Comparative Democracies Reasons for democracy: fundamental values/goodsPolitical equality, LibertyCommon interestFair moral compromiseBinding decisions, Efficient decisions Satisfaction of wantsTheories of democracyEconomic theorySocial capital theoryModels of democracyClassical Athenian modelRepublican democracy: protective and developmental modelsLiberal democracy: protective and developmental modelsMarxist direct democracy model

Competitive elitist democracy modelPluralist democracy modelLegal democracy modelParticipatory democracy modelTwo basic modelsDirect or participatory: (direct involvement of citizens in decision-making)Liberal/representative: (elected officers to represent interest of people within the rule of law)

Classical Athenian modelPrinciple of justificationCitizens should enjoy political equality in order that they be free to rule and be ruled in turnKey featuresDirect participation of citizens in legislative and judicial functionsAssembly of citizens has sovereign powerThe scope of sovereign power include all common affairs of the cityMultiple methods of selection of officers (direct election, lot, rotation)No distinction of privilege to differentiate ordinary citizens and public officialsAn individual cannot hold the same office twice (except military)Short office termPayment for public service

General conditionsSmall city-state with agricultural hinterlandSlave economyDomestic service by women freeing men for public officeRestriction of citizenshipCriticism and demiseEquality was questionedRise of empire and strong state weak economic baseExternal threat and internal military cost

Republican democracyRepublicanismAn idea of self-government in Renaissance Italy in 17th, 18th centuries Virtuous citizens and civic restraints as basis of civic life or political communityA sense of public or political liberty as the right of the people to share in the governmentPower and legislature from despots to peoples Protective republicanismEmerged in the late 11th and continued through 15th centuries in ItalyCity-republics in florence, padua, pisa, milanAppointed consuls or administrators to run judicial affairs in definace to the papal and imperial authoritiesPrinciples of justificationPolitical participation as an essential condition of personal liberty, if citizens do not rule themselves, they will be dominated by others

Protective republicanismKey featuresBalance of power between the people, aristocracy and monarchyCitizen participation through election of consuls or ruling councilsCompeting social groups promoting and defending their interestsLiberties of speech, expression and associationRule of lawGeneral conditionsSmall city community, religious basis, independent artisans and traders, exclusion of women, labourers in politics, intensive conflict over rival political association

Developmental RepublicanismBased on Rousseau's idea of social contract Principle of justificationCitizens must enjoy political and economic equality on order that nobody can be master of another and all can enjoy equal freedom and development in the process of self-determination for the common goodKey featuresDivision of legislative and executive functionsDirect participation of citizens to constitute the legislatureUnanimity on public issues is desired, but majority decision in the case of disagreementExcusive position in the hands of magistratesExecutive appointed by election or lotGeneral conditionsSmall non-industrial communityDiffusion of property ownershipCitizenship depending on property holding/ independent producersDomestic service for women to free men for politics

Liberal democracy A sense of personal or private liberty the protection of rights against all governmental encroachment, particularly by the legislature. Factors contributed to its emergenceStruggle between monarch and estates over authorityPeasants rebellion against taxation and social obligationSpread of trade, commerce and market relationsChanges in military and other technologyConsolidation of national monarchiesGrowing influence of Renaissance cultureSplit of Christian religious traditionStruggle between church and state Tradition of thought:Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, James Madison, J. Bentham, J Mills, Adam Smith

Protective Liberal DemocracyPrinciples of justificationCitizens require protections from the government as well as from other citizens to ensure that those who govern pursue policies that are commensurate with citizens interest as a wholeKey featuresSovereignty ultimately lies with the people but is vested in representatives who can legitimately exercise itRegular elections, secret ballot, factional competition, potential leaders or parties, and majority rule are foundational basis for accountabilityState power is impersonal, legally restricted and divided among various branches of governmentsCentrality of constitutionalism to guarantee freedom and prevent arbitrary rule, political equality and civil rights and liberties of free speech, expression, association, voting and beliefSeparation of state from civil society- non-interference of state in citizens civil lifeCompeting power centers and interest groups

General conditionsDevelopment of a politically autonomous civil societyPrivate ownership of the means of productionCompetitive market economyPatriarchal familyExtended territorial reach of the nation-state

Developmental Liberal Democracy (JS Mill)Principles of justificationParticipation in political life is necessary not only for the protection of individual interests but also for the creation of an informed, committed and developing citizenry. Political involvement is essential for the highest and harmonious expansion of individual capacities Key featuresPopular sovereignty with universal franchise Representative government (elected, secret ballot)Limited government and promotion of individual rights Separation of bureaucracy and elected legislature Citizen involvement in government, public debate and jury service

General conditionsIndependence civil society with minimum state interventionCompetitive market economyPrivate possession and control of the means of productionPolitical emancipation of women, but preservation of traditional division of labourNation-state system with developed relations

Direct Marxist DemocracyJustification Free development of all can be achieved with the free development of eachFreedom requires end of exploitation, ultimate political and economic equalityFrom each according to ability, to each according to need key featuresSocialismCommunism Commune/council regulated structureself regulations by allPersonnel are mandated by communitycollective governance Personnel are paid no more than workers wageadministration by rotationPeoples militia to maintain lawself-monitor replaces armiesGeneral conditionsUnity of working classesclasses disappear Defeat of bourgeoisabolition of private possession of meansEnd of all class privileges Elimination of market, moneySufficiency to meet all basic needsend of social division of labour progressive integration of state and society

Competitive elitist democracy PrinciplesMethod for selection of skilled political elites capable of making legislative decisions Key featuresParliamentary government with strong executiveCompetition btw rival political elites and partiesDomination of parliament by party politicsCentrality of political leadershipBureaucracy is independentConstitutional limits on political decisionGeneral conditionsIndustrial societyFragmented socially and politicallyCulture of political toleranceTechnically trained experts