U2, S1: Liberal Democracy vs. Authoritarian Regime

What is a liberal deocracy?

A government which operates under the priciples of Classical Liberalism, drawing upon a written or social constitution to enforce a social contract

What is an illiberal democracy?

A goverment that is often re-elected or reinforced by referendums that ignore the consitutional limits of its power, depriving citizens of basic liberties

What is an authoritarian regime?

A government that favours complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom; individual freedoms are subordinate to the authority of the state

What does participation look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: authentic citizen participation, AR: controlled participation (do what we say)

What does equality look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political equality (votes are accounted for), AR: extreme political equality (predetermined elections/you must think, act, speak like this towards the gov't)

What do civil liberties look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: protection of civil liberties (you can take the gov't to court if you choose), AR: suppression of civil liberties (cannot take gov't to court because they own the court)

What does gov't power look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: seperation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial), AR: centralization of powers

What does education look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: liberal education (divergent views, debate), AR: indoctrination and direction of popular discontent (scapegoating)

What does the media look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: "marketplace" of ideas, pluralism (right/left winged news), AR: extreme censorship (Nazi book burning)

What does expression look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: fair and competitive elections, plurality of parties (no gerrymandering), AR: rigged "elections," referendums (governing party counts votes)

What does the judiciary look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: fair trials conducted by impartial judges (decisions are made despite governing party's favourability), AR: predetermined "show trials" conducted by politically controlled judges (Kangaroo courts)

What does privacy look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: right to privacy, AR: gov't surveillance, no privacy whatsoever

What does accountability look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political accountability, fallibility of politicians (can be questioned by public/media), AR: unaccountable political leaders (unable to challenge the gov't)

What does transparency look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: gov't in open to public/media scrutiny, ex. must publiclize gov't budget, AR: gov't secrecy

What do politics look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political competition, AR: one-party domination

What does decision making look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: compromise, consensus, open decision making, AR: coercion and rule by decree (informants, secret police, torture)

What is a liberal deocracy?

A government which operates under the priciples of Classical Liberalism, drawing upon a written or social constitution to enforce a social contract

What is an illiberal democracy?

A goverment that is often re-elected or reinforced by referendums that ignore the consitutional limits of its power, depriving citizens of basic liberties

What is an authoritarian regime?

A government that favours complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom; individual freedoms are subordinate to the authority of the state

What does participation look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: authentic citizen participation, AR: controlled participation (do what we say)

What does equality look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political equality (votes are accounted for), AR: extreme political equality (predetermined elections/you must think, act, speak like this towards the gov't)

What do civil liberties look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: protection of civil liberties (you can take the gov't to court if you choose), AR: suppression of civil liberties (cannot take gov't to court because they own the court)

What does gov't power look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: seperation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial), AR: centralization of powers

What does education look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: liberal education (divergent views, debate), AR: indoctrination and direction of popular discontent (scapegoating)

What does the media look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: "marketplace" of ideas, pluralism (right/left winged news), AR: extreme censorship (Nazi book burning)

What does expression look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: fair and competitive elections, plurality of parties (no gerrymandering), AR: rigged "elections," referendums (governing party counts votes)

What does the judiciary look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: fair trials conducted by impartial judges (decisions are made despite governing party's favourability), AR: predetermined "show trials" conducted by politically controlled judges (Kangaroo courts)

What does privacy look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: right to privacy, AR: gov't surveillance, no privacy whatsoever

What does accountability look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political accountability, fallibility of politicians (can be questioned by public/media), AR: unaccountable political leaders (unable to challenge the gov't)

What does transparency look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: gov't in open to public/media scrutiny, ex. must publiclize gov't budget, AR: gov't secrecy

What do politics look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: political competition, AR: one-party domination

What does decision making look like in a liberal democracy vs. an authoritarian regime?

LD: compromise, consensus, open decision making, AR: coercion and rule by decree (informants, secret police, torture)