POL S101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Liberal Democracy, Limited Government, Deliberative Democracy
Democracy:*government*by*the*people;*rule*by*the*"demos"
>who*are*the*people,*what*do*we*mean*by*rule?
What*is*'liberal'* about*liberal*democracy?
Hint:*it*DOES*NOT*refer*to*left*or*right*or*being*liberal* in*ideology
-
Core*features:*limited*government*(power*of*government*legitimated* by*
consent),*protection*of*rights*to*uphold*the*contract*between*government*and*
the*governed
-
How*we*get*it:*rule*of*law,*maybe*through*republicanism*(separation*of*
powers),*constitutional*government,*consent*(representative*democracy)
Rule*of*law:*prevents*tyranny
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John*Locke:*everyone*has*natural*rights
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Today:*protection*of*minority*rights*(charter*of*rights*and*freedoms)
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"illiberalism* involves*a*wholesale*rejection*of*liberal* values*and*democratic*norms,*
[and]*the*creation*of*a*system*in*which*the*institutions*of*pluralism*are*hollowed*out*
and*the*ruling*party's*dominance*is*assured*over*the*long*term"*-Puddingtion,*2017*
(freedom*house)
Hungary:*weak*protections*for*rights*of*Roma,*refugees,*public*campaigns*that*are*
anti-Semitic
Attack*of*pluralism*and*pluralist*institution*in*state
-
It*is*not*just*constitutions*and*holding*elections,*it*is*also*about*the*state*
upholding*these*ideas
-
Ruling*party's*dominance*is*assured*over*the*long*term
-
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!,"$'&'.,$#"-)*%+#&",&-
/0%#"-)#1)
$0%)2$,$%)
,34)
$0%#"'2$2
Elite*theories*(Schrumpeter)*-->empirical*
and*normative*view*of*state*as*something*
controlled*by*the*elite
Pluralist*theories*(including*
critics*from*the*left)*such*as*
Pateman.*Radical*democrats*
such*as*Rousseau.
5#6%)#1)
.,"$'&'.,$'
#3
Limited*to*the*act*of*selecting*leaders*
(voting)>simplistic*model
Expansive:*sees*
participation*through*many*
stages*of*the*policy*process;*
voting*happens*after*
debates
7"%,$%2$)
$0"%,$2
Worried*about*mob*rule,*chaos Worried*about*elite* control,*
oligarchy
8#"+,$'(%)
('2'#3
Stability*and*prudent*rule.*Accepts*
hierarchical*rule.
Participation*as*essential*to*
human*development,*
autonomy,*self-
determination.*Participation*
as*+#",6)#96':,$'#3.*Create*
better*policy.*Resists*
hierarchical*rule.*Egalitarian*
vision.
Democracy*is*
transformative*for*human*
beings*and*essential
;<,+.6%2 Restrictive*franchise,*democracy*as*
voting.*Representative*democracy
Direct*democracy*
(referenda),*Mohawk*
Community*Decision*making*
process;*Swiss*
Landsgemeinde;+town*
meetings.*
Deliberative* democracy*as*a*
special*variant;*speaks*
directly*to*the*normative*
aims*(best*defined*in*
process*terms;*seeks*to*
generate*discussion*of*
issues*rationally)
Book:*"Democracy*for*Realists"
*,06=2).#6-,"&0->)&"'$%"',)1#")4%+#&",&-)?@A**B;)75CD8*)EC5)FGCH;)IA*;IJ
;11%&$'(%).,"$'&'.,$'#3> equal*and*effective*opportunities*for*making*views*
known
1.
;KL,6'$-)'3)(#$'3:> equal*and*effective*opportunities*to*vote2.
7,'3'3:)%36':0$%3%4)L34%"2$,34'3:>equal*and*effective*opportunities*for*
learning*about*alternatives;*media*fits*into*this*category
3.
;<%"&'2'3:)1'3,6)$"#6)#(%")$0%),:%34,> which*issues*get*on*the*agenda*and*
how
4.
A3&6L2'#3)#1),4L6$2:*broad*understanding*of*who*are*political*equals5.
Majoritarian*versus*consensus*democracy
@FMC5A/F5AF8 NC8I;8IDI
Concentrates*power Diffuses*power
Values*efficiency Values*inclusion*of*broad*
interests
Suitable*for*homogeneous*societies Suitable*for*divided*societies
Tools:*first*past*the*post*electoral* systems,*unitary*
states,*single*party*government
Tools:*PR*electoral*systems,*
coalition*government,*
federalism
Examples:*Westminster*system*(UK,*Canada)*
(except*for*federalism)
Examples:*Netherlands,*
Denmark
Does*democracy*need*a*state?*Does*it*need*a*single*demos?
Can*we*have*supranational*or*transnational*democracy?
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What*happens*if*our*democracy*does*not*have*a*'demos'?*(many*groups:*First*
Nations,*English;*Catalonia*in*Spain)
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Lecture'5:'Democracy'and'our'relationship'to'the'
state
Monday,*January*22,*2018
10:53*AM
Document Summary
Lecture 5: democracy and our relationship to the state. Democracy: government by the people; rule by the "demos" Hint: it does not refer to left or right or being liberal in ideology. Core features: limited government (power of government legitimated by consent), protection of rights to uphold the contract between government and the governed. How we get it: rule of law, maybe through republicanism (separation of powers), constitutional government, consent (representative democracy) Today: protection of minority rights (charter of rights and freedoms) "illiberalism involves a wholesale rejection of liberal values and democratic norms, [and] the creation of a system in which the institutions of pluralism are hollowed out and the ruling party"s dominance is assured over the long term" - puddingtion, 2017 (freedom house) Hungary: weak protections for rights of roma, refugees, public campaigns that are anti-semitic. Attack of pluralism and pluralist institution in state.
