Democratic and Non-Democratic Systems

Question 1

What does a liberal democracy combine?

Answer 1

The ideology of liberalism, which advocates a high level of individual freedom with a democratic system of governing based on the election of representatives.

Question 2

What four principles does a liberal democracy include?

Answer 2

1) limits on what gov’t can do
2) freedom of expression and organization
3) freedom for communications media
4) free competition for political power

Question 3

What is the good society acc. to a liberal?

Answer 3

free and autonomous

Question 4

What relationship are liberals concerned with?

Answer 4

the power of the state and the power of the individual

Question 5

What does expression and organization do?

Answer 5

protect and secure

Question 6

Individuals make gov’t___. Government should serve___.

Answer 6

• accountable

- individual

Question 7

What is contestation?

Answer 7

can they freely compete and contest

Question 8

What things define the limits of state in a liberal democracy?

Answer 8

• expression and organization: protect and secure
• freedom of speech
• communications: you need access to info
• free competition: contestation

Question 9

What are the two foundations for liberal democracy?

Answer 9

1) political pluralism

2) the rule of law

Question 10

What 3 things are included in political pluralism?

Answer 10

1) centres of power independent of gov’t
2) open contestation for political power
3) means and ways of challenging gov’t of the day

Question 11

What is the main idea of political pluralism?

Answer 11

that gov’t is not centre, other powers in society that have ways of influencing gov’t

Question 12

What are two examples of powers in society that can influence gov’t?

Answer 12

1) Industry: advocate and bring to bear their own interests

2) Academic institutions (policy, research, innovation)

Question 13

What are the three parts to the Rule of Law?

Answer 13

1) the law is known, or knowable
2) the law applies equally to all
3) even the gov’t that makes the law can be made to obey the law (an independent courts system is essential in this respect)

Question 14

Are there ways the rule of law can be thwarted?

Answer 14

those who are wealthy can extend the court process

Question 15

What can democratic governments be held accountable for?

Answer 15

their actions and inactions

Question 16

What do democratic governments need to continue in office?

Answer 16

their citizen’s approval

Question 17

What do people need in order to hold gov’t accountable?

Answer 17

access to information

Question 18

___exists to the extent that gov’t operations are visible to the people in a democratic gov’t.

Answer 18

transparency

Question 19

What happens in the absence of transparency?

Answer 19

secrecy, will not lead to good outcomes

Question 20

Gov’t are___to the interests of the public, notably by holding___.

Answer 20

• responsive

- elections

Question 21

What are the 4 advantages of a democratic gov’t?

Answer 21

1) Accountability
2) Transparency
3) Popular Participation
4) Government Responsiveness

Question 22

Why is there something healthy about elections and power turn over?

Answer 22

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Question 23

What does a representative democracy involve?

Answer 23

Citizens electing representatives to the legislature to make decisions on their behalf.

Question 24

Does extending the right to vote and hold office to all citizens guarantee the legislatures will be representative? Example?

Answer 24

• no

- women are under-represented in most countries

Question 25

Representation is more by___than___representation.

Answer 25

- party | - individual

Question 26

What is the challenge with representation?

Answer 26

that we are more diverse

Question 27

What is the challenge with diversity and representation?

Answer 27

how to fairly represent diversity

Question 28

Why do we need political parties to run things?

Answer 28

they are functional

Question 29

What is the criticism of political parties?

Answer 29

lend themselves to create a small number of elites. Liberal democracies, it is argued, create oligarchies

Question 30

Why is representative democracy limited?

Answer 30

It does not allow citizens to be directly involved in making veering decisions

Question 31

What suggests that there is a democratic deficit?

Answer 31

level of public dissatisfaction with gov't and politicians even in established democracies

Question 32

What are some suggestions to fix public dissatisfaction?

Answer 32

- revamp politics - different ways to elect parties - increasing efficacy

Question 33

What is a democratic deficit, acc. to Mintz?

Answer 33

"The substantial level of public dissatisfaction with the performance of democratic gov't and politicians exhibited in declining levels of voter turnout, low levels of trust and confidence in gov't and politicians, increased protest activity, and a feeling that ordinary people have little influence on gov't."

Question 34

What is the danger with democratic deficit?

Answer 34

shift to apathy | -disengage formally

Question 35

What id democracy closely associated with the ideals of?

Answer 35

equality and inclusion

Question 36

What has the struggle for democracy often been associated with?

Answer 36

no only with demands for equal political and legal rights, but also for greater social and economic equality

Question 37

Beyond legislative representation, greater social equality can be pursued by what?

Answer 37

affirmative actions | -social programs

Question 38

What does the broader issue of inequality of wealth and income create some tension between?

Answer 38

the liberal and democratic aspects of liberal democracy

Question 39

What are the 5 significant ways non-democratic political systems differ from democratic ones?

Answer 39

1) they cannot reliably be controlled by their citizens and lack accountability 2) they seek to restrict citizens' participation in politics 3) they limit pluralism and only allow organizations that are aligned with the regime 4) justice is politicized and partial 5) access to information and the media are often consorted.

Question 40

What is pluralism? Examples?

Answer 40

government will be checked by other institutions - capacity at the institutional level to challenge government-industry - economic sector - educational institutions - religious institutions

Question 41

What does pluralism challenge?

Answer 41

-the concentration of power

Question 42

What is the court supposed to be?

Answer 42

an institutional check on the power of the state

Question 43

What happens if you have a supreme court that is not independent?

Answer 43

It questions the integrity of the constitution

Question 44

Is it an issue for liberal democracies if media has become a commodity to be caught and sold?

Answer 44

- Is it biased if owned by corporate entities? - the media we consume is restricted by the market model, access to local and new sources because they need to stay competitive

Question 45

How has the media been reinvigorated?

Answer 45

- You and I can do it - Don't have to rely on large media sources anymore - But are these sources credible?