What's wrong with the elite theory of democracy?
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
The elite theory of democracy has emerged out of two major concerns of its precursors: no theory of democracy until now has given leadership the importance it ought to have, and none has really settled the issue of whether the common man is up to the task of governing a modern and...
Does interest representation enhance or undermine democracy in the European Union?
Essay - 4 pages - European union
The democratic legitimacy of the European Union has long been questioned and debated upon. In this essay we will consider the role of interest representation and discuss whether or not it aids or demoralizes the ideals of democracy. In order to fully investigate this question we will first...
From left to right: The most liberal conservative, feminist and socialist group in the U.S
Thesis - 6 pages - Political science
The wide spectrum of political groups in the United States has expanded as society and technology progress, creating groups that are can be very liberal, very conservative, very socialist, very feminist or any degree of moderate. The most extreme groups offer a foundation for individuals...
What were the main factors of the collapse of " Social Democracy " in Britain?
Essay - 11 pages - Modern history
After the Second World War, the British political and economic landscape underwent a radical transformation in its own foundations. Indeed, the previous economic orthodoxy that had characterized the governing of Britain was substituted by a Keynesian form of welfare state. It was the beginning of...
Democracy and totalitarism
Thesis - 6 pages - Philosophy
Nowadays the term ‘democracy ‘has become a widespread reality which is practically accepted everywhere. Even China's leaders argue that their country is on the path to democracy but “it needs time” (Wen Jiabao, China's Prime Minister). Nevertheless many...
Deliberative democracy is theoretically plausible and institutionally impracticable
Essay - 5 pages - Political science
What we mean today when referring to 'democracy' is, according to some scholars, 'a way of organising the state that has come to be narrowly identified with territorially based competitive elections of political leadership for legislative and executive offices' . The...
Democracy, globalization and emerging/declining media
Thesis - 5 pages - Social, moral & civic education
An important question, right now, according to a recent Globe and Mail article, as well as chatter heard recently while riding the grid-lock streets listening to a taxi driver's radio, is if daily newspapers collapse, is this a sign that democracy is in trouble? Is the increasingly...
The invasion of Iraq: An example of liberal imperialism
Case study - 6 pages - Political science
On March 19, 2003, the United States, under the leadership of former President George W. Bush launched the invasion of Iraq1. For many people, this was a vital strategy in the United States' “war against terror.” The terrorist attack in New York City on the morning of September 11,...
A Critique of Democracy through Aristotle (and Plato)
Essay - 2 pages - Journalism
Democracy is defined today as “a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.” In the time of Plato and Aristotle, there was a simple definition that was essentially...
How well has India's democracy served its citizens since 1947?
Essay - 5 pages - Sociology & social sciences
Since India's move to democracy in 1947, many have questioned the success, or lack thereof, of the democratization process, its advantages and detriments, the effect on society, and its role in religious conflict. There are contradictory and mixed assessments of the state of political,...
Democracy in Nigeria at the dawn of the 21st century
Thesis - 6 pages - Political science
“« Democracy is good, » says Godwin Eweye, a video-store owner, « but Nigeria is not yet fully democratic. »” A few days only after Nigeria's 2003 parliamentary elections, this local comment illustrates the enduring difficulties that the country faces in its attempt to...
Pluralism, democracy, and citizenship
Essay - 6 pages - Political science
‘Most people think that democratic decisions have special moral force - which we have good reasons to obey laws that are democratically chosen. If this is true, why is it true? If it's not true, why is it not?' Democracy is commonly regarded as the best, or the least bad, political...
"Adenauer's pursuit of Western integration consolidated democracy in the West at the cost of the East." Comment
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
According to the newspaper die Frankfurte Allgemeine Zeitung, the number of the unemployed people in Germany has decreased by 25.000 in November, reaching the stage of 4.531.000 jobless persons. The Federal Minister of the Economy, Michael Glos (CSU) spoke in the Bundestag „vom ersten...
How and why has the adoption of free market economic policies affected the consolidation of democracy?
Essay - 6 pages - Economy general
“Economic factors have significant impact on democratization but they are not determinative.” (Huntington 1991: 59). To Huntington, there is a clear link between economy and democracy as a form of regime, bond that few people could deny nowadays. Actually, this bond can be shown...
To what extent does multiculturalism in developed liberal democracies adequately address the issue of religious diversity?
Essay - 9 pages - Social, moral & civic education
In recent years diversity in developed liberal democracies has deeply increased. Indeed, in European countries, as in America or in Australia many migrants came to work. Whereas the first migration movements happened within Western countries (e.g. many Italians and Poles came to France to...
A critical review of Downs, A. (1957) 'An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy', Journal of Political Economy, 65(2): 135-150
Case study - 3 pages - Political science
In his seminal work “An economic Theory of Political Action in Democracy” Anthony Downs suggests that traditional economic theory is united in its exclusion of the impact of government as an economic agent. He sets out to address this issue by creating a model that sets key...
Critical summary and reflective analysis of Gerard Alexander's essay, "Making Democracy Stick."
Essay - 2 pages - Political science
Published in the issue of December 2005 & January 2006, the article “Making Democracy Stick” written by Gerard Alexander is part of a wider movement distancing itself from the American muscled intervention in Iraq and its lack of preparation for democratic consolidation. The...
The missing link: No child left thinking: Democracy at-risk in American schools
Thesis - 4 pages - Social, moral & civic education
In “No Child Left Thinking, Democracy At-Risk in American Schools,” Joel Westheimer asks readers a simple question: if they had “stepped into a school” and observed a classroom “lesson related to [a] country's political ideals,” would they be able to tell...
What are the common classical liberal assumptions about human rights and how are they criticized by Proudhon, Marx, Engels, and Bebel?
Essay - 3 pages - Economy general
The United States declaration of rights proclaims three main rights: right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. They are perceived as intrinsic to human beings. These principles were built in opposition to the monarchy and were supposed to ensure the people their rights, in the sense of...
Democracy for the few (chap. 15), Michael Parenti
Book review - 4 pages - Political science
Michael Parenti is a professor of political science at several American universities. He has a PhD in political science from Yale University. He is known for being a progressive activist and a provocative thinker. As such, he wrote numerous books that focused on the American nation, the role of...
Democracy deficit in Canada
Thesis - 6 pages - Political science
Canadians have always loved the fact that their nation is a democracy, and arguable one of the most developed democracies in the world. However, now more than ever before, there is a call from many Canadians to reinvigorate and revitalize democratic institutions in the country. One only...
Capitalism, democracy and power
Thesis - 4 pages - Political science
Both James Madison and Karl Marx can be considered “democrats”; however both vastly differ on their theories and understanding of democracy and government on a wide spectrum of issues. If Karl Marx were to be asked his opinion of Madison's Federalist#10 in the post-Paris Commune...
Democracy and religion
Thesis - 6 pages - Social, moral & civic education
Religion and democracy, though resting on similar principles, have been at logger heads constantly. There are several instances in history that have depicted a constant clash between these two concepts. Democracy has battled with theocracy and has replaced in many parts of Europe....
Jihad Vs. McWorld by Benjamin Barber. Two opposite tendencies that threaten democracy
Essay - 5 pages - International relations
Benjamin R. Barber is a professor of political science and director of the Whitman Center at Rutgers University. His popular books are Strong Democracy (1984), An aristocracy of Everyone (1992), and Jihad Vs. McWorld (Times Books, 1995). Jihad Vs. McWorld, his last book was published in...
Liberal feminism, a white, racist bourgeois movement?
Thesis - 6 pages - Social, moral & civic education
Women have always been considered as the ‘weak sex', in opposition to the ‘strong sex' represented by men. Hence, they have always suffered from being oppressed and subordinated to men. Yet in order to be no longer discriminated against a condition which they did not chose, women...
Issues in and around Liberal Theory: What is Liberalism?
Essay - 7 pages - Philosophy
“In this essay I shall propose a theory about what liberalism is”. Dworkin's project is here clearly exposed. And, as most political thinkers when they try to define a coherent theory at the fundaments of actual political movements, “I face an immediate problem. My project supposes...
The role of the state in contemporary liberal democracies
Thesis - 8 pages - Sociology & social sciences
The role of the state within contemporary liberal democracies is an issue that perhaps more than any other has attracted the attentions of the social and political sciences. The concept itself is not accorded universal acceptance and there are a plethora of theoretical and ideological...
Advancements of liberal art's education
Thesis - 3 pages - Educational studies
Education in today's society is the main basis for starting a career. Here at Augustana, students are geared towards a liberal arts education. Students are encouraged to study a broad range of subjects in order to become a well rounded student. In order for students to receive a proper...
Critically assess the extent to which liberal intergovernmentalism provide a more fitting explanation of European integration than neofunctionalism
Essay - 9 pages - European union
Drawing an analogy with the diversity of the process of European integration, Robert Schuman expressed that, ‘‘when the cooperation is still at its embryonic stage, the theorization of that unique phenomenon involves a plurality of approaches developed over time and bringing together...
Archon Fung and Deliberative Democracy: How Educated Voters can Determine Their Own Best Interests
Thesis - 5 pages - Political science
A government led by representatives of the people has seemingly become the accepted method of representing the wants and needs of the masses. Yet it is easy to see how these people in power may have more ability to influence the desire of the voters rather than allowing the voters' interest...
