Chapter 2

Democratic Ideal, part II

Outline Republican tradition from Polybius American

founding Rise, decline, revival of democratic ideal from

ancient Greece to present Meanings of democracy throughout history Democracy in 20th century – liberal, social,

people’s democracy Democracy = essentially contested concept

Meaning of democracy ideological Ideologies have own meaning for democracy

Democracy = an ideal

Democracy’s Long Sleep Demise of Roman Republic

Triumph of Caesars, Rome despotical, militarily expansionist empire

Rise of Christianity Worldly matters less important than salvation Obey those in power and seek no power yourself

Middle Ages and feudalism (highly stratified society)

1500 years later, republican ideal revived in Northern Italian city-states during Renaissance

1900 years later, democratic ideal revived

Rebirth of Democracy, Republicanism Italian Renaissance (14-16th centuries)

Rebirth of classical learning and political ideas and ideals

Aristotle, Polybius, Rome, Sparta

Revival of civic life, public-spirited citizens take part in governing Liberty, virtue, and corruption

Key defender of republican government, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Machiavelli (1469-1527) The Prince, best known work Discourses (1531) defends republican ideals of mixed

government, virtuous citizenry, and rule of law Popular rule by virtuous and vigilant citizenry bent on protecting liberty Greatest danger to republican or self-government comes from

corruption, turn away from common good and toward private or individual interest

Liberty/self-government not for lazy, selfish or corrupt Only citizens steeped in self-discipline, love of country, civic virtue, and

respect for law Only under “government of laws, not men,” could citizens remain free

Mixed constitutional republic over direct democracy

Inspired Atlantic republican tradition

Atlantic Republican Tradition 17th century England James Harrington (1611-1677)

Popular self-government could be stable and just

Called on Cromwell to create mixed or “balanced” system of government

Land redistribution to promote libertyPopular elections to promote republican virtue

and protect against power of incumbency

Atlantic Democratic Tradition English Civil War of 1640s Levellers (e.g., John Lilburne) and Diggers (e.g., Gerrard

Winstanley) Called for democracy Political authority by popular consent Extension of franchise to all adult males Rule by and for benefit of common people

English colony in America, dissident puritans (e.g., Roger Williams) preached because all people were equal in God’s eyes, equally entitled to govern themselves in “democratical” way

Late 18th-19th Centuries Before democracy dissident and to some

dangerous form of government Usually equated with mob rule In late 18th and early 19th democracy finally

becomes respectable In United States, democratic ideal altered

by republican tradition, with emphasis on balanced government, rule of law, and protection of civil rights

U.S. Democratic Republic From beginning, favored form of government

was republican Separation of powers/checks and balances

Modification of mixed or balanced government Executive = the one; legislative = many; judicial = few

Bill of Rights Popular element checked and controlled by

Senate, courts, and president “Jacksonian democracy” removed property

qualifications for voting, expanded political equality/democracy

Tocqueville (1805-1859) Democracy in America, de Tocqueville argues

democracy frees common people, but emphasis on equality threatens to produce mediocrity, despotism, or both

Emphasis on equality produced pressures to conform, “tyranny of the majority”

Common people easily swayed by demagogues who flatter and mislead them to gain power

Positive possibility for democracy (republicanism combined with democratic ideal) Civic virtue, ability to see and serve common interest, promoted

through participation in public affairs

Growth of Democracy Growth in popularity in 19th and 20th centuries Urbanization, education, communication and

transportation contributed to belief common people could participate knowledgeably in public affairs

Democracy defended on two grounds – self protection and self-development Utilitarians called for representative democracy Mill felt democracy would strengthen public virtue and

promote individual development

Democracy As An Ideal Most ideologies pursue, promote democracy, but in

different ways Democracy not specific kind of government, an ideal =

something toward which people aim or aspire Democracy is government or rule by the people, but…

Who are the people? How are the people to rule?

Democracy is attractive because it implies citizens are free and equal, but what this means is unclear

All ideologies must come to terms with democratic ideal conception of human nature and freedom determines whether it

is possible, desirable, and what form it should take

20th century conceptions

Liberal Democracy Social Democracy People’s Democracy

Liberal Democracy Emerged from Liberalism Characterizes many Western democracies Rule by people Stresses protection of individual rights and

liberties Majority rule must be limited

Majority rule as long as the majority does not deprive individuals or minorities of basic civil rights

Tend toward restricted version of appropriate role for state in achieving equality of opportunity

Social Democracy Democratic socialist Main challenger to Liberal Democracy Like liberalism, emphasis on protection of civil liberties

and fair competition for office Believe people cannot be free and political competition

fair with great inequalities of wealth and power Key to democracy is equality Equal power in society and government Equal power/influence in politics/government requires

more equal distribution of economic power/resources Program: redistribution of wealth to promote equality,

public financing of campaigns and elections, public control over natural resources and major industries, worker’s control in workplace

People’s Democracy Prevailing view in communist societies Rule by common people (proletariat/ working class)

closer to original Greek democracy rule by and for benefit of numerically largest social class modern industrial society working class, what Marx called the

proletariat Differences within communist ideologies as to how rule

actualized In most (China, Vietnam, Cuba, North Korea), rule by

Communist Party Mao’s “people’s democratic dictatorship”

Rule in interest of working class, claim to be democracies, even more democratic than liberal or social democracies

Essentially Contested

Universally popular, meaning deeply disputed Different people define democracy in quite

different ways Splits/divisions even within ideologies – among

liberals, conservatives, Marxists, etc. For some, connected with particular social class For some, democracy means not only majority

rule, but the protection of minority rights For others, it means nothing of the sort

Democracy as an Ideal

Aim or aspiration Ideologies define democracy in

different and sometimes radically divergent ways

Ideal most ideologies espouse

Discussion Questions1. Why were Plato and Aristotle convinced democracy was a

bad form of government? Do you find their arguments persuasive? Explain.

2. What have Machiavelli and other political theorists meant by the term republic? How, if at all, is a republic different from a democracy?

3. Is the United States best described as a democracy, a republic, or a democratic republic? Explain and defend your position.

4. What were the 3 principal conceptions of democracy in the twentieth century? How do they differ from one another, and which, in your view, is the best way to think about democracy?

5. Ball and Dagger maintain democracy is not an ideology, but an ideal. Why do they say this? Are they right or wrong? Does it make sense to say democracy is an ideology? Why or why not?