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A. The basic American ideals seem like a good basis for a democratic system.

B. The practice of democracy in the United States comes reasonably close to living up to its ideals.

C. The American system of government is a good example for countries like Canada to follow.

D. I would ________ living in the United States.

E. I have lived in the United States.

F. I have visited the US.

G. I have family who live in the US.

H. I have friends who live in the US.

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The American Dilemma What is a “dilemma”?What is a “dilemma”? What might the “American” dilemma refer to?What might the “American” dilemma refer to? What is democracy?What is democracy? What does Americandemocracy look like?What does American democracy look like?

DEMOCRACY?? WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?? May 7, 2002

CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimuim protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracywithin a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimuim protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy choice of models is completely normativechoice of models is completely normative there is no “right” modelthere is no “right” model the best model of democracy is contestablethe best model of democracy is contestable

Democracy -- A Process Representative (Delegate) Democracy Direct Democracy Participatory Democracy Representative (Trustee) Democracy Opportunities for Mass Participation HIGH LOW

Democracy -- The Outcomes Libertarianism Low (Emphasis on General Welfare) High (Emphasis on Limited Gov’t) Protection of Individual Rights Communitarianism

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Marjoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Majoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II

Models of Democracy majoritarian democracymajoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participationmost important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfarehigh mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Majoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II

Models of Democracy elite democracyelite democracy most important goal is the general welfaremost important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long- term interests of societyrequires an elite capable of pursuing the long- term interests of society –actually values low mass participation

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Marjoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy

Models of Democracy liberal democracyliberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rightsmost important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept itdoes not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Marjoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Marjoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I United States Liberal Democracy II

ASSESSING DEMOCRACY... the democratic modelthe democratic model –completely normative difficult to apply label of “undemocratic” to the different modelsdifficult to apply label of “undemocratic” to the different models –internal logic are some models of democracy more difficult to achieve than others?are some models of democracy more difficult to achieve than others?

Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Marjoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy Liberal Democracy I United States Liberal Democracy II

THE CHALLENGE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY... combining...combining... –high levels of opportunity for mass political participation –strong emphasis on rights of the individual why might these be difficult to combine??why might these be difficult to combine?? –citizens who participate in the political process are limited in what they can use government for –citizens who view themselves primarily as rights- bearing individuals have little incentive to participate in collective decision-making

ASSESSING DEMOCRACY... the model of democracythe model of democracy the practice of democracythe practice of democracy –does the practice meet the ideals of the model?

The “American” Dilemma democratic ideals are in tensiondemocratic ideals are in tension –difficult to maximize the achievement of one set of values without compromising the other –mass participation vs. individual rights democratic ideals are in tension with democratic practicedemocratic ideals are in tension with democratic practice –difficult to change democratic practice without sacrificing democratic ideals –the politics of race in the US understanding American politics today requires recognizing the on-going significance of these two sets of tensionsunderstanding American politics today requires recognizing the on-going significance of these two sets of tensions

Things to Think About... is it better to strive for unrealistic goals and not achieve them or to aim for more modest goals but achieve them?is it better to strive for unrealistic goals and not achieve them or to aim for more modest goals but achieve them? did the democratic system in the US contribute to ameliorating the problems of race in the US or did it contribute to the persistence of the problems of race?did the democratic system in the US contribute to ameliorating the problems of race in the US or did it contribute to the persistence of the problems of race?