what political institutions does large scale democracy require

Large-scale democracy requires

1. elected officials

2. free, fait anf frequent elections

3. freedom of expression

4. alternative sources of information

5. associational autonomy

6. inclusive citizenship

From nondemocratic to democratic

arrangements --> practices --> institutions

How can we determine what political institutions are necessary for large-scale democracy?

1. examine history of countries that have changed their political institutions in response to demands for broader population inclusion and effective participation in gov and political life

2. examine countries where the gov is generally referred to as democratic

3. reflect on a specific country/group of countries/hypothetical countries to imagine what political institutions would be required in order to achieve democratic goals to a substantial degree

democratic before vs today

before, being "democratic", included only males (and not all of them)

Polyarchal democracy

democratic government on the large scale of the nation state or country (a political system with the 6 democratic institutions listed)

institutions are necessary for...

- effective participation

- control of the agenda

- voting equality

- enlightened understanding

- full inclusion

John Stuart Mill wrote

"it is evident that the only government which can fully satisfy all the exigencies of the social state is one in which the whole people participate; that any participation, even in the smallest public function, is useful; that the participation should everywhere be as great as the general degree of improvement of the community will allow; and that nothing less can be ultimately desirable than the admission of all to share in the sovereign power of the state. but since all cannot, in a community exceeding a single small town, participate personally in any but some very minor portions of the public business, it follows that the ideal type of a perfect government must be representative"

why does democracy require elected representatives?

- how can citizens participate effectively when number of citizens is too large?

- how can citizens control the agenda of government decisions?

why does democracy require free, fair, and frequent elections?

- equality in voting

- for final control over the agenda

why does democracy require free expression?

- for citizens to participate effectively in political life

- to acquire enlightened understanding

- without freedom of expression, citizens would lose capacity to influence gov agenda

why does democracy require the availability of alternative and independent sources of information

- enlightened understanding

- effective participation and influencing the public agenda

why does democracy require independent associations

- source of civic education and enlightenment