The basics Flashcards
What is democracy?
comes from the Greek ‘demokratia’, a union of demo’s (meaning ‘the people’) and kratos meaning ‘power’
-Democracy is ‘rule by the people’ or ‘people power’
What have some people argued the word ‘demos’ (in terms of democracy) could easily be defined as?
-“he mob” leaving democracy to be defined as a ‘mob rule’ or ‘mobocracy’
What has writer John Kingdom suggested about the evolution of democracy?
John Kingdom sees a natural progression from the ‘pure form’ of democracy to the corrupt form of ‘mob rule’
What 3 things can be seen in a pluralist democracy
- there will be a diverse range of competing interests
- there will be numerous access points- points of leverage where pressure groups can exert influence
- no single group will be able to exclude any other from the political process
Why do some see the UK government as governed by the elites as opposed to pluralism?
(4)
- Majority are from a particular class
- Particular educational background
- Those who move in particular social circles
- Virtuous circles dominate the higher levels of government, industry and the media
People who believe that elitism rather than pluralism is the defining characteristic of the UK system, what would they think about the democratic process?
That the democratic process is more for show than bringing about substantive changes
What is absolute power?(2)
the ability to do something, to make something happen
-Exists rarely as even the ultimate threat of death will not force the individual to act as required
What are the 3 types of power?
- persuasive power
- legitimate power
- coercive power
What is persuasive power?
when people are persuaded of the merits of a given course of action
What is legitimate power?
when people accept an individuals right to make decisions
What is coercive power?
When people are forced to act in a particular way in means of laws and penalties
What is authority? (2)
Authority is the right to make something happen, the right to take a particular course of action
-Can involve the legitimate exercise of power
Give 3 examples:
1) Power without authority
2) Authority without power
3) Power and authority
1) a bomb-weilding terrorist may have power without authority
2) A teacher might have authority without genuine power
3) A police officer in a tactical firearms unit may have power and authority
What were the 3 types of legitimate authority identified by Max Weber (1864-1920)?
- traditional authority
- Charismatic authority
- leg-rational authority
What are -traditional authority -Charismatic authority -leg-rational authority based on?
1) based on the established traditions and customs
2) Based on the abilities and personalities of individual leaders
3) granted as a result of a formal process such as an election
In the 1950’s-60’s what was UK political culture characterised by?
(3)
- homogeneity
- consensus
- deference
What is homogeneity?
-View that people within a certain country share certain key values
Why is modern day culture are we characterised by multiculturalism than by homogeneity ?
(3)
Developments such as
- immigration since 1960’s
- Rise of Scottish and Welsh nationalism
- decline of the Church of England
What is Consensus?
Where UK citizens accept the ‘rules of the game’
e.g the need for tolerance and pragmatism, for peaceful negotiation and compromise
Why do we no longer have post-war consensus?
4
- Rise of politicians such as Margret Thatcher in 70’s
- Proliferation of single-issue campaigns
- Rise of direct action
- Increased support for nationalist parties
Which is deference? (2)
The view that people defer to an elite that is seen as 'born to rule' -a national willingness to accept the ingrained class based inequality or hierarchy
Why do we no longer have deference?
- development of modern, less deferential media
- media has demystified individuals and institutions
