Democracy January 10 th, 2005. Democracy -- What is It?? Process or Outcome?? Process or Outcome?? – BOTH!

DemocracyDemocracy

January 10January 10thth, 2005, 2005

Democracy -- What is It??Democracy -- What is It??

Process or Outcome??Process or Outcome??– BOTH!BOTH!

Democracy -- A ProcessDemocracy -- A Process

Representative Representative (Delegate) (Delegate) DemocracyDemocracy

Direct Direct DemocracyDemocracy

Participatory Participatory DemocracyDemocracy

Representative Representative (Trustee) (Trustee) Democracy Democracy

Opportunities for Opportunities for Mass ParticipationMass Participation

HIGHHIGHLOWLOW

Democracy -- The OutcomesDemocracy -- The Outcomes

Low Low HighHigh

Protection of Protection of Individual RightsIndividual Rights

Emphasis on Emphasis on General WelfareGeneral Welfare

Emphasis on Limited Emphasis on Limited GovernmentGovernment

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t

General Welfare

High Mass Participation

Low Mass Participation

Majoritarian Majoritarian DemocracyDemocracy

Elite Elite DemocracyDemocracy

Liberal Liberal Democracy IDemocracy I

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracy

within a range of models incorporating within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimum protection citizen input and some minimum protection of basic rights,of basic rights, there are different models of there are different models of democracydemocracy

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

Models of DemocracyModels 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 high mass participation will result in decisions being

made that maximize the general welfaremade that maximize the general welfare

Models of DemocracyModels 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 requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society – actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

Models of DemocracyModels 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 does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing

to accept itto accept it

Models of DemocracyModels 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 high mass participation will result in decisions being

made that maximize the general welfaremade that maximize the general welfare– majoritarian democratic critiques of other modelsmajoritarian democratic critiques of other models

Models of DemocracyModels 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 high mass participation will result in decisions being

made that maximize the general welfaremade that maximize the general welfare– majoritarian democratic critiques of other modelsmajoritarian democratic critiques of other models

elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the not self-interested and will look after the good of the general massesgeneral masses

Models of DemocracyModels 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 high mass participation will result in decisions being

made that maximize the general welfaremade that maximize the general welfare– majoritarian democratic critiques of other modelsmajoritarian democratic critiques of other models

elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is elite democracy – there is no such thing as an elite that is not self-interested and will look after the good of the not self-interested and will look after the good of the general massesgeneral masses

liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used liberal democracy – emphasis on individual rights is used to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged to limit government in order to protect small, priveleged groupsgroups

Models of DemocracyModels 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 requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society – actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

– elite democratic critiques of other modelselite democratic critiques of other models

Models of DemocracyModels 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 requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society – actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

– elite democratic critiques of other modelselite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights

limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the communityof the community

Models of DemocracyModels of Democracyelite democracyelite democracy

most important goal is the general welfaremost important goal is the general welfare requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term

interests of society interests of society – actually values low mass participationactually values low mass participation

– elite democratic critiques of other modelselite democratic critiques of other models liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights liberal democracy – undue focus on individual rights

limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare limits government’s ability to pursue the general welfare of the communityof the community

majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, majoritarian democracy – masses are too uninterested, incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control incompetent or, at worst, dangerous to be given control over decision-makingover decision-making

Models of DemocracyModels 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 does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing

to accept itto accept it– liberal democratic critiques of other modelsliberal democratic critiques of other models

Models of DemocracyModels 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 does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing

to accept itto accept it– liberal democratic critiques of other modelsliberal democratic critiques of other models

elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individualsinfringe the rights of individuals

Models of DemocracyModels 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 does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing

to accept itto accept it– liberal democratic critiques of other modelsliberal democratic critiques of other models

elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to elite democracy – if unchecked, elites will use power to infringe the rights of individualsinfringe the rights of individuals

majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will majoritarian democracy – if unchecked, majority will infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority)infringe the rights of minorities (tyranny of the majority)

Models of Democracy – Viewing Models of Democracy – Viewing Democracy Over TimeDemocracy Over Time elite democratselite democrats

– the masses will the masses will alwaysalways be incapable of making decisions for be incapable of making decisions for the long-term common goodthe long-term common good

liberal democratsliberal democrats– elites and the majorities will elites and the majorities will alwaysalways be prone to infringing be prone to infringing

individual rights if given the chanceindividual rights if given the chance majoritarian democratsmajoritarian democrats

– elites will elites will alwaysalways be self-serving be self-serving– masses can learn over time to become better democratic masses can learn over time to become better democratic

citizens citizens if given a meaningful opportunity to do soif given a meaningful opportunity to do so elite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too greatelite and liberal democrats would argue that the risk is too great

Democracy:Democracy:Where’s the Canadian Political System?Where’s the Canadian Political System?

Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t

General Welfare

High Mass Participation

Low Mass Participation

Majoritarian Majoritarian DemocracyDemocracy

Elite Elite DemocracyDemocracy

Liberal Liberal Democracy Democracy

Canada

Canada

Democracy:Democracy:Where’s the Canadian Political System Where’s the Canadian Political System

GoingGoing??Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t

General Welfare

High Mass Participation

Low Mass Participation

Majoritarian Majoritarian DemocracyDemocracy

Elite Elite DemocracyDemocracy

Liberal Liberal Democracy Democracy

Canada ?Canada