L6: The Legitimacy of the State: Can the state be controlled?

Question 1

what does state authority derive from

Answer 1

legitimate power

Question 2

does liberalism imply democracy

Answer 2

no, but democracy arguably best solution for this challenge

Question 3

in voluntarism view, sate are only legit if

Answer 3

legitimate if and only if citizenry willingly subject themselves to state authority

Question 4

what is tacit

Answer 4

in voluntarism views, submission can be tacit -implied without begin stated

Question 5

in voluntarism, how does it operate as its not feasible on individual level?

Answer 5

o ‘Requisite levels of acceptance?’ (Habermas)

• How many of population are requied to accept (50% +1?)

Question 6

what are two conditions of voluntarism

Answer 6

o Reciprocity- if you accept the benefits, you must tolerate the negatives
- Accountability and possibility of change

Question 7

For natural duty, when do you have to submit

Answer 7

if sate is decent and just

Question 8

explain natural duties relation to hobbesian logic

Answer 8

• Underlying Hobbesian logic- even if we don’t like particular policies or actions, we are overall better off within a ‘civil society’ than in a ‘state of nature’
• But (as opposed to Hobbes) there are limits on reasonable state behaviour and failure to comply with these limits render a state illegitimate

Question 9

what are three problems with voluntarism

Answer 9

self determination, nightwatchman state, problem of public goods

Question 10

explain conditions of kants plan for perpetual peace

Answer 10

o General argument built on tacit consent, democratic possibility for change, and free movement (moving to different state location if don’t like current)

Question 11

what remains a challenge for voluntarism and natural duty

Answer 11

tyranny of the majority

Question 12

what is the issue with natural duty

Answer 12

as noted as fair- what is threshold for unfairness

Question 13

how does democratic accountability aid in natural duty

Answer 13

o At margins, democratic accountability again provides a mechanism for rolling back such injustices

Question 14

for liberals, democracy is a —- not an —-, explain

Answer 14

means not an end

- best means of checking the power of the elites and ensuring legitimate governments

Question 15

is participatory or procedural democracy more important for liberals

Answer 15

procedural

Question 16

how to escape tyranny of the majority

Answer 16

as liberal democracy aligns with majority

- overlapping consensus