POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Illiberal Democracy, Liberal Democracy, Collective Action
can have one without the other
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Liberal democracy
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elections are held, but there is no opposition, no freedom of the press
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illiberal democracy
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Who counts as the people?
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About limiting power of the people
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Conservative setting limits
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Believed democracy was radical - lead to redistribution
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Where does power to rule come from
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Equality before the law, equal rights
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Not political participation
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Liberalism gets democratized - limits on who can vote
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Liberalism: freedom of speech, religion, etc.
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Democracy: political participation
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liberalism predates modern democracy
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Rational choice theory
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Collective action problem
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Ex: helping global warming
Someone who takes advantage of the good without having helped
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Makes more sense to be a free rider
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Free riders
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Who thinks and why?
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Non-excludable and non-rivalrous
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Once it exists, it is not limited, not diminished by overuse
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Ex: clean air or a lighthouse
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Aimed at public good (participation)
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Doesn't make sense to contribute to a public good because anyone can use
regardless of whether they helped
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Why do people participate?
If the benefit is a public good, it is not rational to participate
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Ex: a free magazine
Benefits only the volunteer gets
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Selective benefits
Ex: enjoyment
Things you get by participating
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Expressive benefits
People get different benefits from different types
Selective material benefits: fix your streets
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Selective social gratification: sense of happiness
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Selective civic gratification: doing your part (not rational)
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Types of gratification
Rational Choice Theory Framework
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Participation is not a paradox
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Lecture 1.3: Participation
September 26, 2016
12:00 PM
LECTURES Page 5
Document Summary
12:00 pm elections are held, but there is no opposition, no freedom of the press can have one without the other. Liberal democracy illiberal democracy liberalism predates modern democracy. Believed democracy was radical - lead to redistribution. Liberalism gets democratized - limits on who can vote. Someone who takes advantage of the good without having helped. Makes more sense to be a free rider. Once it exists, it is not limited, not diminished by overuse. Doesn"t make sense to contribute to a public good because anyone can use regardless of whether they helped. If the benefit is a public good, it is not rational to participate. Selective civic gratification: doing your part (not rational) Most people don"t participate because selective material benefits. 42% had used internet to discuss - all young. Young participants participate more than old do, overall less young participate (less than 35) At a time with technology, canadians are moving away from politics.
