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Understanding Politics: Democracy in Everyday Life

Explore the dynamic nature of politics in everyday life, from the resolution of conflicts to the exercise of power and authority. Discover the concept of democracy, its origins, and its impact on our democratic rights. Reflect on the predictions made by George Orwell in "1984" and examine the relationship between democracy and individual liberty.

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Understanding Politics: Democracy in Everyday Life

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  1. Democracy Dr. Yee Wah Foo ywfoo@lincoln.ac.uk

  2. Everyday Life • Politics in everyday life is dynamic…it is a topic you digest every morning with your breakfast • Daily papers • Radio • Television

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  11. End of the 19th Century • Most of the Western European monarchies had adopted a constitution • Power of the Monarchies is limited • Parliamentary-style representative legislatures give the people more power

  12. Democracy in Everyday Life • Everyday Life: how far have our democratic rights been eroded? • George Orwell, “1984” • Do Orwell’s predictions ring true?

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

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