1. Democracy January 10 th, 2005

2. Democracy -- What is It?? Process or Outcome?? Process or Outcome?? – BOTH!

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

4. Democracy -- The Outcomes Low High Protection of Individual Rights Emphasis on General Welfare Emphasis on Limited Government

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

6. Models of Democracy within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimum protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimum protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy choice of models is completely normative choice of models is completely normative there is no “right” model there is no “right” model the best model of democracy is contestable the best model of democracy is contestable

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

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

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

10. Models of Democracy majoritarian democracy majoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participation most important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare – majoritarian democratic critiques of other models

11. Models of Democracy majoritarian democracy majoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participation most important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare – majoritarian democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses

12. Models of Democracy majoritarian democracy majoritarian democracy most important goal is maximizing mass participation most important goal is maximizing mass participation high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare – majoritarian democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the general masses liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged groups liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged groups

13. Models of Democracy elite democracy elite democracy most important goal is the general welfare most important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society –actually values low mass participation – elite democratic critiques of other models

14. Models of Democracy elite democracy elite democracy most important goal is the general welfare most important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society –actually values low mass participation – elite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community

15. Models of Democracy elite democracy elite democracy most important goal is the general welfare most important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society –actually values low mass participation – elite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the community majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-making majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-making

16. Models of Democracy liberal democracy liberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rights most important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it – liberal democratic critiques of other models

17. Models of Democracy liberal democracy liberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rights most important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it – liberal democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals

18. Models of Democracy liberal democracy liberal democracy most important goal is protecting individual rights most important goal is protecting individual rights does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it – liberal democratic critiques of other models elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individuals majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority) majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority)

19. Models of Democracy – Viewing Democracy Over Time elite democrats elite democrats – the masses will always be incapable of making decisions for the long-term common good liberal democrats liberal democrats – elites and the majorities will always be prone to infringing individual rights if given the chance majoritarian democrats majoritarian democrats – elites will always be self-serving – masses can learn over time to become better democratic citizens if given a meaningful opportunity to do so elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great

20. Democracy: Where’s the Canadian Political System? Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Canada

21. Democracy: Where’s the Canadian Political System Going? Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t General Welfare High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Canada ? Canada