QUESTION 1; 1. Do you think elections can be a good measure of democracy? Discuss this statement in relation to elections recently held in African countries you are familiar with. INTRODUCTION The year 2011 experienced serious levels of political activities in Africa such as political upheavals‚ middle-east uprisings and elections in many countries. Most Islamic nations rose against their long-ruling leaders‚ hence saw the ousted of Egyptian Hosni Mubarak and the killing of Muamar
Premium Human rights Democracy
De la Démocratie en Amérique – Tocqueville The ideal of a democracy‚ like the one developed by the Americans since 1776‚ lies in the fact that Men were born equals. This principle of equality has been the foundation of Tocqueville’s thought. All along this book‚ we can notice that the causes that enable the democratic state of America to be‚ lies on the particular situation of this country. Indeed‚ America lives under a pure democracy‚ without any aristocratic inheritance or revolutionary passions
Premium Democracy United States
‘A fear of democracy runs throughout liberalism’ Discuss. 45 Marks (Jan 2011) Some political thinkers have argued that Liberalism can be defined by its fear of democracy. Democracy is ‘rule by the people’‚ this term suggests that there is popular participation and also public interest within government. While liberals fear democracy they know and see it as the best possible way. As there is a clear fear of it lying underneath the liberal ideology‚ there are obvious arguments for and against this
Premium Liberalism Political philosophy Democracy
Dahl’s “On Democracy” Early in Dahl’s book he answers the question “what is democracy?” by enumerating a list of five criteria that must be met in order for a government to be recognized as fully democratic. These criteria involve all citizens having equal and satisfactory opportunities to participate in the steering of policy. To realize all of these criteria would mean that it has achieved ‘ideal’ democracy‚ but Dahl concedes that it is not practical to expect a perfect democracy given the realities
Premium Democracy
Democracy Then and Now By Nicole Johnson Drawing the political parallels between the Athenians and American democracy couldn’t be more complexed. One of the contemporary definitions of democracy todays is as follows. “Government by the people‚ exercised either directly or through elected representatives; Rule by the majority” Interestingly enough the Athenians were closer to a true democracy more so than America has ever been. America has always labeled as this great democracy
Premium Democracy
Politics Essay To what extent does democracy in the UK suffer from a participation crisis? (25 marks) There are a lot of ways in which citizens can participate in politics in the UK without necessarily having to vote for example: joining a political party‚ boycotting‚ and even signing petitions and fund raising. However‚ there is an argument that there has been a participation crisis over the past years in the UK. A participation crisis is when less and less citizens take part in political
Premium Political party Tony Blair Election
Background and Emergence of Democracy in the British North American Colonies Beginning in the early 1600’s‚ North America experienced a flood of emigrants from England who were searching for religious freedom‚ an escape from political oppression‚ and economic opportunity. Their emigration from England was not forced upon them by the government‚ but offered by private groups whose chief motive was profit. The emergence of Democracy in colonial America can be attributed to the coming about
Premium Connecticut Democracy Plymouth, Massachusetts
Jiaxin Yin 31 May 2012 Education and Democracy This paper discusses how the United States and China achieve democracy through education by analyzing what kind of education benefits a democratic society. Problem-posing education‚ which emphasizes communication and consciousness‚ seems can benefit a democratic society but cannot profit the oppressors; Paulo Freire believes that banking education prevails for it can benefit the oppressors and a democratic society in terms of equity. No Children Left
Premium Democracy Standardized test Education in the People's Republic of China
Democracy in America: Individualism and Materialism. Volume 1 concentrates on the influence on democratic social state on laws and political mores. * Democracy in America * Impressed and optimistic Volume 2 concentrates on the influence of democratic social state on civil society and culture. * Democracy as such. * Apprehensive and gloomy. Volume II Part I: Chapter 1: On the Philosophic method of the Americans * “It is religion that gave birth to the Anglo-American
Premium Mind Idea Ralph Waldo Emerson
Chapter 12: What Underlying Conditions Favour Democracy? Page 145-165 We face two questions: How can we account for the establishment of democratic institutions in so many countries in so many parts of the world‚ and how can we explain its failure? A full answer is impossible; two interrelated sets of factors are undoubtedly of crucial importance. FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATIVES During the 20th century‚ the main alternatives lost out in competition with democracy. The monarchy‚ open oligarchy‚
Premium Democracy