The ‘Essence’ Of Democracy

Introducing the concept of \'democracy\'

1. The „Essence‟ of Democracy
Prof. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, PhD
Department of Political Science
Ateneode Manila University

2. Political Systems based on the ‘number’ of
people ruling (Aristotle)

3. “Democracy bestows an aura of legitimacy
on modern political life: laws, rules policies
appear justified when they are „democratic‟.”
(David Held)

4. What is ‘Democracy’?
popular power: a form of politics in which citizens
are engaged in self-governmentand self-
regulation
Or
aid to decision-making: a means of conferring
authorityon those periodically voted into office

5. Three Variant Models
Direct/participatory democracy
Liberal/representative democracy
One-party democracy

6. Direct/Participatory Democracy
„Original' type of democracy found in ancient Athens
(i.e. Athenian city-states ruled by citizen-governors)
System of decision-making about public affairs in
which citizens are directlyinvolved
Citizens both subjects of political authority and
creators of public rules
People or „demos‟ engage in legislative and judicial
functions (i.e. active citizenship)
Citizenship as commitment to civic virtue or
subordination of private life to public affairs and the
common good.

7. Liberal/Representative Democracy
Justifies extent and limit of sovereign power of the
state (i.e. balancing „might and right‟, „power and
law‟, „duties and rights‟)
Draws from two views of liberalism
-market view
-ethical view
„representative government‟ (Madison)
-regular elections
-competence of elected few to discern true interests

8. One-Party Democracy
'commune structure': the smallest communities,
which were to administer their own affairs, would
elect delegate to larger administrative units
these in turn would elect candidates to still larger
areas of administration: „pyramid structure of
delegativedemocracy‟

9. Conflicting Views of Democratic Purposes
(Shapiro)
Aggregativevs. deliberativeconceptions of the
„common good‟
-preferences aggregated or transformed?
-discover interests or manufacture them?
-management of power relations

10. „Essence‟ of Democracy
(Abueva)
Democracy in its optimal, substantive
meaning:
-people‟s will is being effected in the processes of
governance
-declared constitutional and legal purposes and
policies are being achieved through the functioning
of governmental and political institutions, in
connection with democratic norms
-Democracy is put to the test of policy performance -
--the capacity of its institutions and leaders to
deliver what is promised and expected.

11. „Essence‟ of Democracy
(Abueva)
Democracy in its minimal, procedural
meaning:
-most powerful decision-makers (i.e. presidents or
PMs and legislature) are “selected through fair,
honest, and periodic elections in which candidates
freely compete for votes in which virtually all adult
population is eligible to vote” (Huntington, 1991)
-basic procedural criteria are: (1) competitive
elections; (2) broad or nearly universal citizenship
and suffrage; and (3) respect for basic liberties and
minority rights.

12. Democratization
the struggle for and the establishment of a
democratic state;
the struggle against an authoritarian regime,
ending in its transformation or overthrow and
replacement by a democratic regime, and the
consolidation of democracy
Consolidation of Democracyrefers to the
culmination of democratization as a process of
democratic institution building

13. Variables that affect democracy (Kohli)
Socio-economic
-social classes: workers as vanguards of
democracy (Collier 1999; Rueschmeyer, Stephens and Stephens
1992)
-economic development promotes democracy
(Lipset1990); survival of democracy dependent on both
economic development and leadership choices
(Przeworskiand Limongi1997)
-associational lifethat promotes civic
consciousness, citizenship, and democratic efficacy
(Putnam 1993)

14. Variables that affect democracy (Kohli)
Political
-„democracy from above‟: leaders/elite focused;
driven by economic conditions; quality of
governance
-impact of a country‟s „authoritarian past‟
-stabilizing a new democracy: presidential or
parliamentary systems?
-project of democratic consolidation
-„democracy from below‟

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G O V E R N A N C E\H A N D O GN G P I L I P I N O S A M U N D O . M P 4
Democracy: The Philippine
Experience