To what extent is Direct Democracy more effective than representative democracy? (12)

To what extent is Direct Democracy more effective than representative democracy? (12)

1. Direct

   • What is it?
     • Citizens make decisions themselves through poplar vote
       • E.g. Ancient Athens

2. Representative

   • What is it?
     • Citizens elect politicians to makes decisions for them
       • E.g. Modern UK

3. Decisions made directly by people in DD

   • Interest in politics is greater
     • Avg turnout in Switz. is 81%
   • More accurate reflection of views
   • Requires more educated population
     • E.g. Citizens in Athens very well educated and informed
     • In a RD, this often doesn't happen as people manipulated by politicians into making decisions not in their best interest - Schumpter
       • Media panic over immigration despite net benefit
     • In practice, people don't have time to inform themselves

4. Don't have set of professional politicians in DD who may believe in self interests

   • DD used in Switzerland
     • Lots of refernda
     • 2 Swiss cantons run by DD
     • RD still used at national level
     • Ordinary people may hold office for just a year at canton level
   • Negative views of politicians and RD because of scandals (mps expenses, etc)
     • Still need people to stand for what they believe in and give people a choice
   • Belief that these politicians are manipulated or part of a ruling elite
     • Dahl rejected this, said RD was pluralist instead

5. RD can incorporate DD

   • 24 US states can hold propositions
   • Growth of E-democracy
     • Contact with politicians on Twitter
     • Online petitions
       • Hillsborough Disaster Investigation
       • Online Opportunities
         • 38 Degrees
   • Scots Indy ref
     • Big impact on election
       • SNP + Green Membership
     • High turnout and engagement

6. Just because you vote for something doesn't make it good

   • Schumpter + Voltaire agree
   • Plato believes democracy is doomed to become a dictatorship
     • Believe people will sweep away old rulers and new ones will remove freedoms in fear of people
       • Some argue that RD prove Plato right-politicians same, fake choices, etc
         • RD only give DD when they feel like it
           • 2014 Spain: Govt denied Catalan Indy Ref
   • 1951:Switz votes against women getting franchise (voteand ability to stand for election). 2009: Switz votes to ban building of mosques with minarets

7. Conclusion

   • Balance:Good + bad of each
   • RD more practical, more safeguards to protect minorities than DD. Importance of DD cannot be understated. Most RDs incorporate DD into their systems