PSIR- DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY 

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The Greek Word Democratia Is A Combination Of The Words Demos (Meaning People) And Kratos (Meaning Rule).   This Gives Its Meaning To Democracy As A Form Of Government In Which The People Rule, Whether Directly Through Individual Participation Or Indirectly, Through Elected Representatives.   Of Course, The Main Difference Between Ancient And Modern Democracies Lies In The Way In Which 'the People' Were Defined.   In Ancient Greek Governance, 'demo' Was Defined Restrictively, And Specifically Excluded Three Main Categories Of Persons: Slaves, Women And Metics (Foreigners Who Lived And Worked In The City.   Classical And Contemporary Theories Of Democracy.

 

Different Models Of Democracy  Representative, Participatory And Deliberative

 

Representative Democracy And Its Critics: Since Direct Democracy Is Not Possible In Large And Complex Societies, The Mechanism Through Which People Participate Indirectly In Government Is To Elect Representatives To Fulfill Their Wishes.  

 There Are Two Types Of Critics, Those Who Consider It Unrealistic (Schumpeter And Elite Theorists) And Those Who Consider It Inadequate (Participatory Democrats, Discussed In The Next Section).   The Schumpeterian View Of Democracy Presents This Statement Of The Classical Eighteenth-Century Theory Of Democracy: As A Misrepresentation Of What Democracy Really Is.   For Joseph Schumpeter, The Classical Theory Of Democracy Mistakenly Holds That Sovereignty Is In The Hands Of Those Who Elect Individuals To An Assembly Where Their Will Can Be Carried Out.    

 

The Classical Theory Of Participatory Democracy Is Found In The Writings Of Rousseau And John Stuart Mill.   Rousseau's Theory Rests On The Participation Of Every Citizen In Political Decision-Making.   The Relationship Between Citizens Is One Of Interdependence, Such That Each Individual Is Equally Dependent On All Others Seen Collectively As Sovereign.  

Advocates Of Participatory Democracy Generally Follow Mill In Valuing Civic Education As A Way To Create More Active And Politically Engaged Citizens.  

They Believe That The Pain Of Political Parties Is Central To The Good Life Of Human Beings And It Helps To Prevent Abuse Of Power By Government Officials.  

Deliberative Democracy Values ​​ Open And Public Consultations On Issues Of Common Concern.   It Begins With The Perception Of Individuals As Autonomous Individuals, But Does Not View The Social Relations Between These Autonomous Individuals As Conflicts Or Ties Of Interest.   Instead, It Sees People As Relating To Each Other And Trying To Influence Each Other Through Reasoned Reasoning And Persuasion.  

 Unlike Participatory Democracy, Which Requires Individuals To Be Constantly Engaged In Decision-Making, Deliberative Democracy Allows A Political Division Of Labor Between Citizens And Professional Politicians, Although Citizens Are Involved In Discussions About Public Issues.   .

 

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