POLS 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Deliberative Democracy, Jeremy Bentham, Cosmopolitan Democracy
25 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Some states allow people to vote but restrict their choices in various ways (banning opposing parties). The key point in discussions about democracy is whether or not the system allows genuine accountability. Although democracy was first practiced in ancient greece, political philosophers like plato and aristotle disliked it, equating it with mob rule. A major theoretical influence on democracy was the utilitarian" school of philosophers, led by jeremy bentham (1748-1832). Pluralists argue that liberal democracies offer free competition between as many groups as are prepared to organize and present themselves for election. Elitists argue that competition for power is always restricted. Economic theory of democracy political scientist anthony dows developed a theory of democracy in which voters behave like self-interested economic actors, selecting the party whose policies seem to be best attuned to their economic self-interest. Presents an over-simplified view of human behavior, and many individuals do not vote according to their self-interest.
