POL112H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Liberal Democracy, Wrong Impression, Patronage
Document Summary
Liberal democracy is the most rational form of government: believed would be the final form of government. Failure of institutionalization is the single most important factor. State capacity not keeping pace with popular demands for democratic accountability. Difficult to move from a neopatrimonial state to a liberal democracy. The people are supposed to serve the government instead of vice versa. A modern state that aspires to be impersonal government may change but government"s roles and values should not change. Treating people equally on the basis of citizenship, rather than on whether they have a personal relationship to the ruler. Distinguishing between the public interest and the ruler"s private interest. Minimizes patronage and clientelism, in which politicians share state resources with networks of political supporters. The rule of law means that a set of rules is binding not just on citizens, but also on elites. Strong police power to enforce the law.
