POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Robert A. Dahl, Government Simulation Game, Polyarchy
21 Nov 2012
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Document Summary
Relatively new set of institutions within government. Rules of the game: rule of law. By institutionalizing the rule of law, democracies are far more predictable in terms of what you can and cannot do. Because we live in a diverse society, people have contending interests. Political parties tend to converge toward the median voter which helps manage diversity. Democracies recognize that societies are diverse and embody different diverging interests. Helps to do a better job in facilitating commonwealth. There is a possibility of losing, no guarantee of winning. This creates accountability within parties and leaders. No two democracies alike, no fixed variables. The institutional rules differ in different countries that reflect local histories and socio-economic context. Changes over time, adapts to many circumstances and context. Fundamental to democracy (i) equality of opportunity. Allows for political equality: the separation of church and state, all equal as citizens under the rule of law. As individuals, we are all politically equal.
