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Lecture 9: Introduction to Democratic Systems

SOSC 152

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A. Key Topics

Normative definitions

Procedural Definitions

Socio-Economic and Historical Requisites

Individual View and Role

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B. Normative Definitions of Democracy

Pennock: Government by the people, where liberty (自由 ), equality (平均 ) and fraternity (博愛 ) are secured to the greatest possible degree and in which human capacities are developed to the utmost, by means including free and full discussion of common problems and interests.

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Search for equality exists in dynamic tension with search for liberty.Excessive concern for Liberty may lead to significant inequalitiesExcessive concern for Equality promotes idea that liberty can be sacrificed“Equity“ (公平 ) or "equality of opportunity" without guaranteeing "equality of outcome (or income)."An alternative strategy: Need to balance individual interests (liberty) with collective interests (fraternity).

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Equality versus Liberty

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Lipset: Democracy a system which by allowing conflict, allows those with less social values to organize, vote and fight to establish institutions to restrain the power of the dominant class.Democracy as only system that effectively handles tension between demand for equality and liberty through popular participation.Problem: To what extent can one legally limit the pursuit of individual liberty in order to maximize the pursuit of equality and common or public good?This could lead to dictatorship in the name of equality and collective interests.

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C. Procedural and Operational Definitions

What key mechanisms or procedures must exist to call a political system "democratic?“

1. Voting: one person, one vote, secret ballot2. Competitive elections: mechanism for elite

rotation, incumbent leaves post peacefully

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3. Local Participation: for DeToqueville, people must participate in democracy through local self-government and voluntary associations.

Concept of “civil society”if people don't participate, is it democracy? "Pluralist Democracy" based on competition among interest groups and widespread local participation through voluntary organizations -- not necessarily through voting.

4. Political Parties: at least two competitive ones

5. Opposition: accepts rules of game, especially electoral defeat and tries to come to power in next round of elections.

Does not resort to force

6. Free Press: monitor government while in power

7. Independent judiciary: that can rule whether government actions unconstitutional

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D. Socio-Economic and Historical Requisites

What are the necessary socio-economic conditions for emergence of democracy?

1. Level of Economic Development:urbanization, education, industrial versus agricultural population, relative equality

(see figures)

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Percentage of Economically Active Population in Agriculture for Selected Nations (1990)

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Per Capita GNP and PPP for Selected Nations (in U.S. Dollars, 1992)

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2. Property Rights:no system with very high degree of economic planning or government ownership of industry has become a democracy.assumes that there is relationship between "middle class" and efforts at democracyprivate propertied class desires to keep state from stealing their propertyBarrington Moore and emergence of new class opposing nobility in Britain as key for democracy

3. Cross-Cutting Cleavagesalliances and conflicts among groups not fixed, but shift over different issues.prevents sharp polarization among groups that turn into conflictual political culture based on political parties

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4. Political Culture:participatory versus subject political culture

5. Historical Development:How working class, religious or ethnic interests (or parties) gain access to political system.if their demands are rejected, or not formed into competitive political parties, they can resort to violent or radical solutions.

6. Roles and Values of Elitessocietal elites must accept that competition is good but through democratic channelsacceptance of norms of rotation, compromise, Pluralist Democracy needs dispersed elite power among political, economic, social, military and cultural hierarchies – no “agglutination of elites”.

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E. Individual View and Role 1. Assumption that significant number of individuals

must participate in some form. but too much participation could lead to "political decay“

2. Individual Values or Political Culture Criticalbelief in individual dignity, autonomy and respect for other peoplestrong sense of self, personal autonomy, individual rights, and scepticism towards authorityWilling to challenge political authorities if necessary, especially to protect the democracytrust, tolerance and willingness to compromisecommitment to democratic proceduressense of nationalism or patriotism and legitimacy of government