Political Science Chapter One TOPIC 1 The Basics of Democracy I The General Nature of Democracy A Politics and Government B Process Substance Democracy involves both C Core Democratic Principles D Two Basic Forms of Democracy II Three Models of American Democracy A Populism B Pluralism C Elitism D 03 25 2014 TOPIC 1 The Basics of Democracy The General Nature of Democracy A Politics and Government 1 What is Politics a Harold Lasswell Who gets what when and how b David Easton authoritative allocation of values c Say same thing all societies must have some way to i Resolve conflict about what people want and ii Make collective decisions that are binding on the entire society 2 What is Government a Government the institution that has authority to make binding decisions for the entire society b Government is unique i Why ii Legitimate use of coercion to enforce its decisions iii Even extreme coercion including imprisonment and death c Other institutions make decisions to resolve conflicts i Ex churches but ii Cannot use force 3 Several basic forms of government a Sovereignty the legitimate authority to wield coercive power to allocate values b Where sovereignty is placed determines form of government i Autocracy absolute monarchs and dictators ii Oligarchy small elite based on wealth status or military iii Democracy all people have opportunity to participate in making binding decisions iv Politics occurs in all forms but the nature of politics is different B Process Substance Democracy involves both 1 Democracy as process a Joseph Schumpeter democracy is mostly about means not about ends b Wide dispersion of power i Amplifies disagreements ii Requires negotiation and compromise iii Neither fast nor efficient c Result i Gridlock and inefficiency ii What many Americans find objectionable about government d So why put up with it Churchill Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried 2 Democratic Substance a Democratic procedures are not enough i What if democratic procedures are used to destroy democracy ii Examples USA setting up democracy in Iraq Hitler was elected into power b Outcomes of the process also must be democratic and reflect core democratic principles C Core Democratic Principles 1 Popular Sovereignty a The overarching democratic concept b Ultimate political authority resides in the hands of the people c Demographic government must be responsive and accountable to the people 2 Three demographic principles required to achieve popular sovereignty a Political Freedom b Political Equality c Majority Rule 3 Conflicting Values a All three necessary b No single principle is sufficient c Democracy threatened if any one is missing d Inherent conflicts requires delicate balance D Two Basic Forms of Democracy 1 Direct Democracy a All citizens participate and make decisions directly b Sometimes called pure democracy c Not practical in a large society not even with the internet and Facebook 2 Representative Democracy a Ordinary citizens choose representatives to make policy b Sometimes called republican government or republic c A type of democracy if democratic principles followed in i Choosing representatives and ii Decisions of representatives are consistent with core democratic principles III Three Models of American Democracy A Populism 1 Emphasis on participation and majority rule a Give ordinary people direct control over policy b Emphasize participation c Direct democracy d Sometimes called participatory democracy e Populist reforms in representative democracy i Expansion of the franchise ii Direct election of Senators iii Initiative referendum and recall states only 2 Criticisms a Assumes all citizens information and participate b Ignores intensity c Potential for majority tyranny B Pluralism 1 Conflict between core democratic principles a Majority rule vs political freedom minority rights b How to protect minority rights from majority tyranny 2 Pluralist answer a Fragmentation of power b Slow deliberation debate and compromise c Sometimes called deliberative democracy d Majority Coalition of minorites 3 Criticisms a Over emphasis on restraining the majority b Does not protect the rights of all minorities c Inherently conservative i Conservative in traditional plain English sense ii Slow and unresponsive to change iii Maintain the status quo C Elitism 1 Believe that there are two kinds of people in every society a Those with power the power elite b Those without power the masses c Real power is inevitably exercised by a small monolithic self perpetuating power elite d Power flows from the top down Power elite responsive to no one except their own values 2 Criticisms a Unrealistic view of power b Non falsifiable theory i Empirical vs Normative empirical chemistry ii Normative theory cannot be falsified iii Scientific theory empirical iv Elitism and pluralism claim to be empirical but no way to falsify elite theory