Lecture 6

Question 1

What is democracy and what does it mean? Dahl

Answer 1

Dahl, Robert A. 1998. On Democracy. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
* What is democracy? At its most basic, rule by the people.
* What does this mean? It means people rule equally. For Dahl, democracy and equality are coterminous:
- “A push toward democratic participation develops out of what we might call the logic of equality” (Dahl 1998: 10).
- “[In democracies] all members are to be considered as politically equal” (Dahl 1998: 37)

Question 2

How is equality manifest? Dahl

Answer 2

Inclusive citizenship and effective participation. More context on slides.

Question 3

Ancient Athen calssical republicanism - Held

Answer 3

• Ancient Athens (Classical Republicanism): Liberty as equality (Aristotle)
• Freedom through (equal) participation in the polis.
• Humans are political animals who find fulfillment in the polis

Question 4

Renaissance republicanism - Held

Answer 4

Renaissance Republicanism: Non-domination & Community (Machiavelli, Rousseau)
- Freedom as self-governance & focus on participation
- “The freedom of a political community rest[s] upon its accountability to no authority other than that of the community
itself. Self-government is the basis of liberty, together with the right of citizens to participate … The highest political ideal is
the civic freedom of an independent, self-governing people” (Held 2006: 34).

Question 5

Modern liberal democracy

Answer 5

• (Modern) Liberal Democracy: Rights, Duties and Consent (Hobbes, Locke, Mill)
• Individual freedom to pursue one’s own ends
• “[Liberalism signifies] the attempt to uphold the values of freedom of choice, reason and toleration in the face of tyranny,
  the absolutist system and religious intolerance … Individuals should be free to pursue their own preferences in religious,
  economic and political affairs – in fact, in most matters that affected daily life” (Held 2006: 59).

Question 6

Newer models of democracy, newer problems

Answer 6

• Bureaucracy: Competitive Elitism and the Technocratic Vision. (Marx, Weber, Schumpeter)
• Parties: Pluralism, Corporate Capitalism and the State (Dahl)
• Publics: Deliberative Democracy (Habermas)

Question 7

Core issue in democracy

Answer 7

A core issue in democracy is whether we want the best outcome (a substantive issue) or simply the one that
reflects popular will (a procedural one).

Question 8

Democracy as a procedure

Answer 8

• 1) As a procedure: Democracy is a system by which people self-rule.
• This is an intrinsic defense of democracy. Democracy is good unto itself

Question 9

Democracy as substance

Answer 9

• 2) As substance: democracy is good because its policies are good.
• This is an instrumental defense of democracy. Democracy produces good outcomes.

Question 10

How to defend democracy as a prcocedure

Answer 10

• 1) Democracy protects freedom as autonomy (212).
• 2) Democracy as self-realization (216).
• 3) Democracy as the embodiment of equality (216).
  More context on slides.

Question 11

How to defend democracy as a substance

Answer 11

• 1) Democracy generates good or correct decisions (221).
• 2) Democracy enables the intellectual and moral development of citizens (226).
• 3) Democracy has perceived legitimacy (228).