Seminar 2
From Schmitter, P.C. & Karl, T.L. (1991). What Democracy Is…and Is Not.
What do Schmitter and Karl mean by “bounded uncertainty”?
In a democracy, we should not know the outcome of the next elections.
Essential component of democracy. Rulers cannot have the ability to fiddle with the rules.
They are bounded by law-- ie, their terms are limited in some way.
Why is “contingent consent” important for the proper functioning of democratic political
systems?
Consent to agree by the governing of an opposite party in a democratic ideal state, contingent
on their following the rules that both sides agreed to. As in, they can’t take away rights and
such, and they can’t restrict the election of the other side, and the other side will allow their
governing.
The losers of the elections agree that the winners of the election have the right to rule.
According to Schmitter and Karl, are “antagonistic and mutually suspicious actors” a problem
for democracy?
Seminar 3 & 4
From Mueller, J. (2014). Did History End? Assessing the Fukuyama Thesis.
What is the end of history and what are the main reasons for which Mueller agrees with
Fukuyama?
The end of history
- End of communism
- No wars between nations
- End of the cold war
The end of history as Fukuyama and Mueller see it is the end of ideological competition.
, Liberalism has won the battle from:
- Fascism: defeated at the end of WWII.
- Communism: defeated at the end of the cold war.
- Nationalism: defeated at the end of WWII
- Monarchism: defeated at the end of the French Revolution
According to Mueller the number of democracies is growing.
However, the number of narrow democracies is growing, not necessarily effective
democracies.
Mueller says that liberalism has won because democracy and capitalism are the only accepted
ways of life.
There is only one path to wealth, the free market.
Liberalism
- Capitalism
- Democracy
A functional democracy
- Freedom of press
- Voting rights
- Freedom of speech
Who are the present, potential competitors of liberalism? Why are they, according to Mueller,
not real threats to liberalism?
Nationalism isn’t a competitor according to Mueller because they can coexist.
Nationalism
- Not an ideology
- Each nation should have one strong state.
-
From Schmitter, P.C. & Karl, T.L. (1991). What Democracy Is…and Is Not.
What do Schmitter and Karl mean by “bounded uncertainty”?
In a democracy, we should not know the outcome of the next elections.
Essential component of democracy. Rulers cannot have the ability to fiddle with the rules.
They are bounded by law-- ie, their terms are limited in some way.
Why is “contingent consent” important for the proper functioning of democratic political
systems?
Consent to agree by the governing of an opposite party in a democratic ideal state, contingent
on their following the rules that both sides agreed to. As in, they can’t take away rights and
such, and they can’t restrict the election of the other side, and the other side will allow their
governing.
The losers of the elections agree that the winners of the election have the right to rule.
According to Schmitter and Karl, are “antagonistic and mutually suspicious actors” a problem
for democracy?
Seminar 3 & 4
From Mueller, J. (2014). Did History End? Assessing the Fukuyama Thesis.
What is the end of history and what are the main reasons for which Mueller agrees with
Fukuyama?
The end of history
- End of communism
- No wars between nations
- End of the cold war
The end of history as Fukuyama and Mueller see it is the end of ideological competition.
, Liberalism has won the battle from:
- Fascism: defeated at the end of WWII.
- Communism: defeated at the end of the cold war.
- Nationalism: defeated at the end of WWII
- Monarchism: defeated at the end of the French Revolution
According to Mueller the number of democracies is growing.
However, the number of narrow democracies is growing, not necessarily effective
democracies.
Mueller says that liberalism has won because democracy and capitalism are the only accepted
ways of life.
There is only one path to wealth, the free market.
Liberalism
- Capitalism
- Democracy
A functional democracy
- Freedom of press
- Voting rights
- Freedom of speech
Who are the present, potential competitors of liberalism? Why are they, according to Mueller,
not real threats to liberalism?
Nationalism isn’t a competitor according to Mueller because they can coexist.
Nationalism
- Not an ideology
- Each nation should have one strong state.
-
