Democracy Democracy January 10 January 10 th th , 2005 , 2005
Jan 08, 2018
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