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Features of Democracy and other Notes
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This document will feature notes on Democracy as a wider system, its intricacies, the formation and structures that uphold it.
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Core Features of Democracy Notes A democracy is a system of governance whereby a political party, and more specifically a
leader, are chosen by the citizens of its state. (Excludes under 18s and those without
citizenship)
The decision of leadership arises in regular elections, which range world-wide from yearly to
every 5 years.
They serve primarily against the defence of authoritarianism or of a dictatorship.
In theory, rulers/governors should seek to please the masses. ‘Majority Rule’
Types of democracy: Social Democracy – A hybrid of a welfare state and a capitalist free
market, where businesses and trade still occurs but the profits of this are thwarted by heavy
tax for social services. These democracies often have free/affordable education at all levels,
free healthcare, and state pensions.
Liberal democracy –
Balance between government collective and individual rights [privacy x safety]
Civil liberties granted to balance “tyranny of majority”
System governed by laws
As little state intervention as possible. Individual lives with individual needs, do not like to
lose control over this (taxes, tariffs)
Competitive, complex structure to accord power.
First Past The Post – Flawed? – FPTP means that a constituency is won by the member who
gathers the most votes of his counterparts, however, if narrow victories occur, and a MP
wins with 32% of the vote, and the MP who came second had 30% of the vote, the 68% of
other votes are now null and void; and, despite having a greater number of citizens choose
against an MP, they will still win that constituency.
Democracies that – naturally - favour majorities can however as a consequence leave
minorities ignored or discriminated against.
Democratic institutions are institutions that
6.4% of people live in full democracies
39% live in flawed democracies
17.% hybrid regimes
Pillars of democracy
- Participation (involvement in politics)
- Liberty – the rights of people
- Competition(contestation)
Courts have important role to enforce rule of law
Contestation and inclusion
China low in both
U.S high contestation
Direct democracy
- Popular involvement and open deliberation
- Self-rule
- Problems:
- No representatives
- Citizens only male
- Referendum – complex issues decided upon by the people.
Representative democracy
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