Leo Huang 11074144 9/8/2014 3:59:00 PM

POLI 100 Readings 1 Notes

Democracy- Hanson

Unanimously agreed that democracy is both ideal and desirable

(Democracy) was not always seen in a good light

Previous negative connotations replaced with positive ones (sovereignty and
equality)

Popularization of democracy people struggled to achieve democracy when
they gained power the influence gained in the name of democracy changed the
meaning of democracy

Present confusion over the meaning of democracy democracys rise to power
came with competing interpretations of what democracy was, therefore it lost its
meaning

Going on about the above point, the oversaturation of democratic movements has
turned it to something little more than a hurrah buzzword. Some favour
scrapping the vague democracy with more specific concepts such as polyarchy

The semantics involved with democracy are the same as any associated with
political language

The interpretation of Democracy really is was forged through political rhetoric

USA has been associated with democracy the longest, and its status as a world
power helps spread its political ideology (history of democracy is also important)

II

For well over 2000 years, democracy was considered an inferior form of politics

Class rule was feared single ruling social class without regard for others =
corruption and imbalance

Democracy considered class rule, and also the worst form of class rule (because
the poor were the ruling class)

Democracy comes from demokratia, rule by the people Demo specifically means
common people; not slaves, but politically untutored citizens.

Because of the fact that they were uneducated, them pursuing their own political
interests was considered to be at the expense of the state

4 or 5 centuries before Christ, the demo forced themselves into politics

Rhetoric behind their inclusion unknown

Freedom was closely associated with Democratic Cause

Equality before the law movement resulted in democracy Democracy was not
an object, but the result of a cause for greater equality

Later generations expressed resentment at governing elites, but did so free from the
notion of democracy

Democracy wouldnt become popular in Western European politics until the 18
th

century

The Age of Revolution was divided on a line between Democracy and
Aristocracy

Earlier on, before this age of revolution. The commoners and lords would
frequently rise against the monarchy. (sometimes together, sometimes alone).
However, the uprisings were usually against the monarch incumbent rather than
the concept of monarchy itself.

Earlier revolutions were in the name of god, rather than human rights movements
(or at least not in the modern sense of human rights)





9/8/2014 3:59:00 PM

9/8/2014 3:59:00 PM