Democracy Minimalist definition of Democracy A system for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to device by means of competitive struggle for the people s vote Schumpeter 2 Main Pts Of Democracy Basic rights and liberties and free fair competitive elections Consequences of Democracy Avoiding tyranny essential rights general freedom self determination moral autonomy human development protecting essential personal interests political equality through democratic institutions peace seeking prosperity Democratic development The growth of democracy is ongoing but uneven notion of liberal democracy Some reasons why include modernization theory economic development growing middle class changing attitudes of elites growth of civil society international pressure or cultural resistance Modernization Theory Democracy is correlated with if not caused by modernization As societies become more modern they inevitably become more democratic Economic development cultural change Criticisms democracy in non modern societies e g Ghana no democracy in modern societies e g Singapore does not explain how change would come about Elites and Democratization Emerged as a response to modernization theories failings Focuses on the strategic motivations of those in power and what would lead them ot hang on to or surrender power Resource Curse aka The Paradox of Plenty says that where economic wealth is concentrated in the hands of those in power political change is much less likely Countries with natural resource wealth are less likely to democratize Culture and Democratization Argues that there is in essence a culture of democracy It may be a result of modernization or may emerge from historical religious and philosophical foundations A culture s norms and values either favor or disfavor democracy Democracy is therefore a cultural value that develops and is institutionalized over a long period shaping the views of society and those in power Criticisms include difficult to test tend to degenerate into racism and stereotypes Bureaucracy Weber Concept of bureaucracy in 1922 a form of organization where bureaucratic workers work in fixed jurisdictions in a clear hierarchy with written rules and expert training no patronage Bureaucrats are professional public officials Issues rigidity resistance to change growth Bureaucratic Functions Revenue collection national defense service delivery icome maintenance and redistribution regulation research specialized government functions and management of state enterprise Duverger s Law SMD leads to 2 party systems and vice versa PR in ethnically diverse populations to overcome societal religious strive by ensuring minority rights Colonial heritage reflected in choice of democratic system Democratic Consolidation Process by which a new democracy matures Said to prevent a return to authoritarianism without an external shock Quality of Democracy Four overarching criteria Representative and accountable government Citizenship law and rights Civil society associations that increase participation and popular participation Democracy beyond the state Switzerland Swiss Confederation 23 Cantons divided by language 1848 Modern Switzerland begins Prior to that a loose alliance of autonomous cantons Constitution of 1848 made it a federal state with a central authority Attempted to balance the interests of the Swiss state with the interests of the cantons Two types of democracy in Switzerland indirect and direct Indirect Citizens elect representatives Federal council 7 members Collective presidency cabinet Each year a different member becomes Federal President 4 strongest parties are represented Legislative branch bicameral Council of states Upperhouse 46 members 4 year terms National Council 200 seats 4 year terms PR Direct Any Swiss citizen can both propose legislation or thwart legislation already Approved by parliament Only time parliament can override this right is if it decides that the Proposed motion is unconstitutional or it violates int l law Doesn t need that many sigs Extremists gain party Vote four times per year on Sunday Majority of citizens vote by mail Has one of the lowest voter turnouts in a Western democracy Pros Political or social groups often submit issues to the people that would be unlikely to find a parliamentary majority Enables issues to be discussed that might otherwise be ignored Helps sustain the delicate balance between the different groups in Swiss society Executives and legislators forced to look for the broadest possible consensus when framing new legislation Cons Too many votes and issues are too complicated 1991 2000 106 item were put to vote More so than previously Politically charged issues are vulnerable to hijacking by extremist groups 53 of population voted on Minaret Ban Passed with 57 approval Social Capital Social Capital Features of social organization such as networks norms and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation from mutual benefit Civil Society Realm of organized life that is voluntary self generating largely self supporting autonomous from the state and bound by a legal order or set of shared rules Citizens need to act collectively in the public sphere Between the private sphere and the state Non Democracies Authoritarian Regimes A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state Government is not constitutionally responsible to the public Public has little or no role in selecting leaders Individual freedom is restricted REMEMBER These regimes are still institutionalized and legitimate Formal vs Informal Institutions Formal Formal rules of order refer to state bodies e g courts legislature bureaucracies also refer to state enforced rules constitutions laws regulations Informal The actual rules that are being followed encompasses civic religious kinship and other societal rules and organizations Examples Mafia and other crime syndicates informal economies Coercion Public obedience is enforced through violence and surveillance Cooptation Bringing either individuals or groups into a beneficial and symbiotic relationship with the state May be corporatism or clientalism rent seeking Personality Cult Public is encourage to obey the leaders based on his or her extraordinary qualities and compelling ideas Leader is not just a political figure but is the quintessential representative of the state Can go to the extent that the leader becomes venerated in a