Chapter 1: PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRACY
Democracy:
Participation: key decision made by/for the people
Equality: free, equal opportunity to influence decisions
Power: the ability to make people do things
Authority: given right to influence other’s decisions
Legitimacy: whether it is popularly accepted a government has authority to rule
Legitimacy
Rightful use or exercise of power
Manifesto - Mandate - Legitimacy
This power must have been gained by appropriate and agreed on channels
- Winning a majority vote in parliament
- Referendum – on the winning side
- Following a rule of law
- Winning an election
Other forms of legitimacy
- Competence legitimacy
- Traditional legitimacy
- Legal legitimacy
Direct
Unmediated and continuous participation of every citizen – popular self-government
Direct: People make policy (majority rule)
Unmediated: people are the government, no elected professional politicians, people
are sovereign
Continuous: engage on a regular and ongoing basis, all decisions are made by the
people
high level of popular participation
Majority vote
Was the original democracy
Politics is constant – people may find other people for the outcome
Modern example is Brexit referendum 2016
Example: ancient Athens
o Sovereign – Assembly that meets 40 times a year
o All male over 20 citizens can vote
o Officials chosen by lot
Short term
o President for one day only
Criticisms:
o Not everyone was a citizens, majority of residents in Athens were not
o Rash agitated decisions
o No checks and balances, can vote itself out of existence
Democracy:
Participation: key decision made by/for the people
Equality: free, equal opportunity to influence decisions
Power: the ability to make people do things
Authority: given right to influence other’s decisions
Legitimacy: whether it is popularly accepted a government has authority to rule
Legitimacy
Rightful use or exercise of power
Manifesto - Mandate - Legitimacy
This power must have been gained by appropriate and agreed on channels
- Winning a majority vote in parliament
- Referendum – on the winning side
- Following a rule of law
- Winning an election
Other forms of legitimacy
- Competence legitimacy
- Traditional legitimacy
- Legal legitimacy
Direct
Unmediated and continuous participation of every citizen – popular self-government
Direct: People make policy (majority rule)
Unmediated: people are the government, no elected professional politicians, people
are sovereign
Continuous: engage on a regular and ongoing basis, all decisions are made by the
people
high level of popular participation
Majority vote
Was the original democracy
Politics is constant – people may find other people for the outcome
Modern example is Brexit referendum 2016
Example: ancient Athens
o Sovereign – Assembly that meets 40 times a year
o All male over 20 citizens can vote
o Officials chosen by lot
Short term
o President for one day only
Criticisms:
o Not everyone was a citizens, majority of residents in Athens were not
o Rash agitated decisions
o No checks and balances, can vote itself out of existence
