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Summary - Democracies, autocracies and transitions (FY)
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In dept summary of the notes needed to pass the DAT exam 2023/2024.
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Lecture 1 – IntroductionWhy bother with democracy?
Amartya Sen wrote “Democracy as a universal value”, a holistic view. He does not only touch
up on how democracy is a net good he also claims it is a universal value. He defines it as
something most people would find value in democracy. He claims that democracy...
1. Intrinsic value: Sen's perspective on the intrinsic value of democracy is grounded in his
belief that democratic processes and institutions promote fundamental human
capabilities and freedoms. Democracy, in this sense, is seen as a means to enhance
human development and well-being by providing people with the ability to participate
in decision-making, express their views, and protect their basic rights.
In summary, when Amartya Sen asserts that democracy has intrinsic value, he
emphasizes the inherent importance of the democratic system in fostering human
capabilities, freedoms, and overall well-being, rather than merely valuing it for the
outcomes it might produce.
2. Instrumental value (allows us to achieve other desirable outcomes such as
accountability, such as fighting against famine)
3. Constructive value (understanding the needs, wants, duties, and wants as people)
Expanding on the instrumental value of democracy:
à Countries need not be deemed fit for democracy but fit through democracy.
à He is also against economic or cultural preconditions for democracy (i.e., people need to be
fed first before caring about voting or so, he opposes that view).
,Adam Przeworski wrote “Why bother with elections?” – Minimalist and less optimistic view
For Adam, democracies are characterized by two factors:
à Competitive elections: It is a mechanism by which we decide who will govern us and how.
à Repeated elections: When repeated can express dissatisfaction with how they are governed.
Also helps with accountability and responsiveness of incumbent governments.
The benefit of democracy for Adam is thus that he sees it as a way to achieve peace.
So, why bother with democracy?
Democracy as an independent variable
Democracy leading to economic growth? The Lee hypothesis as they are less subject to short
term demands from locals, as they have enough time to build the infrastructure needed to
kickstart. Democratic leaders invest in more short-term handouts than long-term benefit.
For Amartya Sen, we need more systematic data to test this.
The data seems to show that democracy has an instrumental value in that it either causes
positive sustained growth or none at all. Whereas authoritarian regimes are more prone to
severe variation.
The data shows that democracy tends to be worse than autocratic regimes when it comes to
climate change, because of the short sidedness.
,Lecture 2 – What is Democracy?
Democracy, then and now
- Etymology
- Democracy as rule by the people
- But who, what, how, when, and where?
Early theoretical treatments
- Plato, The Republic
o Government as realm of experts
o Democracy as mob rule
- Aristotle, The Politics
o Regime classification
§ Number of rulers
§ Exist in good and bad forms
- Seen as susceptible to class warfare, unstable and dangerous
Early experiments
- Athenian democracy
o Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon
o Suffrage for free, adult males
o Free speech, political equality, direct participation
- Early ‘democracy’: council governance, village governance
o Ali and Stasavage (2020), Koelble and Lipuma (2008), Parekh (1992)
- Democracy very different
o E.g. Election by lot, and/or direct decision-making, and limited in processes and
size
Now
- Shift in mid-19th century
o French and American Revolutions
o Democracy as representative government
o Rapid expansion
, - Connection with liberalism (Parekh 1992)
o Emphasis on individual (“One person, one vote”)
o Industrial revolution and expansion of capitalism
- Resistance to expansion of democracy, including from liberals
Conceptions of democracy
Substantive vs. Procedural conceptions
- Substantive or maximalist view
o Classifies regimes by the outcomes they produce
§ However:
Too many attributes à no empirical referents
For some questions à limited analytical use
- Procedural or minimalist view
o Classifies regimes according to institutions and procedures
§ However: Too few attributes à all cases become instances
à Procedural definitions dominant
Electoral vs. Liberal conceptions
- Electoral democracy (Dahl’s polyarchy)
o Contestation
§ Classifies regimes by procedures of democratic competition
§ However: Are competitive elections enough?
o Inclusion
§ Classifies regimes based on who participates in the democratic process
§ However: Inclusion à little variation
- Liberal democracy
o Contestation and inclusion, but adds democracy as limited government
§ Parekh (1992: 165): “The liberal expects the government to set up and
maintain a system of rights based on the principle of maximum liberty”
§ However: Imports liberalism
à Both conceptions remain common
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