Social 30 Ch. 10, 11, 12 Notes PDF

Key Concepts and Terms The following are key concepts and terms related to political challenges to liberalism: Authoritarianism: a system of government where the ruler has complete control and power Consensus decision making: a process where decisions are made by consensus, rather than by majority...

Key Concepts and Terms The following are key concepts and terms related to political challenges to liberalism: Authoritarianism: a system of government where the ruler has complete control and power Consensus decision making: a process where decisions are made by consensus, rather than by majority vote Direct democracy: a form of government where citizens participate directly in deciding issues Military dictatorship: a system of government where the military has complete control and power Oligarchy: a system of government where a small group of people have complete control and power One-Party state: a system of government where only one party is allowed to exist Party solidarity: the tradition of party members voting with the party Proportional representation: a system of representation where seats are allocated based on the number of votes received Representative democracy: a form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf Responsible government: a system of government where the government is accountable to the people Party solidarity the tradition of party members voting with the party, rather than representing the will of their constituents Lack of representation the feeling that citizens are not being represented by their government Inefficient governance the perception that governments are inefficient and unable to make decisions that benefit the people Initiatives: allow citizens to create legislation by drawing up a petition and gathering signatures. Referendums or plebiscites: allow all citizens to vote on whether to accept or reject a proposed piece of legislation. Recalls: allow a majority of voters to remove an elected official or government from power. Representative Democracy Most modern liberal democracies use a form of representative democracy, where citizens elect governing officials to make decisions on their behalf. In representative democracies, the will of the people is expressed in the selection of representatives to the government during elections. Representative democracy is a system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. The key features of representative democracy include: Periodic elections: regular elections to ensure that those elected remain true to the will of the people. Multiple parties: different parties represent different perspectives and watch each other with a critical eye. Separation of powers: different branches of government have separate powers to prevent abuse. Independent media: a free press to hold those in power accountable. Independent judiciary: a separate and independent judiciary to interpret the law. Rule of law: a set of rules that apply to everyone, including those in power. Parliamentary Democracy Canada, for example, has a parliamentary democracy and follows a tradition known as responsible government. This means that the branch of government that proposes laws, the executive branch, is dependent on the direct or indirect support of elected members of the legislative branch. Responsible government The executive branch is accountable to the legislative branch Parliamentary vote of non-confidence A vote that can force the government to resign or call an election Single-member constituency system Each constituency sends a single representative to the House of Commons The US Congress The US Congress is composed of two chambers: The House of Representatives: works on a single-member constituency system, with 435 members representing different electoral districts based on population The Senate: has 100 members, with each state having two senators regardless of population Election Process The election process in the United States involves the Electoral College, where each state and the District of Columbia select electors equal in number to their Congressional representation, and the electors actually elect the president. Proportional Representation System A proportional representation system is a system where the number of seats won by each party is proportional to the number of votes they receive. To calculate the number of seats each party would receive under this system, multiply the total number of seats (308) by the percentage of the popular vote. Advantages and Disadvantages of Proportional Representation The advantages of proportional representation include: More accurate representation of the popular vote Encourages participation by minority or marginal parties The disadvantages of proportional representation include: Can lead to coalition governments, which may be unstable Can result in minority governments, which may not be effective Mandatory Voting Mandatory voting is a system where citizens are required by law to vote. This system is used in countries such as Australia, where voter turnout is generally high. Advantages of mandatory voting: Increased voter turnout More representative government Disadvantages of mandatory voting: Potential for victimless crime if the law is not enforced Additional resources required to enforce the law Mandatory Voting The concept of mandatory voting is discussed, where citizens are required to participate in the electoral process. This raises questions about the effectiveness of such a system, particularly in countries like Australia, where compulsory voting is enforced. Some argue that mandatory voting could lead to a higher voter turnout, but others point out that it may also result in a higher number of spoiled ballots. Elite Theories of Democracy The elite theory of democracy suggests that a small group of well-informed and qualified individuals should make decisions for society. This theory is based on the idea that individual votes have little weight in a large group of decision makers, and therefore, individuals may not feel responsible for their decisions. Lobbying by Interest Groups Lobbying is the attempt to influence government policy by groups that represent a particular interest or perspective. These groups often donate money to election campaigns and may have a significant impact on public policy. Some examples of interest groups include: Unions Business and development groups Farmers groups Environmental groups Cultural groups Ethics and the Common Good Governments often face the question of whether to follow public opinion on a specific issue. However, the will of the people may not always be consistent with the values and principles of a liberal democracy. The will of the people is generally taken to refer to the majority opinion, but this may not always be the best or most ethical course of action. Tyranny of the Majority The tyranny of the majority refers to the potential problem in a democracy where the will of the majority is imposed on minorities to the detriment of other liberal principles. This concept is illustrated by examples such as: Practicality versus Popular Opinion Sometimes, governments make decisions based on practicality or necessity, despite contradicting the wishes of the people. Examples include: Establishing shelters for the homeless in neighborhoods where residents may resist the idea Replacing the Canadian $1 bill with a coin (the loonie) for economic reasons Key Concepts Liberal rights: negative rights that require individuals to be left alone Responsibilities: duties that come with liberal rights, such as paying taxes Mandatory voting: a system where citizens are required to participate in the electoral process Elite theory of democracy: a theory that suggests a small group of well-informed individuals should make decisions for society Lobbying: the attempt to influence government policy by interest groups Tyranny of the majority: the potential problem in a democracy where the will of the majority is imposed on minorities Practicality: making decisions based on necessity or usefulness, rather than popular opinion## Introduction to Consensus Decision Making Consensus decision making is a process where a group of individuals share ideas, solutions, and concerns to find a resolution to a problem that all members of the group can accept. This process is used in various forms of government, including the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Consensus refers to a collective agreement or opinion reached by a group of individuals, where all members of the group have had an opportunity to contribute and agree to the decision. The Consensus Decision Making Process The consensus decision making process typically involves the following steps: The question for consideration is presented to the group All members of the group contribute their opinions on the question A response to the question is proposed, and the members of the group come to some agreement on the response If all the members do not agree to the response, those who disagree present their concerns to the group The proposed response to the question is modified to address the concerns of those who disagree Another round of discussion is held on the newly modified response Benefits of Consensus Decision Making The benefits of consensus decision making include: Egalitarian decision making, where everyone has an equal say Inclusive decision making, where all members of the group are involved Higher quality decisions, as all members of the group are invested in the decision Increased commitment to the decision, as all members of the group have agreed to it Challenges of Consensus Decision Making Despite the benefits, consensus decision making also has its challenges, including: Time-consuming and difficult discussions Lack of representation, as voters may not be able to vote based on competing sets of policies Inadequate consultation, as ministers may not be willing to share critical information The Role of Citizens in Consensus Decision Making Citizens play a crucial role in consensus decision making, as they are the ones who elect the representatives who make decisions on their behalf. However, some argue that citizens may not be informed enough to make decisions, or that they may not be rational in their decision making. The Miracle of Aggregation The miracle of aggregation refers to the idea that, even if most voters are uninformed, the errors in their voting decisions will cancel each other out, leading to a rational outcome. However, this only works if the errors are random, and not systematic. Systematic Mistakes Systematic mistakes refer to errors that are consistent and predictable, rather than random. These mistakes can lead to irrational outcomes, even if the majority of voters are in favor of a particular decision. Types of Authoritarian Governments The following are some examples of authoritarian governments: Oligarchies: a form of government in which political power rests with a small elite segment of society Military dictatorships: a form of government in which power is held by a military leader or group Ideological one-party states: a form of government in which only one party is allowed to exist and hold power Monarchies: a form of government in which power is held by a monarch or royal family Definition of Authoritarianism Authoritarianism is a system of government in which authority is vested in a single person or a small group of people, and the government has complete control over the citizens. Characteristics of Authoritarian Governments The following are some common characteristics of authoritarian governments: Limited individual freedoms: citizens have limited freedom of speech, assembly, and expression Strong central authority: the government has complete control over the citizens and the economy Lack of democratic principles: there are no free and fair elections, and the government is not accountable to the people Suppression of opposition: the government suppresses any opposition or dissent The Iron Law of Oligarchy The Iron Law of Oligarchy is a theory that states that any political system will eventually evolve into an oligarchy. This theory was first proposed by Robert Michels in his book "The Iron Law of Oligarchy" in 1911. Issues with Authoritarianism The following are some issues that can arise in an authoritarian system: Lack of accountability: the government is not accountable to the people Suppression of individual rights: citizens have limited individual rights and freedoms Limited economic opportunities: the government has complete control over the economy, limiting economic opportunities for citizens Potential for human rights abuses: the government may suppress opposition and dissent, leading to human rights abuses. One-Party Systems One-party systems are forms of government where a single party holds power, often claiming to embody the will of the people. Supporters of one-party states argue that they provide a sense of unity, strength, and community, while critics argue that they are not truly democratic and do not represent the will of the people. Characteristics of One-Party Systems A single party holds power Often claim to embody the will of the people May hold elections, but only with candidates from the ruling party Can disregard previous laws or the constitution Military Dictatorships A military dictatorship is a form of government where political power resides with the military leadership. Examples of military dictatorships include: Characteristics of Military Dictatorships Military leadership holds power Often come to power through a coup d'etat May justify their claims to power as a way of bringing political stability or rescuing the country from dangerous ideologies Techniques of Authoritarian Governments Authoritarian governments use several techniques to gain and maintain power, including: Propaganda: the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist Controlled participation: allowing the population to feel as if they are contributing to the country, while maintaining control over the government Visions of Authoritarian Governments Authoritarian governments often have a vision of what the country could be, which is used to justify their actions and maintain power. Examples of visions include: Characteristics of Visions A clear idea of what the country could be Used to justify actions and maintain power Often based on a sense of nationalism or ideology## Authoritarian Governments Authoritarian governments use various techniques to enforce their will and negate individual freedoms. These techniques include: Propaganda: spreading messages to convince the public to buy into the accepted ideology and prevent the development of contrary opinions Directing Public Discontent: providing an enemy for the people to focus their frustrations on, such as a foreign threat or an internal threat Terror: using violence and intimidation to control the population Show Trials: staging trials with predetermined outcomes to convict dissidents and silence opposition The Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution in China, instituted by Mao Zedong in 1966, is an example of an authoritarian government's attempt to suppress liberal leanings and spread communism. The revolution was carried out by the Red Guards, a group of young people who attacked traditional culture and spread communism throughout the country. The Cultural Revolution was a decade-long period of social, economic, and political upheaval in China, marked by the destruction of museums, temples, shrines, old books, and works of art, and the execution of thousands of people labeled as capitalists or anti-revolutionaries. Strengths and Weaknesses of Authoritarianism Authoritarian governments have both strengths and weaknesses. Some of the strengths include: Ability to accomplish goals and address the needs of the people Ability to provide stability and order Ability to promote economic growth and development However, authoritarian governments also have weaknesses, including: Human Rights Violations: the willingness to sacrifice individual citizens for the perceived needs of the country Lack of Peaceful Transfer of Power: the inability to change leadership in a peaceful manner, often resulting in periods of violence and misery Unresponsiveness to the People: the tendency to ignore the will of the people and become unresponsive to their needs and concerns Challenges Faced by Democracies Democracies face several challenges, including: Reflecting the will of the people Balancing individual rights with the greater good Addressing global issues such as HIV/AIDS Authoritarian Political Systems Authoritarian regimes use various techniques to gain and maintain power, including: Suppressing opposition Controlling the media Limiting individual freedoms Strengths and Weaknesses of Authoritarian Systems The strengths of authoritarian systems include: Ability to make quick decisions Stability and order The weaknesses include: Lack of individual freedoms Potential for human rights abuses