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Theories of Government

Theories of Government. Types of Government. Needs for a “state”. Dictatorship Monarchy Democracy/Republic Parliamentary. Population, Territory, Sovereignty, Government Where does this concept of a “nation” come from?. How much of the world is “free”?. How Government Arises.

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Theories of Government

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  1. Theories of Government

  2. Types of Government Needs for a “state” • Dictatorship • Monarchy • Democracy/Republic • Parliamentary Population, Territory, Sovereignty, Government Where does this concept of a “nation” come from?

  3. How much of the world is “free”?

  4. How Government Arises • Who chooses? • What choices are available? • What is the need of the state? Theories of Government Force, evolutionary, divine right, social contract How has government itself evolved over human history?

  5. Classes, wealth, an educated populous According to Aristotle…. • Why you can have Democracy and Republican Government in Greece and Rome? • Aristotle’s Politics – “the politician and lawgiver is wholly occupied with the city-state, and the constitution is a certain way of organizing those who inhabit the city-state” (III.1.1274b36-8). • Polity – Combines elements of an oligarchy and that of a democracy Aristotle’s definitions of JUSTICE – Lawfulness Equality or fairness

  6. More on Aristotle…. • From his “Nicomachean Ethics” - “The end [or goal] of politics is the best of ends; and the main concern of politics is to engender a certain character in the citizens and to make them good and disposed to perform noble actions.”

  7. From Greece to Rome to the USA What was in between? • Divine Right – God knows who should rule. That ruler knows what’s best for the people • Conquerors who do not consider the best for the people Both indicate a one-way relationship When did government originate to “preserve, protect, and defend”? In other words, when did it mean something to be a citizen of a state?

  8. View of “Human” Beings in Human History Louis IVX – good example of a Divine Right Ruler – “L’etat. C’estmoi.” Ruled during the height of Mercantilism (wealth of the state determined its power) For a government to have a two-way relationship (contract), what needs to be present?

  9. Putting the “Human” in Human History • Rights – Natural or otherwise granted • Recognition that government should exist FOR the people, not to control them • This is why we see an evolution from the totalitarianism of Monarchies and empires, and to governments by and for the people

  10. Enlightenment Philosophy • Changed function of Government from top down to the concept of a Contract between the government and the governed • Philosopher – Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu among many others • Originated in France

  11. John Locke English-studied philosophy and science Greatly influence by the ideas of Descartes Affected by the Glorious Revolution Argued that Natural Law affirms citizen’s rights to make government answer to the people. Wrote the Two Treatises of Government Argued that government should be based on natural rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of property. Government should be based on social contract-an agreement between rulers and people, if a ruler took away people’s natural rights, the people had a right to revolt and set up a new government. Locke vs. Hobbes

  12. Locke vs.. Hobbes Thomas Hobbes • English-wrote about government and society. • Strongly affected by the execution of King Charles I. • Wrote the Leviathan • Argued that Natural law made absolute monarchy the best form of government because people were “nasty, brutish, and short,” they need to obey government and have a leader who would give people direction.

  13. Historical Developments During the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment Europe • American and French Revolutions • European Colonization • End of Slave Trade and Slavery as an institution • 1848 Revolutions in Europe

  14. Different Types of Government • Totalitarian • Authoritarian • Aristocracy • Theocracy • Oligarchy • Democracy • Direct Democracy • Anarchy (no government) How do different GOVERNMENTS emerge? Through choice or by force? What are the problems with each type of government?

  15. The American Revolution • Taxation without Representation • Sugar Act • Stamp Act • These laws were directed towards having the colonists pay for the French and Indian War and others • Quartering Soldiers • The American Colonists leaned on Enlightenment Philosophies to center their fight against the British – they wanted “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

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