Democracy: What is It?Democracy: What is It?(Cont’d)(Cont’d)
March 2nd, 2004March 2nd, 2004
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
CommunitarianCommunitarian
Emphasis on Emphasis on General Welfare of General Welfare of the Communitythe Community
LibertarianLibertarian
Emphasis on Limited Emphasis on Limited Government and Government and Rights of the Rights of the IndividualIndividual
MODELS OF DEMOCRACYMODELS OF DEMOCRACYIndividual Rights/Limited Gov’t
General Welfare
High Mass Participation
Low Mass Participation
Majoritarian Majoritarian DemocracyDemocracy
Elite Elite DemocracyDemocracy
Liberal Liberal DemocracyDemocracy
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 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 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 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
CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIESCLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES
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
CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES...CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES...
typology of models of democracy as a “map” typology of models of democracy as a “map” for comparing democratic systemsfor comparing democratic systems– tells us what to look at in undertaking comparisonstells us what to look at in undertaking comparisons– emphasizes the relative nature of models of emphasizes the relative nature of models of
democracydemocracy democracy as a concept is multi-faceted and complexdemocracy as a concept is multi-faceted and complex
– forces the consideration of two questionsforces the consideration of two questions to what degree are different political systems based on to what degree are different political systems based on
different models of democracy?different models of democracy? to what degree do different political systems look like to what degree do different political systems look like
their underlying model of democracy their underlying model of democracy in practicein practice
Things to Remember...Things to Remember...
there is no one, single, accepted model of there is no one, single, accepted model of democracydemocracy– within a range of basic elements (consent of the within a range of basic elements (consent of the
governed, protection of individual rights), governed, protection of individual rights), democracy means different things to different democracy means different things to different peoplepeople
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
In the Contemporary WorldIn the Contemporary World
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
Freedom House, Freedom House, Freedom in the World Freedom in the World 20022002– political freedompolitical freedom
freedom to form political partiesfreedom to form political parties open competition in free and fair electionsopen competition in free and fair elections
– civil libertiescivil liberties personal freedoms (e.g. speech, press)personal freedoms (e.g. speech, press) religious, ethnic, linguistic rightsreligious, ethnic, linguistic rights
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
total countries=192total countries=192electoral democracies=121 (63%)electoral democracies=121 (63%)
– 1987=40%1987=40%
free countries=89 (46%)free countries=89 (46%)many countries are electoral democracies many countries are electoral democracies
without being free!!without being free!!
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Status of Freedom, 2002
46%
29%
25%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
Status of Freedom, 1972
29%
25%
46%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
CEE, FSU, 2002
45%
33%
22%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
CEE, FSU, 1972
0%0%
100%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Sub-Saharan Africa, 2002
23%
46%
31%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
Sub-Saraharan Africa, 1972
5%23%
72%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Americas, 2002
65%
29%
6%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
Americas, 1972
50%35%
15%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Western Europe, 2002
99%
1%
Free Partly Free
Western Europe, 1972
72%
16%
12%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Asia Pacific, 2002
46%
26%
28%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
Asia Pacific, 1972
25%
41%
34%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of Democracy Over The State of Democracy Over TimeTime
Middle East, North Africa, 2002
6%22%
72%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
Middle East, North Africa, 1972
11%16%
73%
Free Partly Free
Not Free
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
top rankingstop rankings– 34 countries (all Western industrialized 34 countries (all Western industrialized
countries) including...countries) including... AustraliaAustralia CanadaCanada FranceFrance GermanyGermany UKUK United StatesUnited States
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
worst rankingsworst rankings– 9 worst9 worst
BurmaBurma CubaCuba IraqIraq North KoreaNorth Korea LibyaLibya Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia SudanSudan SyriaSyria TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
The State of DemocracyThe State of Democracy
the number of free democratic societies is the number of free democratic societies is growinggrowing– however, the number of electoral democracies however, the number of electoral democracies
has grown has grown fasterfaster than the number of free than the number of free democratic societiesdemocratic societies
– electoral democracy does not equal free electoral democracy does not equal free democracydemocracy