Dahl Reading Flashcards
Democracy
a government that is controlled by the majority of people
Monarchy
a government that is ruled by one single person of the royal classes, usually a king.
Oligarchy
a government that is controlled by a few
City State
a city and it’s surrounding territories that have a single government they are sustained and administered by.
Suffrage
the right to vote in elections
Assemble
a meeting of persons gathered for deliberation
Representative Governemnt
a form of government where the power of decisions making is delegated to elected officials
Tyranny of the Majority
refers to a situation where the majority make a decision that negatively affects a minority group
Rights
refers to legal entitlements people have that allow them a better chance to live their livers free of harassment, repression and/or dispossession.
Freedom
the absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice of action
What for Dahl makes it plausible to believe that some degree of democracy could develop among early tribes?
Dahl thinks it is plausible to believe that some degree of democracy could develop amount early tribes because of certain conditions that might arise in a group of this type.
fairly independent of control of outsiders, tribal enders see themselves as equally qualified to govern the group, the logic of equality.
hunters and gathers, the good of the many animated by the logic of equality, the older more experienced participating in what decisions needed to be made as a group
Along with participating in assemblies, how else did Athenians participate in government?
There were a few elected officials but the main method for selecting citizens for the other public duties was by a lottery in which eligible citizens stood an equal chance of being selected.
Does Dahl believe the majority of people are immune from making poor political decisions? What examples does he gives?
Dahl starts out siting the opinion that governing should be left to those smarter than they, but then points out that this never really works out.
Dahl does not believe the majority of people are immune from making poor political decisions, he does believe that democracy helps to prevent government by cruel and vicious autocrats. Ex Stalin, Hilter, …
Dahl makes a distinction between words and practices in guaranteeing rights and freedoms? What does he mean?
In addition to granting certain rights in word like for example the right to vote equality a country must also provide each citizen the opportunity to vote and the opportunity to have that vote count in practice
Does Dahl support Anarchy?
Dahl does not support anarchy. He believes that inevitably people would take advantage of others. That a democratic state provides a broader range of freedoms.
