democracyintropolitics interest AND ITS SCOPE.ppt

POLITICS

1. 11
DemocracyDemocracy
Dr. Yee Wah FooDr. Yee Wah Foo
[email protected] [email protected]

2. 22
Everyday LifeEveryday Life

Politics in everyday life is Politics in everyday life is
dynamic…it is a topic you digest dynamic…it is a topic you digest
every morning with your every morning with your
breakfastbreakfast

Daily papersDaily papers

RadioRadio

TelevisionTelevision

3. 33
But what is politics?But what is politics?

Politics is “the resolution by Politics is “the resolution by
compromise and conciliation of compromise and conciliation of
the inevitable conflicts in any the inevitable conflicts in any
community”. community”.

4. 44
Politics, Power, AuthorityPolitics, Power, Authority

David Easton argues that David Easton argues that
politics is concerned with the politics is concerned with the
“authoritative allocation of “authoritative allocation of
values”. values”.

i.e. politics necessarily entails i.e. politics necessarily entails
the concept of authority, an the concept of authority, an
accepted or legitimate form of accepted or legitimate form of
power.power.

5. 55
What else?What else?
““Politics is not just a necessary evil; Politics is not just a necessary evil;
it is a realistic good. Political it is a realistic good. Political
activity is a type of moral activity; activity is a type of moral activity;
it is a free activity, and it is it is a free activity, and it is
inventive, flexible, enjoyable and inventive, flexible, enjoyable and
human”.human”.
Bernard Crick, (1929 -), (author of Bernard Crick, (1929 -), (author of In In
Defence of PoliticsDefence of Politics))

6. 66
What is democracy?What is democracy?

““A political system in which a A political system in which a
government is removable by the government is removable by the
people and that they should be people and that they should be
the ultimate decider of who the ultimate decider of who
should govern…”should govern…”

““Demos” – the peopleDemos” – the people

““Kratos” – power, or to ruleKratos” – power, or to rule

7. 77
Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

The “polis” or city state (300 The “polis” or city state (300
years before the birth of Christ)years before the birth of Christ)

Freeborn citizens were politically Freeborn citizens were politically
equal and all citizens votedequal and all citizens voted

Judges were elected from Judges were elected from
assemblies who together acted assemblies who together acted
as a court for a limited time and as a court for a limited time and
were publicly accountable were publicly accountable

8. 88
Ancient GreeceAncient Greece

Greek democracy was based on Greek democracy was based on
directdirect popular participation popular participation

Disadvantages: – over 50 Disadvantages: – over 50
percent of the population non-percent of the population non-
citizens. These were slaves, citizens. These were slaves,
foreigners and womenforeigners and women

9. 99
The Magna CartaThe Magna Carta

1215 King John puts his seal on 1215 King John puts his seal on
the Magna Cartathe Magna Carta

Petition of Right in 1628 Petition of Right in 1628
(Monarch could not tax without (Monarch could not tax without
parliament’s consent)parliament’s consent)

Bill of Rights in1689 (Freedom Bill of Rights in1689 (Freedom
of speech, banning of cruel or of speech, banning of cruel or
unusual punishment)unusual punishment)

10. 1010
Political PhilosophersPolitical Philosophers

Thomas Hobbes, (1588-1679)Thomas Hobbes, (1588-1679)

““Leviathan” Leviathan” published in 1651 published in 1651

John Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)

““Two Treaties of Government”Two Treaties of Government”
written in 1690written in 1690

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-
1778)1778)

‘‘The Social Contract” The Social Contract” (1762)(1762)

11. 1111
End of the 19End of the 19
thth
Century Century

Most of the Western European Most of the Western European
monarchies had adopted a monarchies had adopted a
constitutionconstitution

Power of the Monarchies is Power of the Monarchies is
limitedlimited

Parliamentary-style Parliamentary-style
representative legislatures give representative legislatures give
the people more powerthe people more power

12. 1212
Democracy in Everyday LifeDemocracy in Everyday Life


Everyday Life: how far have our Everyday Life: how far have our
democratic rights been eroded?democratic rights been eroded?

George Orwell, “1George Orwell, “1984” 984”

Do Orwell’s predictions ring Do Orwell’s predictions ring
true?true?

13. 1313
Seminar QuestionSeminar Question

Is democracy an enemy of Is democracy an enemy of
individual liberty?individual liberty?

What are some of the What are some of the
predictions George Orwell predictions George Orwell
made, and do you think any of made, and do you think any of
them have some truth today?them have some truth today?