Liberal = government/horizontal + society/vertical*** ***Social democracy = substantive (policies/products of procedures).*** ***Knowledge of the historical development of democratic ideas and practices is helpful but, for this discussion, not included.*** 1. ***Minimal Democracy*** ***The dominant definition of democracy is minimalist: democracy is a process through which the governed (citizens) select their leaders to enter government. Simply, democracy is the method through which individuals enter government and procedures exist to dismiss rulers; elect new representatives; etc. There will be competition about who should rule.*** Scholars who produce minimalist definitions, scholars like Robert Dahl, Karl Popper,[^3^](#fn3){#fnref3.footnote-ref} Adam Przeworski,[^4^](#fn4){#fnref4.footnote-ref} and Joseph Schumpeter,[^5^](#fn5){#fnref5.footnote-ref} state that the necessary ingredients of democracy are procedural.[^6^](#fn6){#fnref6.footnote-ref} The primary procedure is elections; that is, *regular elections with are fairly conducted and honestly counted.* These procedures, when working together, resolve conflict in a society and can, upon the retirement or death of rulers, produce a successor. For Dahl et al. there are necessary conditions of minimalist democracy:[^7^](#fn7){#fnref7.footnote-ref} i. *Universal suffrage. Practically all adults have the right to vote in elections. Practically all adults have the right to run for elected office.*[^8^](#fn8){#fnref8.footnote-ref} ii. *Officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections without coercion. Citizens can vote, seek out alternative sources of information, and form organisations, for e.g. political parties.* iii. *Elected officials must be able to exercise their constitutional powers without being overridden.* iv. *Representatives must agree (at least informally) agree that whoever wins will not bar the losers from taking office in the future.* v. *Citizens are expected to obey the decisions that follow elections.* *In a minimalist conception: procedures of managing competitions and conflict are what makes a democracy. Thus, the greatest asset of democracy* is its ability to resolve con*flict.* For Dahl et a., elections/voting is obviously crucial. What difference does voting make? **\ 2. Liberal Democracy** Schmitter and Karl agree with Dahl, Popper and others about the centrality of the notion of peaceful transfer of power. However Beyond elections, a democratic regime also includes, for example, the rule of law. Karl and Schmitter are including more formal procedures; informal rules; supporting norms[^9^](#fn9){#fnref9.footnote-ref}; practices; and economic matters.[^10^](#fn10){#fnref10.footnote-ref} *A democratic regime, besides all that is involved with free and fair elections, needs at least*: legislative domination; supporting economic practices and procedures; the idea of individuals as citizens with civil liberties or rights;[^11^](#fn11){#fnref11.footnote-ref} observance of the rule of law; and accountability of office-holders *in the public realm by citizens.* *Their description of a democratic regime has been described as a description of a liberal democratic regime.*[^12^](#fn12){#fnref12.footnote-ref} **4. Social Democracy** **The voters of a democratic regime will naturally promote their own interests, as each voters sees it. Public policies thus reflect the interests of the majority.** **At the same time, democratic regimes** promote the general well-being of citizens. The idea is that the state looks after citizens who cannot lead a dignified life and/or the state protects citizens against risk. These "welfare policies " can be seen in: Free education; Free health care; Social provision for vulnerable people (children; elderly; orphans; Unemployment insurance; Democratic regimes' welfare policies vary: Since providing social goods and services requires money, government revenue is generated by, for example, a progressive tax system. **5. Conclusion** [Sub-types of *Democratic* Political Regimes]{.smallcaps}[^13^](#fn13){#fnref13.footnote-ref} {#sub-types-of-democratic-political-regimes} ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ | | | | | | Social | | | | | | | Goods and | | | | | | | Services | +===========+===========+===========+===========+===========+===========+ | | | | | | | +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ | | | | \+ | \+ | Poverty | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Means | | | | | | | test | +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ | | | | \+ | \+ | All | | | | | | | citizens | +-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+ 2.1. Most scholars give minimalist/procedural definitions. It is the only system in which citizens can get rid of governments without bloodshed or procedures exist by which to elect a successor. 2.2. Problems of electoral democracy? Example: Undemocratic behaviour in government and society; Persecution of minority groups; and 2.3. Problems in a liberal democratic regime? Example: But are we really free? 2.4. Problems of a social democratic regime? Example: ::: {.section.footnotes} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. ::: {#fn1} **This is a conceptual question.** [↩](#fnref1){.footnote-back} ::: 2. ::: {#fn2} **Often, people will use the word democratic when *collective participation or decision-making take place; we are concerned with an entire political system.***[↩](#fnref2){.footnote-back} ::: 3. ::: {#fn3} For Popper democracy contains procedures to dismiss rulers; elect new representatives; etc. It is the only system in which citizens can get rid of governments without bloodshed.[↩](#fnref3){.footnote-back} ::: 4. ::: {#fn4} For Przeworski, the mere possibility of being able to change governments can avoid violence. We settle difference by determining the majority candidate/view.[↩](#fnref4){.footnote-back} ::: 5. ::: {#fn5} For Schumpeter democracy is institutional arrangements for arriving at political decisions where people get decision power through competing for people\'s vote. Democracy is a system in which rulers are selected by competitive elections.[↩](#fnref5){.footnote-back} ::: 6. ::: {#fn6} ::: 7. ::: {#fn7} Presuming the state is *self-governing.*[↩](#fnref7){.footnote-back} ::: 8. ::: {#fn8} The right to vote imposes an obligation to respect the results. Voting produces the duty to obey the electoral outcomes.[↩](#fnref8){.footnote-back} ::: 9. ::: {#fn9} Karl and Schmitter note that the difference between democratic and non-democratic rulers refers to the norms they acquire during their path to power. On their upward path, democratic rulers are in practice consistently held accountable for their actions.[↩](#fnref9){.footnote-back} ::: 10. ::: {#fn10} Some economic policies, rights etc. may undermine citizens' freedom. An "open" economy may undermine democracy. A democratic regime requires a supporting economy.[↩](#fnref10){.footnote-back} ::: 11. ::: {#fn11} Freedom of access to information; freedom of movement; etc[↩](#fnref11){.footnote-back} ::: 12. ::: {#fn12} Often, constitutional democracies are seen as examples of liberal democracies.[↩](#fnref12){.footnote-back} ::: 13. ::: {#fn13} From Møller, Jørgen, and Svend-Erik Skaaning. \"Regime types and democratic sequencing.\" *Journal of Democracy* 24, 1 (2013): 142-155.[↩](#fnref13){.footnote-back} ::: 14. ::: {#fn14} Scholars include Antonio Gramsci (Italian) and the Frankfurt School ([Theodor Adorno](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_W._Adorno), [Erich Fromm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm), [Walter Benjamin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Benjamin), [Jürgen Habermas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Habermas)), etc[↩](#fnref14){.footnote-back} ::: :::