POLI 1100 Lecture Notes - Polyarchy
Document Summary
There is a fundamental tension between democracy and capitalism. Societies that have market capitalism are the societies that have polyarchical democracy. Certain features of market capitalism is what makes it favorable to democracy: such as private ownership that are fundamentally separate from state control. Market capitalism seems to have generally social and political consequences that are favorable to polyarchical democracy. Market-capitalism has typically led to economic growth; and economic growth is favorable to democracy. (cutting poverty and improving living standards, economic growth helps to reduce social and political conflicts) When economic conflicts do arise, growth provides more resources that are available for a mutually satisfactory settlement in which each side gains something. Explain dahl"s point, and explain the ways in which gaventa"s analysis of power supports this point. In his 1989 book, democracy and its critics, dahl gives the following characteristics of a polyarchy (p. 233): Control over governmental decisions about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials.
