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Dilemmas of Democracy

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Government1. Hobbes: protect physical security

of citizens

2. Locke: protect the “life, liberty, & property of its citizens”

3. Weber: the legitimate use of force within the territory of one’s country to maintain order

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Purpose of Government1. Maintain order

(preserve life & protect property)

2. Provide pubic goods

3. Promote equality

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Government•All governments necessitate citizens to relinquish some freedoms in the course of being ruled.

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Concepts

Equality

Freedom

Order

A generalized idea that groups similar qualities or things together classified under one label

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Concepts1. Freedom: liberty; to speak, worship, etc.

2. Order: preserve life & protect property; social order prescribes the accepted way of doing things

3. Equality

a. Political equality: equality of influence in the political process; one person one vote

b. Social equality: equality in wealth, education, social status

c. Equality of opportunity: equality in chances to succeed

d. Equality of outcome: equality for people in the end; to be sustainable, it needs government intervention

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Conflict• When government enact policies that promote social equality, freedom & equality conflict.

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Two Dilemmas of Government

2

Modern Dilemma

1

Original Dilemma

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Two Dilemmas of Government

1. Original Dilemma:Tradeoff between freedom & order

2. Modern Dilemma:Balance between freedom & equality

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Modern Dilemma• Example: Legal obligation of school busing to attain racial balance

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Ideology• A constant set of beliefs & values about the proper scope & aim of government

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Ideologies

Totalitarian Socialist Capitalist Libertarian

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Ideology & Government1. Totalitarian: Place

everything under government control

2. Socialist: Control basic industries & leave room for private ownership of production & civil liberties

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Ideology & Government3. Capitalists: Private ownership of means of production & no government control of business

4. Libertarians: No government action except where absolutely needed to protect life & property

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Libertarians• Libertarians:would support the deregulation of private industries.

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Source: Janda et. al. (2006). Chapter 1, p. 13 . Brief edition, 6th

ed.

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Source: Janda et. al. (2006). Chapter 1, p. 16 . Brief edition, 6th ed.

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Classification of Governments

Liberals Conservatives

CommunitariansLibertarians

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Classification of Government1. Conservatives:

a. Prefer order to freedomb. Prefer freedom to equality

2. Liberals:a. Prefer equality to freedomb. Prefer freedom to order

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Classification of Government

3. Libertarians:• Prefer freedom to everything else

4. Communitarians:• Prefer order & equality to freedom

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DemocracyRule by the people

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Democracy

Direct Indirect

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DemocracyDespised in the Ancient Slave-Owning & Feudal

Times

Favored in the Modern Capitalist World

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U.S. Governmental

Process

Majoritarian?

Pluralist?

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•According to the authors of this textbook, U.S. democracy is best described as pluralist.

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Theory of Democratic Government

Procedural Theory

Substantive Theory

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Substantive Democracy

Protect civil rights &

liberties of all, including

minorities

Ensure social & economic

rights

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Principle of Responsiveness

• Elected officials must do what the citizens want.

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Problem with Procedural Democracy

•Because of the requirement of majority rule, the protection of minorities might be jeopardized.

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Direct Democracy•Direct or participatory democracy is appropriate to small societies where the people rule themselves.

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Democracies TodayBut

representative (indirect &

institutional)

Not participatory (not direct)

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3 Institutional Models of Democracy

1

Majoritarian

2

Pluralist

3

Elite

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Majoritarian Democracy1.Assumption: citizens are

knowledgeable & go to vote for candidates who represent them

2.Tools: Election, referendum, initiatives, recall (U.S.: only local & state level)

3.But reality:a.Citizens are not well-informedb.Low voter turnout

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Pluralist Model of Democracy1. Facts:

1. citizens are not knowledgeable &2. low voter turnout

2. Tools: interest groups press their claims to Congress, state legislature, bureaucracy, etc.

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Elite Theory1. More of anti-democratic

2. Few rule, control agenda & action

3. Democracy is not real

4. The small group is enduring

5. Counter-argument: But different groups are powerful in different issues

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Critical Reflection1. In Bowers v. Hardwick, the U.S. Supreme Court

held that states may outlaw homosexual practices between consenting adults. Discuss how totalitarians, socialists, libertarians, and anarchists would react to this decision.

2.Marriage between homosexuals is now legal in many U.S. states. Discuss how totalitarians, socialists, libertarians, and anarchists would react to this phenomenon.

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Reference• Janda, Berry, Goldman, & Hula. The Challenge of Democracy. Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Look for the latest edition.

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