Political Science 1020E Lecture 3: 3- Democracy.pdf
13 Oct 2014
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Document Summary
Against democracy: plato was suspicious of the ability of common people to adequately govern the state. In plato"s republic, society was ruled by philosophers who ruled in the interest of the citizens. Rousseau: believed that democracy protected two critical values, freedom, equality, the challenge for democracy is ensuring that society is governed according to the general will. Because it gives us protection and because of its democratic terror. Democracy at its root refers to a government of, the people by the people and for the people. Thus democratic decision making means that each citizen has an equal say at least at some stage in the process. Democracy means that the collective is governing ourselves. An alternative to democracy: autoritarianism regimes which are a one party dominant state. Utilitarian regime seeks absolute control of citizenry and thought process. Example: when hitler wanted t control the government and people at a microlevel.
