POLS 2100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Liberal Democracy, Social Capital

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2100
• Professor: Ian Spears

Document Summary

So power in the hands of the people. Political power exercised either directly or indirectly through participation, competition and liberty. A system that holds fair and contested elections on a regular basis. A system where most official are elected, universal suffrage, opposition parties have a real chance at being elected, minority and civil rights are respected. Democracy is defined differently depending on the institution. Democracy does not solve all problems and may not even be the best form of government, it is only a particular set of institutions that have developed over time from liberal ideals. Argue that democracy is bad because god is the only ruler of humans because humans cannot rule themselves: marxists. Claim liberal democracy is really bourgeois democracy. Power is determined by whoever has wealth, not the vote: colonialists. Doubted that colonials could ever rule themselves: western doubters. Those who are not convinced that democracy lives up to its name.