Unit 4 Study Notes.docx

Unit 4 Study Notes Democracy owes its roots to several strains of political thought. However, its most influential foundation is liberalism. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably, although they ought not to be, given their strict definition. The term “democracy” has become one of the...

Unit 4 Study Notes Democracy owes its roots to several strains of political thought. However, its most influential foundation is liberalism. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably, although they ought not to be, given their strict definition. The term “democracy” has become one of the most used terms in political analysis today. It is also one of the most overused concepts in politics. Democracy has come to have as many meanings as people using the term. Democratic theory has a long history, stemming back to the Greeks. Plato first considered the conduct of rule and how ruling institutions could affect the relationship between state and society. He offered a typology of government, distinguishing among the different types of governance that existed during the Greek era. Plato did not think highly of democracy. He feared it would descend to mob rule, with no checks over authority and an inequitable distribution of public goods. Plato suggested that “rule by the many” required a legal framework to manage the relationship between rulers and the ruled (we will consider this in later units). Given the Platonic roots of democratic thinking, it is not surprising to learn that the term “democracy” itself is taken from the Greek demos, meaning “the people,” and kratos, which means “authority.” Far from the simple conclusions about “mob” rule, democracy seeks to reconcile the perception that authority ought to have important checks and balances, to avoid the appropriation of interests by the few, with the various interests that exist within a political community. Democracy recognizes that rule by all is simply impossible. It is based on the notion of pluralism, which recognizes many different interests in society. The Greeks developed the “polity” to offset fears of the “tyranny” of the majority and to allow public participation in politics. The polity mandated the central role for constitutionalism and the rule of law. Essentially, this required even the majority to accept the rule of law and limit its behaviour. The central components of liberal democracy include: Equality of political rights: The conditions through which every member of the society may participate in activities of the political unit such as voting, running for office, protesting, etc. No political rights are held for a select group of people; for instance, though parliamentarians in Canada alone are permitted to vote in the House of Commons or Senate, everyone has the right to seek such offices. Political participation: Distributing political responsibilities between the ruled and the rulers. This may involve direct participation of individuals, such as in a referendum, or indirect participation, where political authority is given to individuals elected by the masses to represent their views. Majority rule: All votes are held equally, so that most votes should govern. “Majority” can come in various forms, depending on the electoral system used. Political freedom: The right of citizens to participate freely in the political process, limited only by the laws of the community. Participation and representation can only be considered legitimate if individuals are encouraged to share in the political process in a free environment. Conclusion The different theories of democracy discussed in this unit are important because of their tie-in to the question of political obligation. For example, one could argue that by voting in a democratic election, each of us agrees to abide by the results, whatever they turn out to be. As you work through this unit, ask yourself what level of participation in the democratic life of the state is necessary to generate political obligation.