Democracy

Democracy Gary G. Ador Dionisio Assistant Professor SMS – Social Sciences

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Democracy I. 

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Key Questions Why has democracy come to be universally well regarded? What are the principle virtues of democracy? Would life in a state of nature really be nasty, brutish and short without democracy?

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Democracy II. Democracy 101  The history of democracy is curious; the history of democracy is puzzling (Held 2003:223)  Origins from the word rooted in Ancient Greece  Demos (people, poor, many) + Kratos (power of rule)  A system of rule by the poor and disadvantage

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Democracy 

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A form of government in which the people rule themselves directly and continuously, without the need to professional politicians or public officials. A society based on equal opportunity and individual merit, rather than hierarchy and privilege. A system of welfare and redistribution aimed at narrowing social inequalities. 4

Democracy To know the operational meaning of democracy we have to answer the following questions b. Who are the people? c. In what sense should the people rule? d. How far should the people rule extend?

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Democracy III. Models of Democracy A. Classical Model  Political equality for all (for the community)  Direct form of Democracy (Peoples Assembly)  But according to Plato based on his book The Republic, the ‘Govt should be placed in the hands of Philosophers King’.

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Democracy B. Protective Democracy

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(protecting the individual rights from over mighty government) Aristotle response to Plato “Who will guard the guardians” Limited and indirect form of democracy (representative democracy) John Locke notions of Natural rights Government by consent 7

Democracy C. Developmental Democracy  According to Rousseau – democracy was ultimately a means through which human beings could achieve freedom.  General will through participatory democracy  According to J.S. Mill ‘it promotes the highest and harmonious development of individual capacity’.

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Democracy D. Peoples Democracy  Marx notion of democracy  Democracy is not only political but also economics  Democracy liberates the working class  All power to the Soviets (councils) 9

Democracy IV. Democracy in Practice : Views of Democracy B. Pluralist View  A belief in, or commitment to diversity of multiplicity.  Political pluralism, moralism and cultural pluralism.  Robert Dahl coined the word Polyarchy which means rule by many but not all. 10

Democracy B. Elitist View of Democracy  Democracy is best practice by the Elites  Society should be ruled by foxes and lions (Pareto)  Iron Law of Oligarchy (Michels)  Elite ruling is inevitable because they have the complete wisdom, knowledge, skills as mentioned in the ‘Power Elite by C. Wright Mills’ 11

Democracy C. Corporatist View  Idea of Tripartism (government, business and workers).  Integration of different interests to achieve democracy. D. New Right View  Democracy Overload  Democracy is for adult and chocolate is for children.

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Democracy E. Marxist View on Democracy  Real democracy can only be achieved if capitalism will be eliminated.  Democracy is best practiced by the workers or “workers democracy’.

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Democracy V. Conclusion  Is democracy an important ingredient in a modern society?

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