Robert Dahl, On Democracy - Minnesota State …sbs.mnsu.edu/ursi/people/faculty/Miriam Porter PA website... · Web viewGreen book: p. 23 A democracy is more than a form of government;

Robert Dahl, On Democracy p 1 of 36

Chapter 1 Do we really need a guide?

I. Apparent Triumph of Democracy

A. first half of 20th century pre-modern anti democratic governments lost legitimacymonarchy, herititary aristocracy, oligarchy with narrow suffrage

B. second half of 20th CenturyMain alternatives either disappeared, became eccentric survivals, Or retreated and "hunkered down in last strongholds"Nazism, Fascism, CommunismMilitary dictatorships - even Latin America - democratic face

Had Democracy at last won?

II. Anti Democratic Currents

A. Antidemocratic belief and movements continued(This book predates post 9 -11 awareness of Muslim fanaticism

Democratic governments existed in fewer than half the countriesLess than half the world's population

B. concerns about "Crisis of Democracy" in established democracies like the U.S.

III. Challenges of Democracy

Divide countries into three rough groups

A. AntidemocraticChallenge is to make transition to democracy

B. Newly DemocraticChallenge is to strengthen or consolidate democratic practices and

institutions

C. Established, Older DemocraciesChallenge is to perfect and deepen democracy

IV. Confusion of Meanings

A. What is democracy2500 year history, means different things to different people

B. Ancient


Greeks and Romans 500 B.C.

C. NewRepresentative Democracy with universal suffrageIs mostly a 20th century phenomenon

V. Topics

What is democracy?Why is democracy desirable? How democratic are today's democracies? Why are some countries democracies and others are not?


Chapter 2 History

Where and How did Democracy Develop?

just what do we mean by “democracy?”

democracy has been discussed off and on for 2500 years, but little agreement on meaning. lengthy history contributes to confusion. different people mean different things.

But until only 200 years ago, few examples of functioning democraciesMostly an idea, an unpopular idea…so more an idea for philosophers

I. Introduction: Invention of Democracy

A. Myth of growth Invented and then continuously advanced, spread inevitably and

gradually Why false?

After early centuries in Greece and RomePopular government's disappeared

B. Mistake to assume Democracy was invented once and for all

1. DiffusionSome expansion of democrdacy is diffusion of democratic ideas and

practicesfrom one place to another. Copying and adaptation

2. Rather independently invented by various groups (like fire)invented in more than one time and place

3. Primitive DemocracyA kind of democracy probably existed in tribal governmentsback into pre historical times.

Push to democracy develops out of the logic of equality

Studies on nonliterate tribal societies - forms of primitive democracy

Dahl speculates it is the most natural political system.

Note philosophical idea of State of Nature


4. HierarchyWhen people settled into fixed communitiescircumstances favorable to equality wanedhierarchy and inequality and domination became more natural.

Tribal democracies replaced by monarchies, aristocracies etc.

C. Democracy as we first know it

Around 500 B.C. conditions favorable to democracy reappeared in several places.

Primitive Democracy reinvented in a more advanced form in Europe

II. MEDITERRANEAN

A. Ancient GreeceAthens 507 B.C. democracy lasted about 200 yrs.

coined term democracy demos people kratos peoplewho were “the people” sometimes meant whole population,

sometimescommoners, sometimes poorBut only citizens not slaves or womenAll served in Assembly, juries, offices by lotmore direct form of democracy

Aristotle’s classification:in public interest

in selfish interest of rulers

by one monarchy tyrannyby few aristocracy oligarchyby many polity democracy

B. Ancient Rome also about 500 B.C. end of kings

Roman “republic” res = thing or affair, publicus = publicrepublic was a thing or affair that belonged to the people(a commonwealth.)

Senate, consuls, tribunes changing institutionsconflict between patricians and plebiansundermined by empire, growth in provinces, army, emperors

44 B.C. Julius Ceasar

C. Late Medieval ItalyNorthern Italian City States 1100-1500 A.D.

Florence, Venice, Milan, Pisa etc.


walled cities, free from aristocrats, middle class dominate, nobles feuding

independent, no nation state, shifting “international” alliancessenates, councils etc.

1300’s rise of tyrants/princes, then dominance of France and Spain

D. A Word about Words

1. Popular governmentDemocracy republic

Do they refer to different things?

2. Madison confused matters in 1787

Federalist Papers"pure democracy" vs. republicrepublic = scheme of representation

Dahl says this distinction had no previous historyMadison wanted to answer charges

Of Antifederalists that Constitution was not democratic enoughDahl says roman Republic fit better into Madison's "democracy

Dahl says the difference is only difference between Greek and Latin

3. However Madison's distinction stands todayModern Republic is taken to mean a representative democracy

III. NORTHERN EUROPE

A. What was absent in popular governments of Ancient world? 1. national parliament2. composed of elected representatives3. popularly chosen local governments

This combination evolved in Britain, Scandinavia, Low countries, Switzerland

B. Local Assemblies

1. VikingsNorwegiansBoat shaped ring of large stones 600 - 1,000 A.D. Viking freemen

met


Called TingTypically held in an open field. Large vertical stonesSettled disputes, debated laws, approved or rejected king. Vikings knew nothing about ancient democracy.Invented on their own from the "logic of equality"

Considerable InequalityMen/women; wealth and status , slaves, aristocratic class,

king

2. Other parts of Northern Europe

a. Swiss cantons 800 A.D. isolated pastoral, equality

C. From Local Assemblies to Parliaments

1. IcelandViking settlers transplanted practices930 A.D. created a super-ThingAlthing or national assembly

Source of Icelandic law for 3 centuries.

2. Norway, Denmark, Swedensimilar developmentsregional assemblies arose and then nationalrise in power of king led to reduction of their importance.

3. Later 15th Century Swedena kind of revived traditionKing called together meetings of representatives from different

sectors ofsociety , nobility, clergy, burghers, commoners

Needed moneyRiksdagor parliament

4. Similar development in NetherlandsRulers needed funds, called representatives of middle classesEstates - did not evolve directly into parliaments

D. Atlantic Democratic Tradition

1. England Greatest influence by farKing called parliament/assembly, for revenue1272, 1300's


Evolution of British Parliemnt-- long storyMedieval England: Growth of ParliamentEnglish nobles 1200’s, 1300’s

Magna CartaCivil WarGlorious Revolution

Cabinet System

By 1700 Evolved into a constitutional system in which king and parliament

were each limited by authority of the other. Parliament consisted of hereditary

House of Lords and elected (very limited suffrage) House of CommonsMixed governmentKing ---Lords --- Parliament

Admired throughout the worldMontesquieu

2. America colonial legislatures, evolved unto state governmentsContinental Congress into Congress of Confederation and Constitution

Writers of U.S. Constitution admired British systemWanted to create a system with the benefits of English systemBut avoided defects on monarchy and aristocracy

E. DEMOCRATIZATION: ON THE WAY, BUT ONLY ON THE WAY

1. By early 1700 political ideas and practices had appeared in Europethat would be part of later democratic ideas and practices

a. local assemblies - from logic of equality

b. idea that governments need the consent of the governedoriginally about taxes, later laws in general

c. need to govern a larger area - representation

d. How to choose representativeselections

2. What had not been achieved?


a. great inequalities remainedstatus, hierarchy social enequalities remained

b. The whole people were not representedinequality of voting rights

exclusion of majority

c. Assemblies did not control Kingsfar from democraticnext step to control kings ministersparliaments were bastions of privilege

d. until 1800's democratic ideals not understood or widely shareddemocracy seen as a bad thingjacksonian Democracy of 1830's

French Revolution

Also parties condemnedElections corrupted by crownFew people believed in democracy

Conditions needed to change

Conclusion

Democracy did not proceed on an inevitable path

We can't count on inevitability of democracyDepends on conditionsDemcracy is a bit chancy.

Depends on what we do.


CHAPTER 3 what lies aheadDemocracy as Ideal and actualityA word about words: empirical judgments/ value judgmentsquestions to be asked: p. 29

CHAPTER 4 goals and idealsWHAT IS DEMOCRACY

CHAPTER 5 goals and idealsWHY DEMOCRACY

CHAPTER 6goals and idealsWHY POLITICAL EQUALITY I: INTRINSIC EQUALITY

CHAPTER 7goals and idealsWHY POLITICAL EQUALITY I: CIVIC COMPETENCE

CHAPTER 8What Political Institutions Does Large-Scale Democracy Require? (ch. 8 p. 83)

CHAPTER 9 Varieties I Democracy on Different Scales (ch. 9 p. 100)Greek vs. ModernAssembly democracy vs. representative democracyDemocracy reconfigured as Representative democracy: Why?

Chapter 10 Varieties II ConstitutionsDo differences in Constitutions of democratic countries really matter? Looks at older democracies first.Constitutions defined broadly to include unwritten.

Chapter 11Varieties III: Parties and Electoral Systems

Chapter 12 What Underlying Conditions Favor Democracy?ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACYINDIA AN IMPROBABLE DEMOCRACYWHY DID DEMOCRACY THRIVE IN 20TH CENTURY?


Ch. 13Why Market-Capitalism Favors Democracy

Ch. 14 Why Market-Capitalism Harms Democracy

Ch. 15 The Unfinished JourneyCHALLENGE 1: THE ECONOMIC ORDERCHALLENGE 2: INTERNATIONALISMCHALLENGE 3: CULTURAL DIVERSITYCHALLENGE 4: CIVIC EDUCATION


Chapter 1

Do we really need a guide?

1. Recent apparent spread of democracy.

Has democracy triumphed? Not reallyanti democratic beliefs and movementsdemocracy in less than half the countries/populationcrisis of democracy in established democratic countries.

2. Different challengs for different countriesnondemocratic –how to make transitionnewly democratic – how to consolidateestablished democ – how to perfect & deepen

3. Democracy ancient and new2500 years of democratic traditionrelatively recent widespread experience with real democracy

mainly a product of the 20th century

4. Basic questions need to be answered.

1. HistoryChapter 2Where and How did Democracy Develop?

A. Not a smooth, inevitable increaseNot invented just once some diffusion from existing ideas and practicesbut Dahl also maintains independently invented (Scandanavian)

Democracy grows out of logic of equalityTribal situationsWhat undermines this basic equality

A. The Mediterranean: Democracyself governing city states

1. Ancient Greece 500 B.C.democracy

Add Aristotle’s classificationin public interest in private interest

one Monarchy Tyrannyfew Aristocracy Oligarchy


many Polity Democracy

Greek practicesCitizens assembled to pass laws, judgments, elect officials

Other officials chosen by lotteryusually given as an example of direct democracy

2. Ancient Rome 500 B.C.a. republic Public Thing, Common WealthKings, republic, Emperor

b. Institutions and practices 2 counsuls, occasional dictators10 Tribunes – Popular AssembliesSenate

b. Who participated? Problems with the system

Empire but no representation – Italian citizensDirect Democracy corruption

c. Lessons of Romansfor Political Thought, Americans in particulardirect democracy, popular participation dangerous…

factionalismcorruption, independence and virtu neededmilitary …standing army bad, citizen militia goodSmall republics, Not empireBalance, separation of powers

d. Madison’s Confusion of the termsWord about words p. 16: Popular governmentDemocracy – direct participationRepublic – scheme or representation

no history of this distinctionBut we are stuck with it now.

Often people/Pol Sci’s use Republic to mean Representative system

or Representative democracy

3. Italian City-Republics 1100 A.D. – 1600’s City Republics

Growth of cities, memory of the RomansClasses: Aristocracy Grandi Middle Class Popolo guilds


Institutions: Senates or Grand Councils, Counsuls, Signori,Gonfalonier

Undermined by tyrants/princes/ national monarchies of France, Spain

Venice

Examples for us:Factions, small republicsRise of tyrants

B. Northern Europe : Representative Assemblieslocal self government combined withnational assemblies

1. Vikings/ScandanaviaLocal Assemblies Ting

Kings and nobles

2. From Assemblies to Parliaments

a. Iceland Althing

b. Netherlands, Flanders

3. England1272-1307

Struggle for Parliamentary supremacy1688Growth of Cabinet system

Montesquieu, Separation of PowersKing, Lords, Commons

4. America

postive and negative example of ancientspositive and negative model of British Constitution

5. France

C. By 1700 Representative Democracy LauncyedPol ideas and practices established that would become elements of

democraticbeliefs and institutions


What had not been achieved? Limitations:

1. Huge Inequalities

2. Parliaments and Assemblies themselves undemocraticdid not control King’s ministersprivileged still dominated

3. Unrepresentativewhole people not really representedmen, wealth

4. Democratic Beliefs not widely shared or understooddemocracy not a good thing until 1800’sPolitical opposition, freedom lacked legitimacypolitical parties condemnedmass participation not encourageddeference to betters prevailedelections corrupt

D. Democracy: Past and Future

1. Not inevitable march, setbacks

2. Not inevitable futuredepends on us. Democracy chancy.

CHAPTER 3 what lies ahead

1. Democracy as Ideal and actuality

2. A word about words: empirical judgments/ value judgments

3. questions to be asked: p. 29IDEAL

Goals and idealsACTUAL

Actual demo gov’sWhat is demo? Why Demo? What pol

institutions does demo require?

What conditions favor democracy

ch. 4 ch. 5-7 Part III Part IV


CHAPTER 4goals and ideals

WHAT IS DEMOCRACYSome other definitions of democracy

Literally rule by the people. …democracy as more than a people’s right to participate in governance, it means all people hold power and can exercise it to create our common world…citizens exercising power in all facets of public life.” Green book: p. 23

A democracy is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience. …each has to refer his own actions to that of others, and to consider the action of others to give point and direction to his own…” (John Dewey: Democracy and Education, Free Press 1944. p. 87

Dahl p. 37

A. Definitionall the members are to be treated as if they were equally qualified to participate in the process of making decisions about the policies the association will pursue.

Key element is political equality

B. Criteria for a Democratic Process

1. Effective Participation

2. Voting Equality

3. Enlightened Understanding

4. Control of the Agenda

5. Inclusion of adults

C. Some Crucial Questions

1. Can we apply the criteria to the government of a state?

2. Is it realistic to thin that an association could ever fully meet these criteria

not reallyhow does an unreachable ideal help us?

3. Are these criteria all we wouild need for designing democratic political institutions?


4. Why should we believe that Democracy is desirable, particularly in governing an association as important as the state?



WHY DEMOCRACY

Democracy Produces Desirable Consequences1. Avoiding Tyranny

examples of tyrantsfear of majority tyranny, majority harm.

2. Essential RightsOther rights must be granted for democracy to be effectiveeffective participation….

3. Personal FreedomWide range of personal freedomsWhat do anarchists say? What is Anarchy? Anarchy and Public Achievement.

4. Protecting Personal Interests: Democracy helps people protect their fundamental interests.

5. Self Determination:Only democracy can provide a maximum opportunity for persons to

exercisethe freedom of self-determinations – that is to live under laws of their

ownchoosing. pg. 53-54

6. Moral Autonomy: max opportunity for moral responsibilityMoral responsibility: you adopt your moral principles and make

decisions that depend on these principles only after you have engaged in a

thoughtful process.

7. Human DevelopmentDahl says this is an empirical claim, more controversialcharacteristics we want to foster: honesty, courage, fairness, love

8. Political EqualityFoster a high degree of pol equality

In addition modern democracies produce

9. Peace-seekingcounting the wars


Why?

10. Prosperity asssociaiton with affinity between representative democracy and a

market economy foster high education rule of law, independent courts, property rights dependence on communication



WHY POLITICAL EQUALITY I: INTRINSIC EQUALITY

A. Is Equality Self Evident

Declaration of Independencepossible meanings

B. Intrinsic Equality: A Moral Judgmentnot an empirical statementbut a statement of how people ought to be treated. (as if they were

equal)

C. Why should we adopt the moral principle of intrinsic Equality?

1. Ethical and religious grounds

2. Weakness of an Alternative Principle

3. Prudencegovernment has great power for good, but also for harmgoverning process that put you in privileged position could turn on

you.

3. Acceptabilitymore people will accept this idea. If you accept it they may too.



WHY POLITICAL EQUALITY I: CIVIC COMPETENCE

A. THE COUNTER CLAIM OF GUARDIANSHIP

1. What is guardianship and how argued? based on the analogy of doctor, pilot

2. Problems with the analogya. personal decisions by individuals not equivalent to decisions by

governmentb. to govern a state requires more than strictly scientific knowledge

(ethical judgments) c. good ends often conflict with each other –trade offs neededd. Even where agreement prevails on the ends, Much conflict and disagreement about the means

Thus to govern a state well takes more than knowledge

e. even if guardians have superior knowledge, power will corruptf. to design a utopia is not to implement it

How will guardians be chosen?

3. The Competence of Citizens to governRejecting guardianship leads to this conclusion: Among adults, no persons are so definitely better qualified than others

togovern that they should be entrusted with compete and final authority

overthe government of a state.

every adult should be allowed to judge what is best for his our her own good

or interests.

a. Adults not children b. not all adults

4. Fifth Democratic Standard: InclusionIf you are deprived of an equal voice in government chances are high

yourinterests will be neglected. John Stuart Mill and the working classSlaves, women


Full inclusion: citizen body in a democratically governed state must include

all persons subject to the laws of that state, except transients and persons

proved to be incapable of caring for themselves.

6. Unsettled Problemsa. Importance of Expertise vis a vis democratic decision makingb. Citizen competence and Civic Education p. 70 – IMPORTANT FOR

PAperfect conclusion for PA p. 80.

CHAPTER 8What Political Institutions Does Large-Scale Democracy Require?

(ch. 8 p. 83)

A. Word about wordsArrangementsPracticesInstitutions

B. How can we know?look at countries that have become/made transition to democracylook at countries generally considered to be democraticreflect on a specific country, group of countries, or a hypothetical

countryEither way same set of democratic institutions

C. The Instutions1. Elected Officials2. Free, fair, frequent elections3. Freedom of expression4. Access to alternative sources of information5. Associational autonomy6. Inclusive Citizenship

D. Political Institutions in perspective

1. Historical development of democracyWhich institutions came firstbrief account of first political parties Jeffersonians

2. Word about words: “polyarchy”democracy traditionally meant only some men could votemodern democracy that meets all 6 criteria is newDahl calls it polyarchical democracy


3. Are some of the institutions simply a product of historicaldevelopment and not really necessary for democracy?

E. The Factor of Sizeall the institutions necessary for a democratic country would not\always be required for a unit much smaller than a country.

Governments of small organizations would not have to be full-fledged representative governments.


F. Institutions and Criteriain a country these

insititutionsare necessary to meet

the following democratic criteria

How to apply this in small groups

like PA?1. Elected Officials Effective Participation

Control of the Agenda2. Free, fair, frequent elections

Voting EqualityControl of the Agenda

3. Freedom of expression Effective ParticipationEnlightened UnderstandingControl of the Agenda

4. Access to alternative sources of information

Effective ParticipationEnlightened UnderstandingControl of the Agenda

5. Associational autonomy

Effective ParticipationEnlightened UnderstandingControl of the Agenda

6. Inclusive Citizenship Full Inclusion

G. Questions about the Criteria

1. Why and when does Democracy require Elected Representatives?

early town meeting democracyearlier view of democracy and republics: direct participationrepresentative democracy was a contradiction in termsAmerica (and Britain) Representative Republicolder tradition forgotten

2. Why does Democracy require free, fair and frequent elections?Equal and effective Participation Free Fair Frequent

3. Why does Democracy require Free Expression? To Participate Effectively…..must be able to make your views known, to persuade othersmust be able to hear what others have to say, to be persuadedCivic Competence and Enlightened understanding need free

expressionCan’t affect the Agenda if can’t have free expression


4. Why does Democracy Require the Availability of Alternative and Independent

Sources of Information? same

5. Why does Democracy Require Independent Associations? Need to organize and conduct elections, if one group, why not others?Politics need not stop between electionsAssociations contribute to understanding, civic competence

6. Why does Democracy Require Inclusive Citizenship?

H. Polyarchical Democracyideal or less than ideal? depends on current status of democracy: older democracies to go beyondnewer to achieve this ideal


CHAPTER 9Varieties I Democracy on Different Scales (ch. 9 p. 100)

1. Democracy Greek vs. ModernTwo differencesa. inclusionb. election of representatives

Greek democracy was a primary or assembly or town meeting democracy

2. Assembly democracy vs. representative democracya. Dahl reminds us that assembly democracy was main democratic idea

for a longtimeOther thnkers RosseauRepresentation had a shady past: not democratic in intent

representation is not really self government: ordinary citizens don’t have

opportunities for participating effectively in decisions

b. Democracy reconfigured as Representative democracy: Why?1. Representation already existed – medieval estates, could evolve into

a kindof democracy - opportunity for reformers.

Destutt de Tracy, James Mill 1820: Representation the grand discovery of

modern times. 2. nation state obviously too large for assembly democracy

3. Size and Democracynumber of persons and extent of territoryterritorial problem could be solved by electronic democracy

but number of citizens naturally limits ability to discuss

What is ideal size for democracy? How big is too big? Greek city state 2,000-10,000 Athens 60,000

Table 1 shows as size increases, time for discussion becomes impossible

Even in an assembly democracy a de facto kind of representation takes place

not everyone speaks. Some listen and judge

4. Democratic Limits of Representative Governmentgreat democratic defect of Rep govtime it would take for constitutents to communicate with representative.


U.S. representative would need 130 days to meet for 10 mins with all constit’s

Law of time and numbers affects both assembly democracy and rep demo

5. Fundamental Democratic Dilemmagoal should be:

-to establish a demo system that provides maximum opportunities forcitizens to participate in political decisions

and - maximum scope to deal effectively with problems of greatest concern

tocitizens

smaller unit: more participation/ less important problems

a. Small is Beautiful…sometimes

Town Meetings: Limits and possibilitiescitizens stay home when unimportant issues only on agenda

b. Bigger is Better..sometimesAchilles heel of small state –0 military weakness vs large statealso: economics, traffic, transportaion, communication, health etc.

Is it possible to see a world where large states have vanished, replaced only by small populations? No

6. Dark Side of Democracy: Bargaining among elites

citizens delegate enormous discretionary authority to elitesthis is a nondemocratic process

7. Can International Organizations be Democratic? Dahl thinks this is harder than even for national state.

Bargaining, hierarchy and markets even more important

8. Robust Pluralistic Society within Democratic countries

municipal governments, also states or regions

Democratic principles on p. 118 suggest possible democratic governments for associations


Chapter 10Varieties II Constitutions

Do differences in Constitutions of democratic countries really matter? Looks at older democracies first.Constitutions defined broadly to include unwritten.

A. What are the important Variations? 1. Written or unwritten?2. Bill of Rights?3. Social and Economic Rights?4. Federal or Unitary?5. Unicameral or bicameral legislature?6. Judicial Review?7. Tenure of judges for life, or limited term?8. Referenda? 9. Presidential or Parliamentary? 10. Electoral System?

B. How Constitutions make a difference1. Stability2. Fundamental Rights3. Neutrality4. Accountability5. Fair Representation6. Informed Consensus7. Effective Government8. Competent Decisions9. Transparency and Comprehensibility10. Resiliency11. Legitimacy

C. How Much of a Difference Do the Differences Make? additional evidence from newer democracies and failed democracies. Each of these variations has existed in a stable democracy;

Therefore: 1. If underlying conditions highly favorable, stability is likely with any

constitutional variation. 2. If underlying conditions highly unfavorable, no constitutional

variations can provide stability.

3. Where conditions neither favorable nor unfavorable, where democracy


chancy, but not impossible, the choice of constitutional design might matter.

a well designed constitution might help democracy to survive, whereas a poorly designed constitution might contribute to breakdown ofdemocracy.

Other values besides stabilityfairness of representationeffectiveness of governmentlegitimacy of government


Chapter 11Varieties III: Parties and Electoral Systems

Political Parties and electoral systems, some of the most impactful political arrangements.

I. ELECTORAL SYSTEMS

A. Proportional RepresentationB. First Past the Post (SMDP)

C. Two systems evaluated

1. Fairnessexample explaining its unfairness of FPTP

More evenly distributed, more unfairness (51% in every district means 100% in legislature)

2. Number of Partiesdebate over relative merits of two or multi party systemsadvantages of each mirror its disadvantagesa. two party system simplifies choicesb. two party system leads to effective government

II. SOME BASIC OPTIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONS

A. Continental European Option: Parliamentary gov + PR

B. British or Westminster Option: Parliamentary Gov + FPTP

C. The U.S. Option: Presidential Gov + FPTP

D. Latin American Option: Presidential Gov + PR

E. Mixed OptionsFrench Fifth Republic Pres + parl + modified FPTP

III. THINKING AOBUT DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONS: SOME GUIDELINES

A. most of the basic problems of a country can’t be solved by constitutional design

Underlying Conditions very important

B. Democratic Stability is not the only criterionFair representation; transparency; comprehensibility; responsiveness;


effective government

C. All Constitutional Arrangements have disadvantagesThere is no perfect constitution

D. U.S. System is exceedingly complicatedworks OK here through pol culture, skills, practicesBut U.S. probably should not be imitated

E. Latin American Combination may be associated with breakdowns.

Thomas Jefferson: Revolution every 20 years? Dahl: No, but maybe a constitutional review


Chapter 12 What Underlying Conditions Favor Democracy?

I. ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACY

A. No Strong Foreign Control Hostile to Democracy B. Control of Military and Police by Elected OfficialsC. Democratic Beliefs and Political Culture

What are these beliefs? p. 157How are they created?

II. FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACY

A. Modern Market Economy and SocietyB. Weak Subcultural Pluralism

How to deal with subcultures? 1. Assimilation (U.S.) or repression (U.S. & Soviet)2. Consensus -veto to minorities3. Electoral Systems to require support of more than one group4. Separation

a. federalism or confederalism but subgroups must be geographically separated

problem of Quebecb. secession and independence not a real solution

III. INDIA AN IMPROBABLE DEMOCRACYA. India does not meet many of the conditionsB. some of the conditions are met

control of military and policepopular support for democracyminorities too small and intermingled to rule alone

IV. WHY DID DEMOCRACY THRIVE IN 20TH CENTURY? A. danger of intervention by outside powers hostile to democracy declinedB. Lure of military dictatorships declinedC. new democracies somewhat homogenousD. Visible failures of totalitarian systems, military dictatorshipsE. Spread of Market Capitalism


Ch. 13Why Market-Capitalism Favors Democracy

A. Five important conclusions (two here, three next chapter)

1. Polyarchal democracy has enured only in countries with predominantly market

capitalist economies. It has never endured in a country with apredominantly

nonmarket economy

2. Certain features of market-capitalism make it favorable to democracyCertain features on nonmarket economy harmful to democratic process

a. markets led to economic growth, cut acute poverty, reduce social and pol conflictprovides resources for non zero sum solutions

b. social and political consequencescreates a large middle class of property owners who seek education,

personalfreedom, rule of law, property rights, and participation in government

c. Command economy puts incredible power in hands of political elitespower corrupts…..market economy avoids this temptation

B. Some Qualifications

1. Market Capitalism has existed in nondemocratic countriesIn Taiwan, S. Korea it undermined authoritarian regiemes

China: “denomouement of a momentous historical drama”will market capitalism undermine and democratize communism?

2. Market capitalism need not be industrial or post industrial to be fav. for demo

agriculturalEconomy was highly decentralized

3. War time exceptions to decentralized economy


Ch. 14Why Market-Capitalism Harms Democracy

Return to five important conclusions:

3. Democracy and Market-capitalism are locked in a persistent conflict in which

each modifies and limits the other

a. market capitalism’s suffering and widespread suffrage led to regulation

b. basic institutions of market capitalism require extensive regulation andintervention

without intervention and regulation, economy inflicts serious harm onsome, and they demand intervention

Note: list of interventions on pl. 176

4. Because market capitalism inevitably creates inequalities, it limits thedemocratic potential of polyarchal democracy by generating

inequalities indistribution of political resources.

5. market capitalism favors democratic development up to level of polyarchal

democracy. But because of its adverse consequences for political equality

It is unfavorable to development of democracy beyond the level of polyarchy


Ch. 15The Unfinished Journey

What lies ahead? 20th century -often appeared dark period for democracy

-Turned out to be an era of unparalleled triumphYet Democracy has been rare to human experience

Future is uncertain:Will it be replaced by a non-democratic system? Guardianship in some

form? Will it continue its global expansion? Will democracy become broader in reach and shallower in depth?

confidence to predict certain problems or challenges will remain, grow more daunting.

Nature and quality of democracy will depend on how well democratic citizens and leaders meet these challenges:

1. CHALLENGE 1: THE ECONOMIC ORDER

A. Market-capitalism unlikely to be displaced1. labor/socialist parties abandoned nationalization as goal

communism collapsedB. the “antagonistic cohabitation will persist

1) internal governments of capitalist firms are undemocratic, despotismsprofits distributed in highly unequal fashion

2) worker ownership and management “economic democracy?”Only experiment ended with YugoslaviaTrade Unions not pushing for internal democracy

2. CHALLENGE 2: INTERNATIONALISMInternationalism, globalization likely to expand domain of decisions

made bypolitical and bureaucratic elites

need is to find ways to hold bureaucratic elites accountable, and remember the

costs to democracy.

3. CHALLENGE 3: CULTURAL DIVERSITYModerate level of cultural homogeneity favorable to democracyOlder democracies dealt with diversity in undemocratic ways in the past. Diversity seems likely to increase


A. Increasing DemandsThose who had been discriminated against joined movements of culturalidentity that sought to protect their rights and interests

Women, color, language minorities, immigrants, homosexuals, ethnicminorities in historic regions

B. Immigrationfrom poorer countries to older democraciesbusiness needs for cheap labor impossibility of sealing off border

4. CHALLENGE 4: CIVIC EDUCATIONrecall one basic criterion for democracy: enlightened understanding

A. How do citizens acquire civic education in older democracies?

1. Formal educationDahl: for literacyI add: direct socialization

indirect socialization

2. Mass Mediawidespread info available cheaply

I add: What about infotainment, popular culture, cynicism and incivility?

does extra info lead to declining party Id?

2. Political Partiescompetition between office seekers and partiesparties also as low cost voting cue

reduce need for much political information

4. Interest Groupsassociations seeking particular concernsspecial kind of representation

I’d add internal communication and mobilization

5. Incrementalismstep by step policy changes, rational in uncertain environmentHow does this relate to civic education?

B. Three interrelated developments likely to render these standard solutions deficient

1. Changes in Scale


internationalizationdecisions are being made that cover more and more people over larger

andlarger areas

2. Complexitywhile formal education levels has risencomplexity of issues has increased even more

3. Communicationssheer amount of information available has increasedBut may not lead to greater competence or understanding

3.

Documents

Robert Dahl, On Democracy - Minnesota State …sbs.mnsu.edu/ursi/people/faculty/Miriam Porter PA website... · Web viewGreen book: p. 23 A democracy is more than a form of government;