However, how can a society be democratic without being majoritarian? How is a dictated policy not mandated? At what point do an individual’s needs outweigh the needs of the many. Communitarian views also hold to the beliefs that ‘exclusive pursuits of private interests’ is destructive to and erodes the experiment called democratic self-government. Further it contends that individual rights cannot remain intact without a communitarian perspective; that human dignity and the social dimension are recognized equally.
In addition, referendums are a form of direct democracy, consequently giving the public control over decision making. Not only this, but some would say these clear answers to specific questions can in a sense be seen as "pure democracy". To put if differently, democracy is unmediated by representatives. People would declare referendums as a reminder that democratic authority finds its legitimacy in the consent of the people- the social contract. Hence, giving people the power to choose the answer to a decision can be seen as sticking to the social contract.
Although the people had a right to be involved in the government, the author of Caesar No. 2 thought that it should be left up to people of greater intelligence to choose the government and its actions. The argument against this was that the people had the ability to choose the people that would have authority in the government. This idea helped place a foothold in the government for the people to always play a role. The last concern was that of the
All of these questions needed to be answered and the only logical way to resolve these issues was through government. The execution of government and such laws was in the best interest of the commonwealth for the public good. This is the main connection between property and the need for public government because without government who would preserve and protect these interest. Locke recognized the danger of leaving absolute power to any one individual, or group of individuals. Locke thought that the government’s power was best limited by dividing it up into branches, with each branch having only as much power as is needed for its proper function.
Their goal is not perfect equality, because people differ in ability, and some work harder than others. The goal is equality of opportunity-sometimes called social democracy. Ensuring Peaceful Change: Those who favor democracy believe that democratic procedures for bringing about change make violent revolutions unnecessary. They claim that democracy meets the just demands of the people more effectively than any other form of government. Supporters of
BENTHAM developed the notion of democracy as a form protection for the individual into a case for universal suffrage. Utilitarian’s have argued that individuals will vote so as to advance or defend their interest. Bentham believed that universal suffrage is the only way of promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number. However, liberals also have an ambivalent view of democracy. Liberalism places great stress on the protection of individual’s rights while democracy emphasise on collective control.
Some say a dictatorship is better because the people don’t know what is and isn’t good for them. Others might claim that a democracy isn’t necessarily the better option because there could be a lot hidden between the lines that people vote for without a second through. Both can be abused, and both can be
Liberal internationalism Two main bases; The first is the fear of and international ‘state of nature’ Idea that self-determination is a mixed blessing, While preserves self-government it creates a world of sovereign nation states controlling own freedoms and interests, possibly at the extent of other nations. In conditions of international anarchy, self-restraint may not be enough to ensure enduring peace. Two forms of prevention have been proposed First being international independence with the intention of promoting cooperation; (this is why liberal s support free trade between free nations) material cost would be huge in conflict, war would therefore be unthinkable. Libs also proposed a supernatural body/ bodies to bring order to otherwise lawless international structure. Seen in social contract theory; government is the solution to problem of disorder.
Rawls also speaks to the issues of social cooperation, which is governed by publically recognized rules that once again, focus on political practicability and the rational advantages that would extend from this cooperation. He believes that ultimately, justice as fairness is the outgrowth of a political or practicable conception that is rooted in the concept of society as a fair system of cooperation between citizens as free and equal persons. Rawls closes by assessing a liberal view, advanced by Kant and Mill, that assesses social stability from a viewpoint of a political doctrine, which holds that we should champion a free democratic culture with conflicting and incommensurable conceptions of the good affirmed by its
They wanted to have a system that could be changed when necessary. Self-Government was and still is important because people want to be able to participate in their government and help create laws that are fair to everyone. The third and final basic principle of our constitution is Separation of Powers, also known as Checks and Balances. Checks and balances are a system that allows each branch of a government to amend or veto acts of another branch so as to prevent any one