Types of Government Searching for justice. What is Justice? Justice is fairness? Justice is fairness? Justice as harmony? Justice as harmony? Justice.

Types of GovernmentTypes of Government

Searching Searching for justicefor justice

What is Justice?What is Justice?

Justice is fairness?Justice is fairness?

Justice as harmony?Justice as harmony?

Justice is what God commandsJustice is what God commands Divine commandDivine command

Justice is a human valueJustice is a human value It is variableIt is variable Justice of the strong – “Might makes right”Justice of the strong – “Might makes right”

What is Justice?What is Justice?

““Justice means minding one's own Justice means minding one's own business and not meddling with other business and not meddling with other men's concerns.” - Plato men's concerns.” - Plato

““Justice commands us to have mercy Justice commands us to have mercy upon all men, to consult the interests upon all men, to consult the interests of the whole human race, to give to of the whole human race, to give to every one his due.” – Ciceroevery one his due.” – Cicero

Aristotle’s TheoriesAristotle’s Theories

Believed in only 3 basic forms of Believed in only 3 basic forms of government:government:

Rule by the one (monarchy or Rule by the one (monarchy or dictatorship)dictatorship)

Rule by the few (oligarchy or Rule by the few (oligarchy or aristocracy)aristocracy)

Rule by the many (democracy)Rule by the many (democracy)

Aristotle’s TheoriesAristotle’s Theories

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Aristotle-constitutions-2.png

Worst Form of GovernmentsWorst Form of Governments

“The worst government is often the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top there is no limit to oppression.”

- H.L. Mencken American journalist and literary critic

Authoritarian systemsAuthoritarian systems

The state holds all power The state holds all power Several types:Several types:

Monarchy: government power vested in a Monarchy: government power vested in a king or queen (Saudi Arabia)king or queen (Saudi Arabia) Variants:Variants:

Absolute Monarchy (Louis the XIV in France)Absolute Monarchy (Louis the XIV in France) Constitutional Monarchy (modern Great Britain) is no Constitutional Monarchy (modern Great Britain) is no

longer an authoritarian system of governmentlonger an authoritarian system of government Constitutional Monarchies are much closer to Constitutional Monarchies are much closer to

democraciesdemocracies

Absolute MonarchiesAbsolute Monarchies

Louis XIV (of France) King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Constitutional MonarchiesConstitutional Monarchies(monarch shares power)(monarch shares power)

Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom King Abdullah of Jordan

Authoritarian systemsAuthoritarian systems

Theocracy: Theocracy: government government claims to draw claims to draw its power from its power from divine or divine or religious religious authority (Iran)authority (Iran)

Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran

Authoritarian systems, cont’d.Authoritarian systems, cont’d.

Types of Types of authoritarian authoritarian systems, cont’d.systems, cont’d.

Fascist Fascist government: government: policy is made policy is made for the ultimate for the ultimate glory of the glory of the state (Nazi state (Nazi Germany)Germany)

Authoritarian systems, cont’d.Authoritarian systems, cont’d.

Totalitarian Totalitarian government: a government: a system in which system in which absolute control absolute control is exercised is exercised over every over every aspect of life aspect of life (North Korea)(North Korea)

Communism is a Communism is a totalitarian form totalitarian form of governmentof government

Authoritarian Authoritarian systems, cont’d.systems, cont’d.

My favorite My favorite Communist Communist Party Party Propaganda Propaganda PosterPoster

Authoritarian systems, cont’d.Authoritarian systems, cont’d.

Oligarchy: rule by Oligarchy: rule by a small group of a small group of eliteselites

America has been America has been called an called an oligarchy oligarchy Rich businessmen Rich businessmen

control the Senate control the Senate in this cartoonin this cartoon

WarningWarning

The next slide may be offensive to some The next slide may be offensive to some students (and / or their parents). This is to students (and / or their parents). This is to demonstrate other people’s political views – demonstrate other people’s political views –

not the instructor’s!!not the instructor’s!!

Authoritarian systems, cont’d.Authoritarian systems, cont’d.

Both Bush and Obama have been accused of being a part of an American oligarchy

Authoritarian systems, cont’d.Authoritarian systems, cont’d.

An oligarchy is a An oligarchy is a government in government in which a small which a small group exercises group exercises control control especially for especially for selfish purposesselfish purposes

An oligarchy of An oligarchy of catscats

Night time in Mr. Night time in Mr. B’s HouseB’s House

Nonauthoritarian systemsNonauthoritarian systems

Anarchy: the absence of government and lawsAnarchy: the absence of government and laws No governmentNo government

Problems with anarchy Problems with anarchy - no government, no - no government, no lawslaws Most people think mob Most people think mob

rulerule Some people say that Some people say that

anarchy is a “live and anarchy is a “live and let live” kind of let live” kind of system where system where everybody minds their everybody minds their own business, but …own business, but … What do you think will What do you think will

happen without a happen without a police force?police force?

Nonauthoritarian systemsNonauthoritarian systems Anarchy: the absence Anarchy: the absence

of government and of government and lawslaws

Democracy: Democracy: government that vests government that vests power in the people; power in the people; based on popular based on popular sovereigntysovereignty Popular sovereignty: Popular sovereignty:

the concept that the the concept that the citizens are the citizens are the ultimate source of ultimate source of political powerpolitical power

Democratic systemsDemocratic systems Today there are 3 major forms or types of Today there are 3 major forms or types of

democracy (with different synonyms)democracy (with different synonyms)

Pure democracyPure democracy (sometimes called Greek (sometimes called Greek Democracy)Democracy) Everybody gets a vote, for every issue or policyEverybody gets a vote, for every issue or policy

Lets build a new hospital, or lets go to warLets build a new hospital, or lets go to war

Democratic systemsDemocratic systems

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives

(Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials)governors, and other elected officials)

Democratic systemsDemocratic systems

Constitutional MonarchiesConstitutional Monarchies The monarch has mostly ceremonial powerThe monarch has mostly ceremonial power Real power is held by the people (usually through Real power is held by the people (usually through

parliaments and prime ministers)parliaments and prime ministers) In reality most constitutional monarchies are simply a In reality most constitutional monarchies are simply a

representative democracy with a monarchrepresentative democracy with a monarch

Democratic systemsDemocratic systems RepublicRepublic

A representative democracy without a monarchA representative democracy without a monarch Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives Issues are decided by the peoples elected representatives

(Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, (Americans elect Congress, the President, legislatures, governors, and other elected officials)governors, and other elected officials)

Roman Senate United States Senate

Back to AristotleBack to Aristotle

The forms of government (ranked in The forms of government (ranked in order goodness):order goodness):

1.1. Rule by the one (monarchy)Rule by the one (monarchy)

2.2. Rule by the few (aristocracy)Rule by the few (aristocracy)

3.3. Rule by the many (constitutional democracy)Rule by the many (constitutional democracy)

4.4. Rule by the many (democracy)Rule by the many (democracy)

5.5. Rule by the few (oligarchy)Rule by the few (oligarchy)

6.6. Rule by the one (tyranny)Rule by the one (tyranny)

Democracy and AristotleDemocracy and Aristotle

Sort of surprising, don’t you think, Sort of surprising, don’t you think, that democracy is not the best form that democracy is not the best form of governmentof government

After all that is what we are taught in After all that is what we are taught in schoolschool

Democracy and AristotleDemocracy and Aristotle

But no, Aristotle put democracy (the good But no, Aristotle put democracy (the good and bad form) in the middle of his listand bad form) in the middle of his list

Democracy is a mediocre form of governmentDemocracy is a mediocre form of government Low risk / low gain – never horrible, but never greatLow risk / low gain – never horrible, but never great

Meanwhile, the rule of the one is a high risk / Meanwhile, the rule of the one is a high risk / high gain governmenthigh gain government

You could have a wonderful king or emperor who You could have a wonderful king or emperor who really cares about the peoplereally cares about the people But then his son turns out to be a moron (or worse)But then his son turns out to be a moron (or worse)

““Democracy is the worst form Democracy is the worst form of government … except for of government … except for all the others.”all the others.”

– – Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

A Modern View