POL113H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Demagogue
1 Oct 2018
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Posting on democracy for pol113 lecture sept. 24, 2018. Aristotle"s origi(cid:374)al defi(cid:374)itio(cid:374) (cid:894)widely a(cid:272)(cid:272)epted(cid:895) democracy is rule by the many (who are poor). For some people, this means rule (cid:271)y the (cid:862)(cid:373)o(cid:271)(cid:863) a(cid:374)d their leader (cid:894)de(cid:373)agogue(cid:895). Formal (mathematical) definition is rule by the majority (50%+ 1, or some larger defined majority). Under this definition, the most important feature of democracy is that there are free, fair and regular elections. All else depends on the will of the majority. Whatever the majority wa(cid:374)ts is (cid:862)fair ga(cid:373)e(cid:863), regardless of the long-term consequences (including the end of democracy). Hence, for many critics of democracy, it was/is an inherently unstable political regime, constantly shifting direct without regard for established laws, rules and traditions. Main criticisms of democracy include: democrats are too idealistic about the political capabilities and interests of the majority of citizens. Slogans replace plans: democratic decision-making is slow; too many points of view have to be considered.
