The Many Meanings of Democracy
procedural democracy - concerned with process
substantive democracy - concerned with outcomes
direct democracy - “the people” make decisions (process)
representative democracy - “the people” select leaders to make
decisions
majoritarian democracy - concerned with who has political power
(majority rule)
pluralist democracy - concerned with who has political power (varies
among competing groups)
elite democracy - concerned with who has political power (those with
economic resources)
liberal democracy - emphasizes process and places primacy on the
existence of individual rights
social democracy - emphasizes equality of outcomes (redistribution of
power in society, particularly wealth)
egalitarian democracy - emphasizes strict political equality
Describing American Democracy
Traditional democratic theory
The following conditions or criteria must be satisfied in order to
conclude that a country has a traditional democracy:
• Citizens must be politically equal;
• Citizens must act on their preferences for leadership and public
policy - i.e., citizens must participate in decision-making;
• Information must be fully and freely available;
• There must be a close correspondence between the policy
decisions of representatives and the policy preferences of their
constituents - i.e., representatives must be delegates;
• When choosing from among policy alternatives, the alternative
preferred by the majority must be selected - i.e., majority rules.
Who Governs?
This is a central question for
political scientists. A number of
theories have been offered as
answers. Two theories have won
widespread acceptance among
political scientists, although
they reach competing
conclusions:
Elite Theory
Pluralist Theory
Describing American Democracy
Elite Theory
• Economic power equals political power;
• Society is divided into two groups: the elites and the
masses;
• Public policy is not based on demands of the masses rather it reflects the values and preferences of the power
elite;
• There is competition among elites - however, elites share
broad values in support of the status quo;
• Public policy is not necessarily anti-mass welfare;
• Changes or innovations in public policy come about as a
result of the power elite redefining their own values;
• Policy changes will occur incrementally.
Elite Theory
According to this model,
public policy may be
viewed as the preferences
and values of a power elite.
Public policy, in other
words, flows downward
from the elite through
public officials and
administrators who merely
validate and carry out the
policies favored by the elite
to the masses or the
people who are apathetic
and ill-informed about
policy. Elites actually
shape mass opinion on
policy matters.
Elites
Public Officials
and
Administrators
Masses
Pluralist Theory
• The central fact of politics is a competition and
interaction among group interests;
• Public policy decisions and actions made by government
reflect the balance of influence among competing group
interests;
• No single group completely dominates the policy-making
process;
• The influence of groups changes as issues change;
• Changes in group influence can be expected to result in
changes in public policy;
• The distribution of influence among competing groups,
although constantly changing, rarely changes
dramatically;
• Changes in public policy will occur incrementally.
Pluralist Theory
According to this model, individuals with common interests ban
together, formally or informally, to press their demands on
government. Public policy at any given time is the equilibrium
reached in the group struggle. This equilibrium is determined by the
relative influence of competing groups.
Group
A
Group
B