Industrialized Democracies The United States and the United Kingdom

Democratization  Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others” –Winston Churchill  Characteristics of Democracy  Rights of the People (majority rule with minority rights)  Popular Sovereignty  Rule of Law  Competitive Elections  Limited Government (Checks & Balances)  Capitalism? Looking ahead: In Russia, we’ll study Illiberal Democracy - Democracy in name only

Democratization  Movement toward increasing numbers of democratic states  Democratization is a tumultuous process often characterized by gradual and consensual reform State of the Union 2006  “Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies on earth. Today, there are 122.”  “We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom.”  “We will lead freedom's advance.”

The Origins of the Democratic State  Building Democracies  In Europe and, to a lesser degree, North America, the way democracy developed was largely a result of the way countries and their rulers handled four great transformations over the last five hundred years:  The creation of the nation and state itself  The role of religion in society and government  The development of pressures for democracy  The industrial revolution  Cleavages  Authoritarian Leaders, Fascism, and WWII  The Cold War

The Democratic State  Presidential and parliamentary systems  Only one presidential system – the U.S.  Nigeria sort of has one  Presidential: compromise the norm and rapid decision making difficult to prevent abuse of power  Parliamentary: secure majority party or coalition, the prime minister rarely has to compromise as much as U.S. President, which allows their government to act more quickly and decisively. Fused, not separated.  Cabinet responsibility – principle that requires a prime minister and government to retain the support of a parliamentary majority.  Votes of confidence – a vote in which the members express their support for (or opposition to) the government’s policies. If it loses, the government must resign.

Evolution of Democratic Thought  Hobbes -- Leviathan  Locke -- 2 Treatises on Government  Rousseau -- On the Social Contract  Montesquieu – The Spirit of Laws

Maintaining Order Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan (1651) describes life without government as being in a “state of nature”. Without rules, people would live as predators would, stealing, killing for their personal benefit; life would surely be “nasty, brutish, and short”  Proposed that people should form a contract to give up freedom and live obediently under a ruler. 7

 John Locke a key theorist.  Government “derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.”  Government “of the people (by the people for the people)” 8 Social Contract Theory

 State of Nature existed before government  People had total freedom  Natural Rights to life, liberty, and property  People desire protection of their natural rights so they  Form government (a social contract)  “Safety in Numbers” 9 Locke’s Theory If gov’t doesn’t adequately protect natural rights, the people have an obligation to dissolve government State of Nature Social Contract Dissolution

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Principles necessary for Democracy to exist 1. Universal Participation 2. Political Equality – all votes are counted equally 3. Majority Rule 4. Government responsiveness to public opinion 11 According to this definition, is the United States a Democracy? If not, why? If so, when did we become one? Is Iraq?

Democracy is Evil?  Consider the following…  “The masses are turbulent and changing and seldom judge or determine right” Alexander Hamilton - Founder  “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy yet that did not commit suicide” John Adams – Founder and 2nd President  “A democracy is a government in the hands of men of low birth, no property, and vulgar employments.” Aristotle – Philosopher & Political Scientist  _____ believed the masses were too uneducated to govern themselves, too prone to the influence of demagogues, and too likely to abrogate minority rights. James Madison – “Father of the Constitution” & 4th POTUS 12

Is Democracy Evil?  Q: What system of government do we have?  A: Don’t say “Democracy.” We live in a “Republic” as in “and to the Republic for which it stands”  In this way, we are all (little-r) republicans  Pure/True/Direct/Participatory Democracy vs. Representative Democracy  “Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.” James Bovard

Direct/Pure Democracy 14 In a democracy (Athenian- puredirect) the Idol Judges have no say. The masses have total power to “judge or determine right.” WE WANT SANJAYA

Republic (Indirect Democracy) 15 In a republic, the masses communicate their wishes to an intermediary who then have final say who the Idol is. Sometimes they “filter” the people’s desires. WE WANT SANJAYA WE DON’T

16 What Constitutes Democracy?  Democracy as a procedural form of government – what enables people to govern  Meeting to discuss issues  Voting  Running for public office  Democracy as a substance of government policies  Freedoms within government policy  Provisions in government policy for human needs

17 Procedural View of Democracy  Who should participate in decision making?  Universal participation – does not exclude any adults from participation  How much should each participant’s vote count?  Political equality – all votes count equally – all given equal weight  How many votes are needed to reach a decision?  Majority rule – 50% plus 1  Responsiveness – elected representatives should do what the majority of the people want

18 A Complication: Direct Versus Indirect Democracy The framers of the Constitution were convinced that participatory democracy on the national level was undesirable and instead instituted representative democracy, a system of government where citizens elect public officials to govern on their behalf.

19 Substantive View of Democracy  Democracy is embodied in the substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedures  Certain principles must be incorporated into government policy – principles outlined in the Bill of Rights and the Amendments  Government policies should guarantee:  civil liberties – freedom of behavior  civil rights – powers and privileges government can not arbitrarily deny to individuals

20 Democratic Theory #1 – Majoritarian Democracy  Classic theory in which government “by the people” is interpreted as government by the majority (or maybe plurality) of the people  Community size makes this impractical, but some communities still run their local governments in this way  Majoritarian Dem. is alive and well at the ballot box:  Recall  Petitions used to “un-elect” a government official  Referendum  Legislation placed on the ballot by representatives but is approved by the voters  Initiative  Legislation placed on the ballot by voters by use of petitions and then approved by voters

Democratic Theory #2 – Pluralist Democracy  In the 1950s, political scientists asked, ‘How can we have a majoritarian democracy when there is such widespread ignorance of politics?  Pluralist theory:  Modern society consists of innumerable groups that share economic, religious, ethnic, or cultural interests  These many (plural) interest groups compete to press their interests on the govt  Interest groups access government through many access points (different branches and different levels of government –federal, state, and local)  Policy is a compromise - many groups get some of what they want 21

22 Pluralism Many (plural) groups compete to attempt to influence government policy.

23 Democratic Theory #3 – Elite Theory  Elite and Class Theory  A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization  Not all groups equal  Policies benefit those with money and power

24 Democratic Theory #4 – Hyperpluralist Theory  Pluralism on steroids – groups become more powerful than the government  Government does not function correctly – policy does not reflect the needs of the nation only the desires of powerful groups  Fragmented political system allows hyperpluralism to occur

Conclusion: The Worst Form of Government Except for All the Others  balance between governors and governed  balance between political world and rest of society  balance between unbridled capitalism and the interests of those who do not benefit (much) from it  balance between personal freedom and the need to maintain order and forge coherent public policy