Democracy

Democracy

1. More than one political party

   • This creates competition and ensures parties stick to election policies that the people want. 
   • The opposition are key. They monitor the performance of the government and inform citizens.
   • Schumpter- Democracy is more likely to create coalitions which are inefficient. 
   • This creates competition and ensures parties stick to election policies that the people want.
   • Schumpter- Democracy is more likely to create coalitions which are inefficient. Can't assign responsibility for government perfromance
   • Bagehot - "Two clever men can never exactly agree about a budget. They are sure to quarrel and the result is to satisfy neither. And when the taxes do not yeild as expected who is responsible?"
   • Continued tensure of Chirstian Democrats in Italy (40 years) or LDP in Japan (38 years)
   • MPs are forced to try and gain support from the greatest number of people reconciling opinions from cultures and ethnicities efficiently

2. Political liberties

   • Practices of Democracy are more desirable than non-democratic alternatives even with its imperfections
   • Illiberal democracies exist and have done in the past. We tend to think democracy gives political liberties but this is not always true. Blacks in South Africa during Apartheid.
   • We never directly vote for the leader of the country

3. Inclusive

   • Once elected there are no institutional devices to force politicians to adhere to there promises
     • Rousseau - "British Political system is only free during the election of MPs.. as soon as they are elected it is enslaved it is nothing."
   • Binding national referenda in Switzerland, Italy and Argentina
   • Representative is better. We don't want mob rule. Those who are most educated and capable to make decisions
     • It is responsive introduction of e-petitions 100,000 signature = debated in parliament
   • Only in a democracy are decisions decided by a majority. All other alternatives would allow minority rule
     • Public "woefully informed about welfare" IPSOS MORI
   • Dawkins - "in a representative democracy power is not shared equally as officials have more than citizens
     • Orwell - "in a representative democracy all citizens are equal but some are more equal than others."
   • Dahl - the interests of everyone should be weighted equally as individuals are the best judge of what is in their interests. No members are more qualified than others and should not be entrusted with making binding collective decisions.
   • Benhabib - deliberative democracy a larger group of people are satisfied with the outcome as reason rather than coercion triumphs
     • Deliberative democracy increases legitimacy as free discussion between opposing groups increases participation and representation.

4. Elections where we hold the government accountable

   • The opposition are key. They monitor the performance of the government and inform citizens.
   • Blair not defeated once in HOC between 97-05 and envoked parliament act 3/4 times it has been used despite on 2 occasions upper house was majority labour
   • Rebellion of 39 MPs no intervention in Syria
   • Accountability provides legitimacy for mandate
     • Money still holds power. Politicians have be know n to gratify special interests and once elected pursue private goals
     • If a government does bad it will not be re-elected
     • Citizens control over politicians is highly imperfect even in the bes democracies. Elections are not enough to ensure government will do everything they can to maximise citizens' welfare
       • Many electoral systems are flawed
   • Tyranny of the majority?