Wege zur modernen Demokratie PDF

## Hans Vorländer: Wege zur modernen Demokratie¹ 04.05.2017/ 22 Minuten zu lesen The modern Democracy arose in the 17th and 18th centuries as a result of political, cultural and social changes. The developments in England, France and the USA formed the foundations of its development. ### Differenc...

## Hans Vorländer: Wege zur modernen Demokratie¹ 04.05.2017/ 22 Minuten zu lesen The modern Democracy arose in the 17th and 18th centuries as a result of political, cultural and social changes. The developments in England, France and the USA formed the foundations of its development. ### Differences between modern and traditional democracy The modern democracy differs significantly from the ancient democracy as well as the Republics of the late Middle Ages. It spread slowly and was a result of revolutions and conflicts between different social groups and political forces. It could draw on the traditions of ancient and republican societies, yet it also had to adapt to changing conditions and requirements that had radically changed since the 17th century. So the modern democracy had to be invented anew. ### Necessary historical prerequisites for the development of the modern democracy - **The changing size and structure of political entities:** While ancient Athenian democracy and medieval city-states were small-scale, large territorial states emerged. People mostly did not know each other and were unable to participate in meetings and hold office on a regular basis. Therefore, the structure of decision-making processes needed to change. New institutions were necessary to ensure the widest possible participation of citizens. - **The rise of the modern, absolutist state:** The modern, early-modern state was created and ruled by princes and kings. The power of the monarch was absolute, and they did not need to answer to anyone. This was the model defended by Jean Bodin (1529-1596), who argued that the foundation of sovereignty was in the absolute power of the monarch, not the will of the people. - **The necessity of limitations of political power:** A democratic revolution alone would not have solved sovereignty issues. Instead, it merely replaced the despot with a new ruler. Therefore, the exercise of political sovereignty had to be limited in order to prevent it from becoming just another form of despotism. - **The rise of religious freedom and tolerance:** The Reformation and subsequent religious and civil wars introduced the concept of religious freedom and toleration. This formed the basis for a notion of individual freedom that places the individual at the center of the respective political arena. - **The rise of individual rights as a result of the Reformation and the Enlightenment:** The Reformation questioned the power of the secular state to dictate religious beliefs. It became a political demand of various religious communities and formed one of the roots for the demand for individual rights. The other root stems from the Enlightenment that challenged traditional notions of God, the world and human nature. - **The rise of the commercial and industrial society:** The rise of the commercial and industrial society spurred demands for economic freedom and secure property rights. The feudal and guild structures did not allow for such a development. Therefore, the rising merchant class called for an end to the privileges of and an end to the feudal system that was based on birth and privileges of nobility - **The emergence of a new justification for political rule:** The traditional justification of the monarchy being chosen by God was shaken to its core by the execution of Charles the First in England in 1649. State and government needed a new foundation and had to align with the principles of "reason" as advanced by the Enlightenment. - **The Contract Theory:** The idea of a social contract emerged where individuals agree to form a state based on a common understanding. This idea combined with the natural rights of individuals, such as the right to life, liberty and property, as derived from natural law, gave rise to popular sovereignty. ### Conclusion The historical prerequisites for the emergence of modern democracy included social and cultural transformations. The rise of the commercial and industrial societies forced a redefinition of the role and privileges of the nobility and of the state. In turn, the Enlightenment, the rise of individual rights, and the concept of the social contract played a vital role in the rise of modern democracy. ### The English Way of Democracy (A gradual process) - England transitioned towards modern democracy through a process of constitutional monarchy that limited the power of the monarch, gradually strengthened Parliament, and expanded the right to vote. - The Magna Carta Libertatum of 1215 enshrined a concept of “No taxation without representation”. The king needed the advice and consent of the citizens of the realm to determine its finances. - This led to the development of Parliament in the mid-13th century. - Parliament changed from a body filled with landowning nobles to a more representative body of all circles and communities. - Parliament reforms of the 19th and 20th century led to full parliamentization of the constitutional monarchy and the democratization of parliamentarism. - The early establishment of parliament created two key legacies that shaped further development of democracy in England: 1. **Balance of Power:** The interaction of the king, the House of Lords and the Commons created a balance of power, a concept analyzed by Montesquieu in his book "The Spirit of Laws". This is a check-and-balance system based on the division of power between institutions, which was essential for limited government and ensuring freedom. 2. **Responsible government:** It is the right of citizens to choose their representatives and hold them accountable. This idea traces back to the ancient Athenian practice of holding officials accountable, as well as the republican tradition. This relationship is based on mutual consent and trust. ### The American Revolution: A new form of democracy - The American colonists traditionally viewed their rights as identical to those of their British counterparts. However, when the British tried to increase taxes without offering representation, the colonists were outraged. They demanded "no taxation without representation". - This led to the American Revolution. The Americans declared their independence from Britain and established the United States of America. - Their Declaration of Independence was based on the concept of natural law and individual rights. The declaration echoed sentiments of Locke's Second Treatise of Government. - The newly established government was tasked with securing the rights of the people, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. - Each state developed its own constitution. The state of Virginia was the first to adopt the Declaration of Rights in 1776. - The American Revolution established a new type of democracy, a constitutional and individual-rights-based democracy, grounded in representative principles and the protection of individual rights and freedoms. ### The Federalists vs. Rousseau on the nature of Democracy - This system of democracy in each state ultimately struggled to gain traction and unity without a new unified constitution. The Articles of Confederation were established between the states in 1781, yet it was unable to solve the problems of finance and foreign policy. - The Federalists, who defended the new constitution, emerged during the discussions to create a new Constitution. They argued in favor of a strong central government. They disagreed with the Anti-Federalists, who favored strong state governments. - The Federalists argued that the model of Athenian democracy was impractical because of the complex structure of modern society that no longer resembled the homogeneous, small communities of ancient Greece. - In the process, Federalists distinguished themselves from the ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau viewed democracy as a direct form, which was a direct reflection of the general will. He believed that representation could not adequately reflect the will of the people and that the power of the state should be used to defend the people in the face of individual disagreements. - Federalists argued that a representative democracy was better suited to prevent the tyranny of the majority while protecting individual rights. - The Federalists believed that a diverse society was inevitable and that any effort to create a homogenous society would lead to tyranny. Instead, they argued for a system of representation andchecks and balances that would provide a measure of control for each branch of government. This system would prevent one branch from becoming too powerful. The Federalists believed this balance of power would ensure both a representative democracy and individual liberty. ### The French Revolution and the emergence of a new form of democracy - The French Revolution shook the foundations of absolutism and feudalism in Europe. It led to the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. - The French Revolution provided a legal foundation for citizen-based individual rights and freedom. - The French Revolution initially aspired to establish a constitutional democracy. Yet, it took a radical turn when it adopted a system of direct democracy. The period of the Jacobins, who sought to achieve homogeneity through “terror”, followed a period of republicanism. This led to a short-lived directory and finally to the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. ### The effect of the French Revolution on Germany - The Jacobins’ “terroristic” government disillusioned many German intellectuals. They preferred a more moderate form of government that resembled a republic of representation where individual liberties were observed. Immanuel Kant, for example, argued against a direct democracy. - Kant championed a republic of representation in which the people are governed by laws and institutions that represent the general will while also preserving freedom. - The German intellectuals embraced reform rather than revolution. They also favored a system of checks and balances that would protect individual liberties. The system of checks and balances would prevent the rise of tyranny of the majority. The German intellectuals were thus against a direct democracy based on the will of the majority in favor of constitutionalism and checks and balances. ### The American and French Revolutions established different systems of democracy The American and French revolutions established radically different forms of democracy. The American Revolution enshrined a representative democracy grounded in individual rights with a system of checks and balances, which limited the power of the government. The French Revolution, on the other hand, transitioned from a constitutional democracy to direct democracy and subsequently, to autocratic rule.