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Literature Summary DATLecture 1:
Przeworski, Adam. 2018. Why Bother with Elections? Chapter 1:
- Competitive elections as a mechanism by which we decide who will govern us
- When repeated, voters can express dissatisfaction.
- Elections provide an instruction to governments to minimize the dissatisfaction with
how we are governed. Whether governments follow these instructions
(responsiveness) and whether elections serve to remove governments that do not
(accountability)
- Churchillian/minimalistic view on elections:
o Elections allow us to process in relative liberty and civic peace whatever
conflicts arise in society, that they prevent violence. Elections aren’t pretty,
and always fair
- Why bother with elections?
o For in the end, elections are but a framework within which somewhat equal
somewhat effective, and somewhat free people can struggle peacefully to
improve the world according to their different visions, values and interests.
Sen, Amartya. 1999. “Democracy as a Universal Value.” Journal of Democracy:
- Democracy is a universal value, something that most people would see as a positive
appeal for broad sections of the population.
- A critique on the Western centric views on Democracy.
- The universal value of democracy:
1. Intrinsic value: valuable in its own sake
2. Instrumental value: a country does not have to be deemed fit for democracy;
rather, it has to become fit through democracy against economic of cultural
preconditions for democracy
3. Constructive: the idea of "needs," including the understanding of "economic
needs," requires public discussion and exchange of information, views, and
analyses. In this sense, democracy has constructive importance, in addition to
its intrinsic value for the lives of the citizens and its instrumental importance
in political decisions. The claims of democracy as a universal value have to
take note of this diversity of considerations.
- The value of democracy includes its intrinsic importance in human life, its
instrumental role in generating political incentives, and its constructive function in
the formation of values (and in understanding the force and feasibility of claims of
needs, rights, and duties).
,Lecture 2:
Clark, William, Matt Golder, and Sona Golder. 2018. Principles of Comparative Politics.
Chapter 5:
- Historical Evolution: Democracy in ancient times, notably during Plato and
Aristotle's era, was markedly different from contemporary understanding. Initially,
democracy wasn't associated with elections; rather, leaders were chosen by lot in
democracies. Only after significant shifts during the French and American revolutions
did representative government and democracy become synonymous.
- Dictatorships: The concept of dictatorships has evolved. Historically, a dictator
referred to an extraordinary Roman magistrate nominated in exceptional emergencies.
Views by Machiavelli and Rousseau once held positive connotations, emphasizing the
necessity of dictatorial authority in emergencies. However, modern connotations link
dictatorships with autocracy, tyranny, and despotism.
- Dahl's Dimensions of Democracy: Robert Dahl introduced contestation and
inclusion as crucial dimensions for classifying political regimes. Contestation gauges
the freedom for citizens to form competing blocs, while inclusion examines who
participates in the democratic process.
- Polyarchy: Dahl preferred the term “polyarchy” to describe a regime with high
contestation and inclusion, as he believed that true democracies, according to
normative ideals, were unattainable in large countries. However, while the terms
contestation and inclusion remain influential, the term polyarchy is less commonly
used in contemporary discourse.
- Measuring Democracy: Scholars operationalize democracy using various measures.
Three common measures—Democracy-Dictatorship (DD), Polity IV, and Freedom
House—are discussed, each building on Dahl's insights. The DD measure by
Cheibub, Gandhi, and Vreeland defines democracy as regimes with governmental
offices filled through contested elections, involving key criteria like election
uncertainty, irreversibility, and repeatability.
- DD Measure Criteria: The DD measure employs four rules: election of the chief
executive, election of the legislature, multiple-party competition, and alternation in
power under identical electoral rules to classify a country as a democracy.
A country is classified as a democracy if all of the following conditions apply:
1. The chief executive is elected.
2. The legislature is elected.
3. There is more than one party competing in the elections.
4. An alternation in power under identical electoral rules has taken place.
, Parekh, Bhikhu. 1992. “The cultural particularity of liberal democracy.”
- What is Parekh’s critique of liberal democracy?
o Universal aspirations of a culturally particular form
o Imposes liberal ideology
o “The Athenian democracy trusted the masses; as we shall see, the liberal is
deeply suspicious of them. For these and other reasons liberalism can neither
accommodate nor has a need for classical democracy.” (p165)
- What are other critiques?
o State formation radically different in postcolonial states
o Limited state capacity to pursue alternative paths
o Constraints imposed by international system
- Are other combinations of liberalism and democracy
possible?
o Importance of social groups
Key takeaways:
- Cultural Relativism: Different societies define individuals, rights, and duties in
unique ways, shaping concepts like freedom, equality, and justice. Liberal principles
aren't universally applicable; they're culturally specific.
- Communal Orientations: Traditional societies prioritize communal well-being over
individual freedoms, restricting certain rights like freedom of expression or property
ownership to maintain social solidarity.
- Cohesive Communities vs. Liberalism: Communities preserving their way of life
often clash with liberal democratic ideals. They restrict certain freedoms for the
collective good, contrasting with liberal values.
- Multi-Communal Societies: These societies, like India, comprise diverse
communities with distinct practices and laws. The challenge lies in integrating these
communities within a democratic framework while respecting their autonomy.
- Value of Liberal Democratic Institutions: While the democratic aspect (elections,
equality, free speech) is appealing globally, the liberal aspect clashes with non-western
cultures, perceived as disruptive to cherished values and communal coherence.
- Cultural Diversity and Governance: A global consensus on universally valid
principles of good government is crucial, yet these principles should accommodate
cultural diversity. Local adaptations of governance structures are necessary.
- Universal Principles and Cultural Context: While certain principles (like respect for
human life and equality before the law) garner universal support, their interpretation
within cultural contexts varies, allowing for diverse governance models.
- Freedom of Choice in Governance: Within the boundaries of universally accepted
principles, countries should have the freedom to adopt governance structures that suit
their cultural contexts, be it liberal democracy or other forms, promoting diversity and
progress.
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