Title: Classical Democracy Date: February 21, 2022

Reporter: Jaimes Renz P. Tormis, ABPOLSCI 2

Schedule: MWF 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Instructor: Ms. Rhizza Mae L. Asoy

I. Introduction

In the advent of the world’s current situation which is the COVID-19, the Economist
Intelligence Unit have reported that there is a serious decline to democracy all throughout the
world (EIU, 2021). Hence, it is in our best interest as a scholar in the field of political science
to trace the system of democracy in order to grasp the democracy that we experience today.
Thus, in this chapter we will explore, navigate and contest our forefathers’ ideas on classical
democracy, we will use the book of Verney, 1959. The Analysis of Political Systems as our
primary source of material in this discussion, provided also by different scholars in the field
of political science in order to fully comprehend the discourse.

II. Objectives

At the end of the discussion, we will be able to comprehend the following:

1. What it is
2. Its Contemporary Relevance: Franchise Reform
3. The Assumptions of Classical Theory

Verney, D. (1959). The Analysis of Political Systems. The Free Press.

III. Definition of terms

1. Democracy – The name derives from the Greek word (demokratia) "rule of the people,"
which was formed in the 5th century B.C. from (demos) "people" and (kratos) "power" or
"rule." (Lindell, and Scott, 1999, as cited in Nwogu, 2015)
2. Suffrage – the right of the people to elect their governments via frequent, fair elections
(Honey, 2009)
3. General will – an expression used to attribute the capacity of willing to human
collectivities, especially, to political communities and nations (Ijabs, 2014)

IV. Discussion

Those who resisted absolute rule in the eighteenth century and wants the 'will of the people'
to triumph were often drawn to the concept of 'pure', 'direct,' or 'classical' democracy, that is,
government by the people. However, the simple direct link between government and people,
which we now refer to as the 'classical' theory, is no longer present (Verney, 1959). Thus, it
is in my argument that classical democracy is only feasible in a small-scale system of society.

I. What it is

Often classical democracy is summarized in the popular phrase of Lincoln (1863)

“government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Jean Jacques Rousseau

The Social Contract, Rousseau's most influential book on political philosophy, was published
in 1762. "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains," he begins. Rousseau agreed with
Locke that the person should never be compelled to give up his or her natural rights to a
sovereign. – in Locke’s view these rights are inalienable (impossible to surrender).
(Constitutional Rights Foundation, 2022)

There is a concern of division of power – Communists argue that classical democracy is not
genuine democracy because it only provides a political remedy—participation in the political
process—while ignoring the bourgeoisie's economic and social power (Verney, 1959)

J. S. Mill was concerned about the potential of mass dictatorship (and mediocrity) over
minorities (and talent) (Verney, 1959).

The present significance of classical thought (apart from its continuous relevance as a
myth) resides not in its emphasis on direct accountability, but in its demand that everyone
carry some degree of political duty. This is seen in the strong support for universal
suffrage (Verney, 1959).

II. It’s Contemporary Relevance: Franchise Reform

“One man, One vote”

Call for universal Suffrage

The classical theory may have been enunciated in the mid-eighteenth century and haven been
the rallying cry of radical reformers in the mid-nineteenth, but its full implementation had to
wait until the mid-twentieth (Verney, 1959)

Call for equal human rights?

The interpretation of British franchise reform thus becomes one of class struggle in which
first the bourgeoisie and then the proletariat staked claims to power which the ruling classes
were unable to refuse.

III. The Assumptions of Classical Theory

Some saw this as a good view, believing that all men had an equal aptitude to grasp political
concerns. To others, it has been purely negative: universal suffrage has been allowed since,
while not all men appear to be equal, it is impossible to discern who should be excluded from
participation (Verney, 1959)

Therefore, there can be two points of view here – (1) positive, (2) negative.

Negative (Self-interest)

The Christian religion holds that all men are equal in the eyes of God; however, this has not
always been construed to indicate that they are equal in the eyes of one another, socially or
politically (Verney, 1959)

Positive (General Good)

Rousseau believed that all men were capable of comprehending what was in the best interests
of all. Furthermore, what was good for the whole was also beneficial for the individual. There
could be no conflict between what was best for one and what was best for everyone. (Verney,
1959)

V. Conclusion

Unfortunately, Rousseau's theory of classical democracy had various flaws that tended to
make it more of an ideal theory than an explanation of how politics may be conducted
(Verney, 1959)

As a result, the classical theory of democracy, although not naïve, has a simplicity that makes
it unsuited for massive modern sophisticated political entities with tens of millions of
participants (Verney, 1959)

VI. Questions

1. In place of discussing democracy, suffrage, and such, the Philippines is pushing a national
and local election, discussing the political system as a system of action (Almond, 1956),
authoritative allocation (Easton, 1957), and as a communication (Deutsch, n.d, cited in
Almond, 1965). As a scholar in the field of politics, will there be a variable that could shift
our current political system as being a weak state (ranked by transparency.org in 2021 as
117/180 as the most corrupt country in the world and have noted by the EUI to have a severe
decline in a democracy), towards a great state?

VII. List of References

1. Constitutional Rights Foundation. (2022). Crf-Usa.org. https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-

of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-c-hobbes-locke-montesquieu-and-rousseau-on-
government.html
2. Easton, D. (1957). An Approach to the Analysis of Political Systems. World Politics,
9(3), 383–400. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/2008920
3. Honey, R. (2009). Human Rights. International Encyclopedia of Human Geography,
232–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-008044910-4.00785-9
4. Ijabs, I. (2014). General Will. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being
Research, 2495–2497. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1150
5. Nwogu, G. (2015). Democracy: Its Meaning and Dissenting Opinions of the Political
Class in Nigeria: A Philosophical Approach.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1083739.pdf
6. The Economist Intelligence Unit. (2021). Democracy Index 2020 In sickness and in
health? https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2020/
7. Verney, D. (1959). The Analysis of Political Systems. The Free Press.
8. Woolner, H. (2008). To what extent can Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “The Social
Contract” and John Berger’s “G.” be said to show democracy as the best political
model for a society.. INNERVATE Leading Undergraduate Work in English Studies,
1(2041-6776), 308–313.