Comparative Politics 1 POL1010

1. Comparative Politics 1POL1010 Lecture 3 21st October 2004, 3-4pm What is Democracy?

2. Lecture Plan • Types of political system • Definitions of democracy • Issues associated with democracy • Models of democracy • Strengths and weaknesses of these models • Democracy in action: liberal democracy • Interpretations of liberal democracy

3. Types of Political System Aristotle’s categories: • Democracies • Oligarchies • Monarchies

4. Democracy as the enduring political principle • In its origins Democracy seen as a necessary evil - Plato and Aristotle • From Athens to 2004 • Late 20th century - fall of ideologies • Liberals, conservatives, socialists, communist, fascists - we are all democrats now

5. Definitions of Democracy ‘Democracy is the worst form of government except all the other forms which have been tried from time to time’ Source: Winston Churchill, 1947

6. Defining Democracy Ancient Greece - ‘demos’ - the people / ‘kratos’ - power ‘democracy is perhaps the most promiscuous word in the world of public affairs’ Source: Bernard Crick, 1993

7. Defining Democracy: Who are ‘the people’? • Principle of political equality • But who are the people? In practice what restrictions are placed on participation? • Greek city-states males, over 20 years • UK universal suffrage only from 1928 • USA 1960s until full democracy achieved • 1971 in Switzerland when women finally given the vote • All examples of democracy excluded children from participation • In addition, other restrictions apply - e.g. imprisoned criminals

8. Defining Democracy: Government by the People • Government by the people • What will do ‘the people’ actually exert? • General will of the collective (Rousseau) • Majority will of most people (majoritarianism) • Private will of individuals

9. Government by the People: Forms of Participation I Direct / Participatory • Continuous involvement of citizenry in decision-making • referenda, mass meetings, interactive devices • e.g. of system of popular self-government, Athenian city-state, Switzerland • Plebiscitary democracy as a sub-species

10. Government by the People: Forms of Participation II Representative Democracy • Voting Periodically • Limited, indirect government • Delegation of power via electoral mandate • Competitive elections

11. Government by the People: Forms of Participation III Radical Democracy • Goal of decentralised power and widened participation • Socialists and Feminists • More of an ideal than an actuality

12. Government by the People: Forms of Participation IV Totalitarian Democracy • Absolute dictatorships still label themselves as democracies – e.g. Hitler’s Germany • Ritualised form of democracy – focus is the leader as a the representative of the people

13. Government by the People to Government for the People Continuum for the people • by the people totalitarian direct radical representative

14. Models of Democracy Democracy - one size does not fit all? Within the concept of ‘liberal democracy’ there are several different types of rule: • Classical democracy • Protective democracy • Developmental democracy • People’s democracy

15. Models of Democracy Classical democracy • Polis of Greek city-state Athens, 4th-5th centuries BC • Pure form of popular participation (though no women or slaves) • Assembly (Ecclesia) of citizens took all major decisions • Met at least 40 times a year • Influenced later thinkers - Rousseau and Marx • Criticised by Plato – The Republic • Role of rulers taken by ‘philosopher-kings’

16. Models of Democracy Protective democracy • Rejection of participation • Limited and indirect form of democracy • Aristotle’s question to Plato: ‘quis custodiet custodies? Who will guard the guardians? • 17th C John Locke – natural and property rights • 18th C The Utilitarians: Jeremy Bentham and James Mill • ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ • People give power – via consent through the act of voting

17. Models of Democracy • Developmental democracy • Jean-Jacques Rousseau – The Social Contract (1792) • Individual freedom comes via obedience to the ‘general will’ • Participation • Decentralisation • John Stuart Mill – ‘educative function’ of democracy

18. Models of Democracy People’s democracy • Marxist tradition • Soviet political system • Lenin – power in the political system should be concentrated with the Communist Party – representing the workers as the masses • No check on the power of the CP

19. Democracy in Action: Common Features of Liberal Democracy • Indirect and representative form of democracy – political office is gained through success in regular elections • Importance of competition and choice – via political pluralism and having an open system • Distinction is clear between state and society – autonomous groups and interests are allowed to exist free from state interference

20. Liberal Democracy in Action: Five Interpretations • Pluralist View – LD guarantees responsiveness and accountability • Elitist View – in LD tendency for political power to be concentrated in the hands of the few • Corporatist View – role of groups (in particular TUs) in LD • New Right View – in LD can be a danger of democratic overload • Marxist View – relationship between LD and capitalism

21. Bibliography Crick, B. (1993) In Defence of Politics Penguin. Marquand, D. (1988) The Unprincipled Society London: Cape. Rousseau, J-J. [1762] (1913)The Social Contract London: Dent. Mill, J.S. [1859] (1982) On Liberty Penguin. Bentham, J. [1776] (1948) Fragments on Government and an Introduction to the Principles of Law Oxford: Blackwell. Locke, J. [1690] (1965) Two Treatise on Government New York, NY: New American Library. Aristotle Politics Penguin. Plato The Republic Penguin. Lenin, V. [1902] (1968) What is to be Done? Penguin.