Representation of Citizens in Democracy - 1831 Words

One of the main arguments presented by Crick in In Defence of Politics is that politics is a realistic good necessary for well-organized governance. From my experiences in the field, I understand that democracy allows for differing interests and views to be heard in a diplomatic manner. While democracy elicits diverging ideas and opinions for people, citizens in a democratic state still understand their interests are often served through democratic values and equal representation in government affairs. Political representatives must be accountable to the masses for their actions and decisions in order for the rule of law to be obligatory. Democracy does not discriminate against ideology or party affiliation. During my internship,†¦show more content†¦Crick states, â€Å"Then others hold that, surprisingly enough, democracy ‘really means’ liberty, even liberalism, or even individualism, even to defend the (democratic) individual against the (democratic) majority † (In Defence of Politics 56). Liberty and freedoms to exercise individualism only occur in a democratic state that does not act in a tyrannical manner in which elites only serve their own interests. If government becomes too powerful and unwilling to meet the needs of the demos, the citizenry must be guarded and protect their own interests against the people who represent them. Otherwise, democracy cannot flourish and other forms of government, such as elitism or an oligarchy, become pervasive throughout society. Crick present Aristotle’s views on democracy and states that rule by the majority prevents tyranny and unequal representation. Democracy promotes freedom and inclusion, however, these liberties and freedoms are only promised when the masses are engaged and well-versed in political matters. The demos participate in liberty in order for their interests to be served. In theory, the United States has a representative democracy, one that elects individua ls to make decisions that affect the good of the electorate. Crick argues, â€Å"Politics, then, can be simply defined as the activity by which different interests within aShow MoreRelatedDemocracy And The Ideal Of Democracy877 Words   |  4 PagesUrbinati’s essay entitled Representative Democracy introduction compared what we call modern democracy to the ideal of democracy that was created by the Athenian people. The Athenian people had their ideal proscpective of how pure and direct democracy should be in a government. The people in Athens changed the government because they saw problems in the way that the government was being controlled. Originally the government was ruled and controlled by citizens who were noble or who came from noble familiesRead MoreThe Democracy Of Canadian Society1426 Words   |  6 PagesCanadians, like citizens of numerous countries around the world, take pride in living in a democratic nation. While Canada is unequivocally a democracy, there are certain aspects of the system that call into question its true democratic nature. The electoral system Canada currently has in place is undemocratic and unjust, as it undermines millions of citizens’ rights to vote. This has influenced a great deal of subsequent apathy and indifference toward politics in the masses, and democracy no longer seemsRead MoreThe State s Electoral System1583 Words   |  7 Pagesquality of its democracy. Illiberal democracies, for example, may limit potential opponents of the ruling party; these kinds of states are generally said to be less democratic than those which encourage political freedom. Because a nation’s electoral structure influences the nature of its democracy, one must take a critical view on current systems and seek to better them where possible. Though not an extreme example, the electoral system in Canada can be said to hinder democracy, albeit indirectlyRead MoreNations With A System Of Liberal Democracy1734 Words à ‚  |  7 PagesNations with a system of liberal democracy have a hope to achieve a structure of government that benefits all citizens equally (Callan, p. 1, 2004). However, countries that claim to be liberal representative democracies (such as the United States, New Zealand, and the Britain) have failed to be representative of all the citizens. Due to historical occurrences, traditional gender roles, and lack of activism from the elite (white men in positions of power), women have been denied their natural humanRead MoreRestricting the Voting Rights of Felons1491 Words   |  6 Pagesand a volunteer Chaplin that counsels inmates. In America, there are more than 4 million voices like Hiser who are refused the right to vote. Republican state legislators continue to withhold this fundamental right of democracy from felons who have rejoined society as abiding citizens. Consequently, restricting the voting rights of felons has reflected a negative impact on society and civil rights as this partisan law; disproportionately affects minorities and men, while it also contradicts the fifteenthRead More‘We must recognize that representative democracy has failed, both politically and judicially as1500 Words   |  6 Pages‘We must recognize that representative democracy has failed, both politically and judicially as well as socially. As a consequence, we must return to the fundamental meaning of ‘democracy,’ the power of the demos to govern itself. Just as the dictatorship of the proletariat rapidly became the dictatorship over the proletariat, so modern democracy quickly became a power exercised over the demos. In reality the people have no power. They neither make the laws no govern.’ – Jacque Ellul (1992)Read MoreCompetitive Authoritarianism And Political Authoritarianism869 Words   |  4 Pages1. competitive authoritarianism competitive authoritarianism Levitsky and Way describe, a competitive authoritarianism is, in essence, a democracy but it lacks proportional representation and most of the elections and government institutions are predisposed to only the elites. Juan Linz describes this as a diminished form of authoritarianism. In competitive authoritarianism regimes, elections are normally rigged, power figures regularly misuse state resources while oppressed are denied simple libertiesRead MorePolitical Culture And Its Impact On Society Essay832 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical culture: Democracy, Freedom, and Equality. As we know our political system is that of a representative democracy, as citizens, we elect representatives whom we feel are the best or most appropriate to run our government. Democracy in regards to political culture, extends a bit further. In this context, Democracy also refers to inclusivity, the interests of the people as a whole are taken into account and resolutions are achieved via majority rule. In ord er for a democracy to maintain validityRead MoreEssay on Direct Democracy vs Representative Democracy954 Words   |  4 PagesDirect Democracy vs Representative Democracy The term Democracy is derived from two Greek words, demos, meaning people, and kratos, meaning rule. These two words form the word democracy which means rule by the people. Aristotle, and other ancient Greek political philosophers, used the phrase, `the governors are to be the governed, or as we have come to know it, `rule and be ruled in turn. The two major types of democracy are Representative Democracy and Direct Democracy. ClearlyRead MoreDemocracy, Over The Years, Has Been Both Praised And Criticized1587 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy, over the years, has been both praised and criticized as the central form of government in the United States. After the most recent election, political tensions have been high throughout the country leading to an increase in the discussion of politics in public and especially on college campuses. I have interviewed ten students on the UCSB campus about the role of democracy in the United States and if it is a good representation of a stable form of government. My interviewees’ opinions