HSY2601 - Themes In The 19th Century History: Power And The Western World (HSY2601)
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HSY2601
Assignment
4 Semester
1 2023
[School]
[Course title]
, HSY2601 Assignment 4 Semester 1 2023
Topic 1:
Liberal democracy and autocracy “As imperial Germany enjoyed universal
manhood suffrage from 1871, it was a more democratic society than Britain
with its qualified franchise.” Do you agree?
Discuss critically. Write an essay of 800-1500 words (three to five pages) in
length.
The question of whether imperial Germany enjoyed universal manhood suffrage
and was a more democratic society than Britain with its qualified franchise is a
complex one that requires a critical examination of both the political systems of the
two countries and their respective histories. While it is true that Germany granted
universal manhood suffrage earlier than Britain, this alone is not sufficient to
determine the level of democracy in the two countries. This essay will examine the
historical context and political systems of both countries to determine whether the
claim holds true.
Firstly, it is important to note that the concept of democracy is multi-faceted and
can be interpreted in various ways. One common definition of democracy is a
system of government in which power is held by the people, either directly or
through elected representatives. However, there are various forms of democracy,
such as liberal democracy and direct democracy, which emphasize different
aspects of democratic governance.
In the case of imperial Germany, universal manhood suffrage was introduced in
1871, meaning that all men over the age of 25 had the right to vote. However, this
did not necessarily mean that Germany was a more democratic society than
Britain. While the franchise was wider in Germany, the political system was still
largely autocratic, with power concentrated in the hands of the Kaiser and his
appointed ministers. The Reichstag, which was the lower house of the German
parliament, had limited power and was subject to the Kaiser's veto. In addition, the
upper house, or Bundesrat, was dominated by appointed representatives of the
German states, rather than elected representatives.
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