Political science homework

POL 190 Regimes: Democracies 1

POL 190 Regimes: Democracy as a Regime type Summary/Overview

• Defining ‘Regimes’ • Types/Classification of Regime types • Basic Features of Democratic Regimes

1. What is meant by the term ‘regime’? ‘Regime’ refers to the form of government in use within a state, the basic relationship between the state and the people: who rules?

Rules and laws that structure government, institutions policy-making Practices in politics: how do rulers and people actually interact? Beliefs and expectations about legitimacy: what are appropriate, acceptable actions and goals?

Why classify types of regimes? Goal: to explain differences in the

• Control of the state: Who rules? • Definition of rights and access to those rights • Degree of participation in politics • Level of conflict and order • Policy outcomes: Who benefits?

What are the basic regime types? Democracy and Non-Democracy Broad definitions: Democratic regimes:

Based on control of the state by the people (through representatives) Provision of broad rights as ‘citizens’ May have different arrangements of government

Non-Democratic regimes:

Control of the state by one person, or a small group of persons (not acting as representatives of the public).

Limited or very restricted citizenship rights Wide range of actual types and ideologies justifying non-democratic regimes

“Democracy” “Non-Democracy” More ‘free’/most rights less/least ‘free’/few rights

Authoritarian/Autocratic/Dictatorship etc Between the extremes of ‘Democracy’ and ‘Non-Democracy’:

• A range of complex regimes that combine elements of the two basic types: Example: o Weak or poorly ‘consolidated’ democracies o Semi-authoritarian or ‘hybrid’ regimes

POL 190 Regimes: Democracies 2

2. Defining ‘Democracy’ as a regime type Democratic Regimes are: Ruled by representatives of the majority who are selected through a competitive, fair and transparent process, with guaranteed protection for all citizens and for those who dissent, and with means for holding the representatives accountable. Unpacking the definition Elements of the Definition How are the Elements Implemented? Issues created by the definition 1 Ruled by representatives

of the majority • Majority rule: but how much participation is required? • Who selects? Need for a definition of basic membership/citizenship • The right to vote: at what age? Are there any restrictions/exclusions? • A majority, but where? Need for a physical basis for representation (districts):

what size? How are boundaries created?

2 ….who are selected through a competitive, fair and transparent process

• Choices for voters are essential: multiple parties (minimum of 2) • Competitive elections: there must be a possibility of alternatives (otherwise, what

is the point?) • ‘Clean’ elections: an open and uniform process; recount possible. Results must

lead to the legitimacy of office holders • Fair campaign rules: rules for campaign finance, public debate, access to the

media, etc

3 ….with guaranteed protection for all citizens

• Basic civil and political rights: documented in a constitution/in law • Guarantee of rights that are ‘functional’ for democracy: right to vote, freedom of

speech, freedom of information, right to form/join groups • How are they guaranteed? Need for competent , un-corrupt, unbiased, open

access police and courts

4 … and for those who dissent

• Protection of dissenting political views: protection of freedom of speech, membership in organizations, etc

• Protection of the right to protest in public • Protection victimization/discrimination (e.g. in employment, housing, etc.) • Need for competent , un-corrupt, unbiased, open access police and courts

5 …, and with means for

holding the representatives accountable

• Regular elections: regular and repeated opportunities to replace elected officials • Right to Recall elected officials (before next election) • Oversight by the public: open meetings, information on decisions/policies • Oversight by other public agencies, elected officials (checks and balances) • Impartial and effective police and courts • Independent media: objective information and analysis needed to judge the

performance of elected representative The Quality of a Democracy is shaped by

• Competition for power: are there authentic alternatives in policy-making? • Participation: is participation inclusive and extensive, or is there low participation, or limits on

voting rights? • Elected decision-makers are most important: decisions are made by elected officials and

those cannot be ‘vetoed’ by unelected groups/leaders (e.g. the military, bureaucracy, clergy) • Policy-makers are free from external domination/influence

Note that democracy does NOT mean:

• An efficient/high growth economy and productivity • An efficient/capable bureaucracy/administration • A high level of order, political stability or of consensus • An absence of regulations on society or the economy

POL 190 Regimes: Democracies 3

A Final Requirement for a ‘Consolidated’ democracy: Democratic Values What are they? Why are they important?

• Principles followed by voters and politicians: These are usually ‘informal’ (not written in constitutions) and guarantee the preservation of democratic procedures and rights. Democratic values are an informal “culture” necessary for the survival of democracy.

• The presence of democratic rights (freedom of speech, assembly etc) and democratic procedures (elections, parties, etc) are not enough to sustain democracy over time.

Examples:

• Broad principles: Cooperation, Tolerance, Compromise, Trust (between politicians, between voters and politicians, and between voters)

• Procedural principles: Peaceful dispute resolution; ‘winners’ not victimizing/abusing ‘losers’; ‘losers’ respecting the authority/decisions of ‘winners’

Problem Issues for ‘democratic values’:

• Are democratic values universal, or do they need to be taught (if so, how)? A major question for new democracies

• What happens if democratic values are ‘eroded’ over time (e.g. through deep political divisions, or apathy)?