Discuss the Athenian definition of democracy. Is the city state the only kind of state in which true democracy can exist? What happens to democracy when it is applied to a society with a large dispersed population? What are other examples of democratic societies besides Athens? Compare and contrast Athenian democracy with American democracy. Is the United States a democracy in the classical sense of the word? The ancient Greek word "demokratia" was ambiguous. It met literally "people power"
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assignment 1 Read the following excerpt from John Stuart Mill’s classic essay On Liberty (1859)‚ and write a critique of around 1‚000 words‚ addressing the following questions: 1) In what respects does this excerpt exemplify liberal democratic thought? 2) What does the excerpt tell us about Mill’s view of human nature? 3) How might Mill’s ideas be applied‚ in one (or more) specific policy areas? A Liberal Democracy is a merging of liberalism and democracy. Ludwig von Mises (1927) describes liberalism
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with the basic principles of democracy and capitalism. However‚ the basic governing tenets of majority rule and the free market are not absolute. In fact in many instances‚ both historic and contemporary‚ we are able to recognize policies that run contrary to the ideals of "one person‚ one vote" and the "laissez faire" economy. Please describe how one or both of these principles is only partially adhered to in our country‚ and why?” Retort- Capitalism and Democracy‚ It was supposed to be a match
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Political Theories of Democracy (p39-43) – Enlightenment Political Theorist Key Beliefs Relationship Between the State and the Individual / Society Key Quote Key Quote in Your Own Words Thomas Hobbes Modern founder of the ‘social contract’ Considered what society would be without a state at all Believes that with the current ‘state of nature’‚ people would be will to enter into a ‘social contract’ Had no problem with the state controlling people’s lives Agreed with the concept of a monarchy
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Democracy‚ also known as democratic government‚ is essentially a government by the people. It is a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people‚ but sometimes exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed during elections. Democracy differs from other types of government.For example‚ absolute monarchy‚ in which an individual holds all the power‚ or oligarchy‚ in which a few individuals hold all the power. There
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Democracy‚ as defined by Polybius‚ was a “regime based on effective rule by the people.” In Polybius’ Histories‚ democracy was not based on each citizen having the ‘right to do whatever they wish or propose’ but true democracy relied on “reverence to the gods‚ succour of parents‚ respect to elders‚ obedience to laws‚ are traditional and habitual‚ in such communities” as well as decisions being decided by the majority. It has been agreed upon by most ancient historians that Rome was not a democracy
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De la Démocratie en Amérique – Tocqueville The ideal of a democracy‚ like the one developed by the Americans since 1776‚ lies in the fact that Men were born equals. This principle of equality has been the foundation of Tocqueville’s thought. All along this book‚ we can notice that the causes that enable the democratic state of America to be‚ lies on the particular situation of this country. Indeed‚ America lives under a pure democracy‚ without any aristocratic inheritance or revolutionary passions
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According to Hewitt (2011) “the European Union’s finest hour was when it stood as a beacon for democracy‚ the rule of law and a civil society and enticed the peoples of Eastern Europe to embrace freedom.” Despite such a rich tradition of democracy‚ the burning question which has been recurrently on the lips of renowned academics and political thinkers/actors is whether or not Britain is facing a crisis in democracy‚ with some responding to this question in the affirmative. It has therefore been argued by
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of democracy in Sparta and Athens was a long‚ painful journey‚ created by wars‚ cruel leaders‚ and heroic figures. Although many of democracy’s ideas came from Athenian government‚ it was very different from the democracy in the United States‚ for example. In general‚ wealthy aristocrats had the most power. But without the ideas that this time period created‚ who knows where we would be now. In this paper‚ I’m going to outline how democracy came to be in early Athenian and Spartan governments‚ the
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‘A fear of democracy runs throughout liberalism’ Discuss. 45 Marks (Jan 2011) Some political thinkers have argued that Liberalism can be defined by its fear of democracy. Democracy is ‘rule by the people’‚ this term suggests that there is popular participation and also public interest within government. While liberals fear democracy they know and see it as the best possible way. As there is a clear fear of it lying underneath the liberal ideology‚ there are obvious arguments for and against this
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