Democracy

Question 1

what are the origins of democracy? and Define democracy

Answer 1

Demos - the people
Kratos - Rule
1928 female suffrage

system of government by which the whole/majority of the population create fairness and representation through electing politicians

Question 2

What are the key ways of measuring democracy?

Answer 2

Political rights

• freedom to organise parties
• scope and competition with opposition parties
• extensive vote for all citizens
• non corrupt gov

Civil Rights

• Freedom of expression and belief
• demonstration
• Equality
• protection of minority through the allocation of basic rights.

*must be a clear distinction between civil society and the state where groups can organise themselves to influence policy making.

Question 3

Is democracy in crisis?

Answer 3

1. lower voter turnout
2. rise of smaller parties means its harder to process policies as constant opposition
3. failed promises by political parties - leads to spiralling expenditure: Example: $50bn loan from IMF in Argentina.

Question 4

Examples that the US has a decline in democracy

Answer 4

immediate support for authoritarianism mainly due to the rise in immigration and increasing racial equality - their way of protecting their culture.

Classed as a “flawed democracy” where there has been a sharp fall in popular confidence in the functioning of public institutions.

The increasing social polarisation has lead to a growing wealth divide fuelling public dissatisfaction.

there has been less contribution for opposition parties in overseeing and checking on the majorty party.

Question 5

China

Answer 5

China has focused on economic reform and not political reform
“autocracy with democratic characteristics”
Increasing trends in suppressing education with university censorship.

Question 6

Turkey

Answer 6

Erdogan in power.

Freedom of expression:
- women must bear 3 children and commented and ordered on women’s appearances.

Press Freedom
- during military coup 150 journalist imprisoned, fired 21,000 teachers and has authority to appoint heads of universities

Drive for parliamentary to presidential systems of governance has allowed him to retain power.

Question 7

Define the Democratic Peace Thesis

Answer 7

1. Modern liberalists believe that democratic states do not go to war with each other but will go to war with other states.

!!! There are so few wars now that it is obviously less likely that democracies will go to war with each other !!!!

2. Liberal democracies have discovered reasons for aggressions against non democratic states which is that they don’t share common norms and so are less likely to see war as a last resort.
3. In modern democracies the consent of the people acts as a constraint on governments wanting to go to war.
   - 72% Syria

Question 8

explain legitimacy

Answer 8

Rightfulness and willingness to comply with a system of rule regardless of how it is achieved.
- due to long established traditions and and customs which citizens abide by.

capitalism is upheld by the ability to secure political support.

Democratic

• consent
• conciliation and compromise and negotiation
• feedback system

Non democratic
- rigged/ non competitive election

• performance legitimation - A states right to rule is justified by its economic or moral performance and capacity of territorial defence. ( Chinese economic reforms resonate this. they have no particular interest in democratisation.)
• Ideological legitimation - a states right to rule is justified by a certain value system in the form of tradition, religion and philosophy to uphold regime (North Korea)

Democracy should be based on equal opportunity and individual merit rather than hierarchy and privilege

• welfare distribution.