Elitism Flashcards
Define Schumpeter’s account of democracy as competition for political leadership
The democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote
Define what Schumpeter calls “classical doctrine of democracy”
The democratic method is that institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions which realises the common good by making the people itself decide issues through the election of individuals who are to assemble to carry out it’s will
What is the writer we refer to when speaking about Elitism
Joseph Schumpeter
What is wrong with the nature of the common good (1st reason)
its contested due to plurality, there is no such thing as a uniquely determine common good that all people can agree on. To different groups and individuals the common good means different things, it is not an objective term.
Say in three words what is wrong with the nature of the common good
1) Contested 2) Incoherent 3) indefinite
What is wrong with the nature of the common good (2nd reason)
Incoherent as he argues that the common will does not exist, just an aggregation of individual preferences. Come back to this one.
The weakness of the average citizen and why the people itself should not/ do not “decide issues.” 1st reason
Once you reach the realm of national and international politics, they feel very far away because they lack “a direct and unmistakable link with those private concerns, and therefore individual will ceases.
What is wrong with the nature of the common good (3rd reason)
indefinite (problem of application) - not everyone is going to agree on the means of achieving ‘common good,’ (which is the end) and the way to go about it.
Why are the people unable to govern (weakness of average citizen) 1st reason
- Apathetic (reduced responsibility) , Once you reach the national/international realm of politics, feels far away, lack a link with private concerns, volition and sense of responsibility ceases.
not only for a reduced sense of responsibility but also for the absence of effective power of using one’s will.”
What is the word used to describe “the power of using one’s will.”
Volition
Why are the people unable to govern (weakness of average citizen) 2nd reason
When the people act as a collective, either physically or psychologically, it has been shown that they lose their rationality and become easily swayed with the general emotion. They lose their ‘moral restraints’ and as a result act in ways that they never would as individual.
Do not need to be physically in a crowd could be in a ‘psychological crowd,’ examples of these include members of a party, newspaper readers, radio audiences.
Why are the people unable to govern (weakness of average citizen) 3rd reason
ignorant (overwhelmed by complexity) - They often believe what they are told, look at Hitler telling all germans that all problems originate from Jews, or the arguments for Brexit.
Apathy contributes to the huge amounts of ignorance and “lack of judgement in matters of domestic and foreign policy which are if anything more shocking in the case of educated people…”
“…without the initiative that comes from immediate responsibility, ignorance will persist in the face of masses of information however complete and correct.”
Why are the people unable to govern (weakness of average citizen) 4th reason
Prejudiced to make decisions, especially because not ‘all there’ loss of reality and therefore give in to anger.
Why are the people unable to govern (weakness of average citizen) 5th reason
manipulable due to all of the above - plato’s fear- through advertising and ignorance.
If all the people …they neither raise nor decide issues but that the issues that shape their fate are normally raised and decided for them.”
In simple words, what does Schumpeter’s definition mean
the role of democracy is to simply elect a government or remove one, elitists vying for commoners vote.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 1st
Its now simple to define democratic government, been given a criteria in which to distinguish democratic governments from others.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 2nd
recognise importance of leadership, the electorate lack initiative, pack animals essentially and as a collective, they need a “pack leader.” democratic method needs to take account of this.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 3rd
recognises the role that “genuine group-wise volitions’ actually play. do not assert themselves into political life naturally but when called on by some political leader who turns them into political factors. interaction between sectional interests and public opinion, as groups in society have interests and initiative but only for certain things. e.g unemployed for unemployment benefits.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 4th
allows for differentiation of democratic competition from other forms of political competition.
free competition for free vote.
democracy is a method, and that method needs to be defined clearly.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 5th
Relationship clarified between individual freedom and democracy; more plausible, free competition means anyone can stand for office, freedom of debate/discussion, and freedom of press usually.
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 6th
primary function of electorate; produce a govt and includes removing a govt.
The electorate do not control, just install, but can refuse to reelect them (part of essay question on elites)
Explain the (seven) benefits of defining democracy as competitive elitism 7th
assures standing of the majority system within the logic of democratic method. decisions by simple majorities distort rather than give effect to it. but accepting leadership means reins of government handed to that who holds a majority/ most support.
How persuasive is Schumpeter’s critique of the classical doctrine (essay question, discuss)
WRITE IT NOW!!
What is the difference in the relationship of ‘elites’ to ‘the people’ within the two doctrines of democracy Schumpeter discusses.
WRITE IT NOW!!
