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