Specterminology

WORLD POLITICS AND ECONOMICS

Democracy and Political Repres
entation
 https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVP77Wang=/

 Your associations with the term ”Democracy”

 The word democracy comes from the Greek words "demos", meaning people, and "kratos"
meaning power; so democracy can be thought of as "power of the people": a way of governing
which depends on the will of the people.
 Although this Athenian democracy would survive for only two centuries, its invention
by Cleisthenes, “The Father of Democracy,” was one of ancient Greece's most enduring
contributions to the modern world. The Greek system of direct democracy would pave the way for
representative democracies across the globe.
 The Webster New Encyclopaedic Dictionary (1995) defines democracy as a government in which
supreme power is invested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through
representation.
 Democracy helps citizens to choose their leaders to run the government by free and fair
elections. Democracy provides equal rights among citizens on the basis of caste, religion and
sex. Democracy enhances the quality of decision-making and also improves the dignity of
citizens.
 Democracy has certain key elements which make it the most preferred form of government today. These
elements include participation, accountability, conflict resolution and concern for equality and justice.
 Democracy is a form of government in which the final authority to deliberate and decide the
legislation for the country lies with the people, either directly or through representatives. Within a
democracy, the method of decision-making, and the demarcation of citizens vary among countries.
How does a democracy work?
 This means that our government is elected by citizens. Here, citizens vote for their government officials.
These officials represent the citizens' ideas and concerns in government. Voting is one way to participate
in our democracy.

 Mentioning the four pillars of democracy- the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and the Media
 limited government, including natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social
contract. These ideas are reflected in two of the United States' foundational documents, the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution.
 Advantages of Democracy Disadvantages of
 The Democratic Party (whose
Democracy
logo is a donkey) generally
represents left-leaning, liberal More opportunities must be
and progressive ideological Democracies promote provided for change-making
values, thus advocating for a equality. in a democratic
strong government to regulate administration.
business and support for the
citizens of the United States. Decreases disputes with other Mob rule may be encouraged
Thus, one of the key values nations. by democracy.
emphasized by Democrats is
social responsibility.
 What does a democracy depend on?
 Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights.
Democracies guard against all-powerful central governments and decentralize
government to regional and local levels, understanding that all levels of
government must be as accessible and responsive to the people as possible.

 Democracy is associated with higher human capital accumulation, lower inflation,

lower political instability, and higher economic freedom. Democracy is closely tied
with economic sources of growth, like education levels and lifespan through
improvement of educative institutions as well as healthcare.
What is the limitation of democracy?
 Two limitations of a democratic government are: People cannot be removed or appointed as
required. It has to follow a set of rules, and leaders keep changing in a democracy leading to
instability.
 Political instability
• Short-termism. Democracy is also criticized for frequent elections due to the instability of coalition
governments.
• Corruption.
• Voter Ignorance.  
• Potential incompatibility with former politics.  
• Lack of political education.
• Manipulation or control of public opinion. 
• Manipulation of the opposition.
Direct democracy (participatory) – active direct , participation by all
citizens in the authoritative allocation of values (equal capacity). Is it
possible?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) – only a society of gods could be a

true democracy
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau sometimes seems the more radical democrat then Locke
The Social Contract (1762), Rousseau asserts that democracy is incompatible with representative institutions, a
position that renders it all but irrelevant to nation-states.
“In the ancient republics…the people never had representatives.…The moment a people allows itself to be
represented, it is no longer free: it no longer exists.” But if representation is incompatible with democracy, and if
direct democracy is the only legitimate form of government, then no nation-state of Rousseau’s time or any other
can have a legitimate government. Furthermore, according to Rousseau, if a political association that is small
enough to practice direct democracy, such as a city-state, were to come into existence, it would inevitably be
subjugated by larger nation-states and thereby cease to be democratic.
 Representative democracy – system, where citizens elect people
to represent them in political process and to allocate values on
their behalf for the society (republic)
Universal suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise - the right to vote in public,
political elections (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote).

In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vote is called active
suffrage, as distinct from passive suffrage, which is the right to stand for election. The
combination of active and passive suffrage is sometimes called full suffrage.
could you identify main words and terms of
speeches?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s&t=1s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLWqqDVWsXo
Electoral democracy – a political system in which
virtually all citizens periodically vote to select political
leaders from among alternative contenders.

Limited mandate – electorate grants the authority to

govern for only short, limited period of time and then
the electorate has the opportunity to select
representatives again.
Liberal democracy – more extensive political rights and
civil liberties regarding participation , personal freedoms
and opposition.
Democracy in broader sense – governance by leaders whose authorities is based on a limited
mandate from a universal electorate that selects among genuine alternatives and has some
rights to political participation and opposition (including equal education, employment, health
care, etc.).

Electoral system - the framework by which citizens votes select those candidates who receive a
limited mandate to govern.
 Defining Nondemocracies

Dictatorship – a rule with Authoritarian regime – Totalitarian regime –

absolute power and political actions and political system’s
authority (absence of decisions of the ruler are allocation of values and
limited mandate) not constrained, freedom its control penetrate into
and political rights of virtually every aspect of
citizens are limited its people’s lives
 what indicators are there between an authoritarian regime and a totalitarian?
 is the controlled information field a liberal democracy?
 “A dictator does not need to follow the will of the majority. However, he must be able to
use the will of the people. » (Joseph Goebbels )
 what happens if the world becomes liberal democracy? is it possible?
 «fanatical struggle for democracy will lead to fascism»
 1. Sovereignty of the
individual and human
communities.
6. Civil solidarity with people
in difficult social situations.
11. Guarantee of human and
family rights.
16. Constitutional limitation
of controlled power, division
of powers.
21. Limiting state structures to
the required level.
2. Every citizen has a chance
to influence the government.
7. Majority rule that respects
minority rights.
12. Activities of political
parties to implement the will
of citizens.
17. Accessibility of
representatives of authorities
for citizens.
22. Organizing society and
attracting people to cooperate
and seek opportunities for
understanding and
compromise.
3. Control of decision-making
officials.
8. Freedom of the media.
13. Equality of all before the
law, fair trial in an
independent court.
18. Free functioning of non-
governmental organizations.
23. Duty of residents to take
care of their surroundings,
their environment.
4. Publicity of public affairs,
especially financial policy.
9. Existence at every level of
power needed for the common
good.
14. The existence of public
authorities at the level of the
state and the people.
19. A system of values ​based
on tolerance: a person is more
important than his views.
24. Rejection of any form of
racism and discrimination.
5. Power is based on the
support of citizens (elections).
10. High level of knowledge
of citizens about problems,
desire and ability to
participate in public life.
15. The value of human life
and health, expressed in the
decisions of the authorities at
all levels.
20. The ability to resist the
authorities within the
framework of the law.
25. The State guarantees
citizens freedom of action and
a sense of security in the area
of ​individual freedom and the
right to property
choose the number
associating
yourself with after
the lesson