Chapter 2 - Majoritarian of Pluralist Democracy?

Created from The Challenge of Democracy Textbook

autocracy

a system of government in which the power to govern is concentrated in the hands of one individual

oligarchy

a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few people

democracy

a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few people

procedural democratic theory

a view of democracy as being embodied in a decision-making process that involves universal participation, political equality, majority rule, and responsiveness

universal participation

the concept that everyone in a democracy should participate in governmental decision making

political equality

equality in political decision making: one vote per person, with all votes counted equally

majority rule

the principle—basic to procedural democratic theory— that the decision of a group must reflect the preference of more than half of those participating; a simple majority

participatory democracy

a system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf

e-government

online communication channels that enable citizens to easily obtain information from government and facilitate the expression of opinions to government officials

representative democracy

a system of government in where citizens elect public officials to govern on their behalf

responsiveness

a decision-making principle, necessitated by representative government, that implies that elected representatives should do what the majority of people wants

substantive democratic theory

the view that democracy is embodied in the substance of government policies rather than in the policymaking procedure

minority rights

the benefits of government that cannot be denied to any citizen by majority decisions

majoritarian model of democracy

the classical theory of democracy in which government by the people is interpreted as government by the majority of the people

interest group

an organized group of individuals that seeks to influence public policy; also called a lobby

pluralist model of democracy

an interpretation of democracy in which government by the people is taken to mean government by people operating through competing interest groups

elite theory

the view that a small group of people actually makes most of the important government decisions

democratization

a process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one

The procedural view of democracy

emphasizes democratic processes. Four

procedural elements seem paramount:

universal participation, political equality,

majority rule, and government

responsiveness to public opinion.

Substantive democratic theory focuses on

the substance of policies rather than

procedures. It holds that there are some

rights that are so important that they

should not be subject to being overturned

by majority decision. Not surprisingly,

procedural democracy can come into

conflict with substantive democracy. What

substantive policies should be beyond the

control of popular opinion

Distinguish between the two theories of

democratic government used in political

science: procedural and substantive.

The majoritarian model of democracy is

built around majority rule as evidenced by

elections. Pluralist democracy conceives of

democracy as a competition between

opposing groups in society. Elite theorists

believe that American government is

dominated by a small set of wealthy

individuals and large businesses.

Compare and contrast the majoritarian

and pluralist models of democracy.

Although the number of democracies in

the world increased for a time, this trend

has leveled off. The process of

democratization is difficult, and many

democratizing countries fail and return to

some form of authoritarianism. We

compare the validity of majoritarian and

pluralist models of democracy and

conclude that the United States is a mix of

both, but closer to pluralism. Majoritarian

elements (such as more party-line voting in Congress) are on the rise though.

Evaluate the challenges facing countries

trying to move toward a democratic

form of government.

How do procedural democracy and substantive democracy differ?

Procedural democracy focuses on the processes and mechanisms of democracy, such as participation and majority rule, while substantive democracy emphasizes protecting fundamental rights and values that should not be subjected to majority decision.

What is direct democracy? What is indirect democracy?

Direct democracy allows citizens to vote directly on laws and policies, while indirect democracy involves elected representatives making decisions on behalf of the people.

What are the basic concepts of majoritarian democracy and of pluralist democracy?

Majoritarian democracy is based on the principle that the majority should have the power to make decisions, whereas pluralist democracy recognizes the coexistence of diverse groups and interests, ensuring that multiple voices influence governance.

What criticisms lie at the heart of elite theory?

Elite theory is criticized for its assumption that power is concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged group, undermining the idea of broad public participation in governance. Critics argue it overlooks the influence of social movements and grassroots activism.

How do political and economic instability affect the process of democratization?

Political and economic instability can hinder the process of democratization by creating uncertainty and insecurity, leading citizens to favor authoritarian regimes for stability. These conditions may also weaken institutions necessary for a functional democracy, limiting public participation and trust in the democratic process.

What trends support the argument that the American system of democracy is becoming majoritarian?

Trends such as increased partisan polarization and the influence of majoritarian voter initiatives illustrate a shift towards majoritarian democracy, where majority preferences dominate policymaking, often at the expense of minority rights and interests.