Lecture 3 Flashcards
Democracy
Democracy is a political system in which citizens govern,
either by themselves or through others that are elected,
influenced, and controlled by the people (direct or
indirect), in a way that puts each citizen equal with every
other (equality in influence)
Ideal criteria of democracy
- Effective participation: Before a policy is adopted, all the citizens
must have equal and effective opportunities for making their views
known to other citizens. - Equality in voting: When decisions about policy are made, every
citizen must have an equal and effective opportunity to vote and all
votes must be counted as equal. - Enlightened understanding: Within reasonable limits, each citizen
must have equal and effective opportunities to learn about the relevant
alternative policies and their likely consequences. - Control of the agenda: Citizens must have the opportunity to decide
how and what matters are to be placed on the agenda. - Inclusion of adults: With minimal exceptions, all permanent adult
residents should have the full rights of citizens that are implied by the
first four criteria.
Realistic criteria of democracy
- Elected officials: decisions are checked and legitimated by elected
representatives; - Free, fair, and frequent elections: elected officials are chosen in frequent,
free and fair election; - Alternative sources of information: citizens have the right and the
possibility to gather information from alternative and independent sources - Freedom of expression: citizens have the right to express themselves,
also in a critical sense, on all possible political and administrative matters; - Freedom of assembly and association: citizens are free to organize
themselves in associations and groups, including independent interest
groups and political parties taking part in elections; - Inclusive citizenship: with minimal exceptions, no citizens are excluded
from the abovementioned rights and opportunities, including the right to
elect or be elected.
reasons for democracy
- Prevention of tyranny
- Protection of essential rights
- Guarantee of freedom
- Self-protection
- Self-determination
- Moral autonomy
- Human development
- Restriction of inequality
- Peace-keeping
- Creation of prosperity
(denk niet dat je ze allemaal moet kennen, maar een paar is handig)
Waves of Democracy
- First wave: 1828-1926 (to 29)
- First counter movement: 1922-1942 (back to 12)
- Second wave: 1943-1962 (to 36)
- Second counter movement: 1958-1975 (back to 30)
• Third wave: 1974-1991 (to 65, of which 35 ‘most
democratic’)
Democratization
Process by which states build the institutions and processes
needed to become stable democracies.
Stages of democratisation
- Subversion/Liberalization of authoritarian regime
- Transition to democracy
- Consolidation of democracy
- Deepening democracy
forms/types of democracy
- Based on historical/philosophical background
- Based on substantiality
- Based on participation level
- Based on institutional setting
Three Aspects of Democracy
• Level of Democracy: presence and substantiality (Freedom
House; EIU; Polity IV)
• Full democracy (liberal democracy)
• Electoral democracy (illiberal/flawed democracy)
• Model of Democracy: institutional settings (Lijphart; Maleki &
Hendriks)
• Majoritarian (aggregative) vs. Consensus (integrative) democracy
• Participative (direct) vs. Spectative (indirect) democracy
• Quality/Performance of Democracy: effectiveness and
legitimacy (WGI; EIU)
• Effective democracy
• Ineffective/unsatisfactory/failed democracy
Two Dimensions of Democracy (Dahl)
- Contestation (Competition) (How to decide?)
- Right to compete
- Rate of contestation (vs. cooperation)
- Participation (Inclusiveness) (Who decide?)
- Right to participate (suffrage)
- Rate of participation
Measuring Democracy
- Conceptualization
- What to measure? (contestation & participation)
- Measurement
- How to measure? What indicators? (right or rate)
• Index Construction
• How to develop an index? (average, additive, factor
analysis)
Aggregative (majoritarian) democracy
- simple majority of 50% + 1 decides (the winner takes all)
* based on voting
• Integrative (non-majoritarian, consensual) democracy
- trying to reach the widest possible agreement
* based on deliberation and consensus building
• Indirect or representative democracy
- Representatives make decisions/policies
* Spectative democracy
Direct democracy
- People directly participate in decision/policy-making via:
- Participatory/deliberative methods
- Campaigns/protests/social movements
- Referendums
