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Exploring Democratic Models and Dilemmas

Understand different democracy models incorporating citizen input and rights protection with normative choices. Explore mass participation, individual rights, and challenges within American democracy.

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Exploring Democratic Models and Dilemmas

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  1. DEMOCRACY?? WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?? May 7, 2002

  2. CLASSIFYING DEMOCRACIES • within a range of models incorporating some minimum amount of meaningful citizen input and some minimuim protection of basic rights, there are different models of democracy • choice of models is completely normative • there is no “right” model • the best model of democracy is contestable

  3. Democracy -- A Process Opportunities for Mass Participation LOW HIGH Representative (Trustee) Democracy Representative (Delegate) Democracy Participatory Democracy Direct Democracy

  4. Democracy -- The Outcomes Protection of Individual Rights Low (Emphasis on General Welfare) High (Emphasis on Limited Gov’t) Communitarianism Libertarianism

  5. Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Majoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy General Welfare

  6. Models of Democracy • majoritarian democracy • most important goal is maximizing mass participation • high mass participation will result in decisions being made that maximize the general welfare

  7. Models of Democracy • elite democracy • most important goal is the general welfare • requires an elite capable of pursuing the long-term interests of society • actually values low mass participation

  8. Models of Democracy • liberal democracy • most important goal is protecting individual rights • does not prefer low mass participation but may be willing to accept it

  9. Models of Democracy Individual Rights/Limited Gov’t Liberal Democracy I Liberal Democracy II United States High Mass Participation Low Mass Participation Majoritarian Democracy Elite Democracy General Welfare

  10. ASSESSING DEMOCRACY... • the democratic model • completely normative • difficult to apply label of “undemocratic” to the different models • internal logic • are some models of democracy more difficult to achieve than others?

  11. THE CHALLENGE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY... • COMBINING... • HIGH LEVELS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MASS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION • STRONG EMPHASIS ON RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL • why might they be difficult to combine?? • citizens who participate in the political process are limited in what they can use government for • citizens who view themselves primarily as rights-bearing individuals have little incentive to participate in collective decision-making

  12. ASSESSING DEMOCRACY... • the model of democracy • the practice of democracy • does the practice meet the ideals of the model?

  13. The “American” Dilemma • democratic ideals are in tension • difficult to maximize the achievement of one set of values without compromising the other • mass participation vs. individual rights • democratic ideals are in tension with democratic practice • difficult to change democratic practice without sacrificing democratic ideals • the politics of race in the US

  14. Things to Think About... • is it better to strive for an unrealistic goal and not achieve it or to aim for more modest goals but achieve them?

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