One Why we need democracy
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Henry B. Tam
Abstract
Civic amnesia has left too many people thinking democracy is something they can do without. Even with the relatively high turnout for the snap 2017 election in the UK, 15% of those entitled to be a registered voter did not register; of those who were registered to vote, nearly 32% did not turn out to vote; which means that across the UK, 42% of those who could have had a vote stayed away from the ballot box.
If we are to revive democratic governance, we need to make sure everyone understands its critical role in solving problems inescapably rooted in human coexistence. Whenever a group of people, stationed across however large or small an area, sense that the rules and arrangements they have been living by are not securing for them the support and stability they are counting on, discontent will spread. For centuries, regimes across the world thought that the answer rested with holding firm to one or another of what may be termed the ‘four classic governance strategies’. Even now, detractors of democracy are disposed to picking one out of these as their favoured alternative to collective self-governance. By examining the nature of these strategies, and how they generate challenges that only democracy can meet, we can begin to set out anew the case for deliberative citizens’ rule. For any group of people to be governed to their satisfaction, at least three conditions have to be met. First, the arrangements should secure sufficient togetherness that the group is not at risk of polarising into irreconcilable enemies or breaking up completely.
Abstract
Civic amnesia has left too many people thinking democracy is something they can do without. Even with the relatively high turnout for the snap 2017 election in the UK, 15% of those entitled to be a registered voter did not register; of those who were registered to vote, nearly 32% did not turn out to vote; which means that across the UK, 42% of those who could have had a vote stayed away from the ballot box.
If we are to revive democratic governance, we need to make sure everyone understands its critical role in solving problems inescapably rooted in human coexistence. Whenever a group of people, stationed across however large or small an area, sense that the rules and arrangements they have been living by are not securing for them the support and stability they are counting on, discontent will spread. For centuries, regimes across the world thought that the answer rested with holding firm to one or another of what may be termed the ‘four classic governance strategies’. Even now, detractors of democracy are disposed to picking one out of these as their favoured alternative to collective self-governance. By examining the nature of these strategies, and how they generate challenges that only democracy can meet, we can begin to set out anew the case for deliberative citizens’ rule. For any group of people to be governed to their satisfaction, at least three conditions have to be met. First, the arrangements should secure sufficient togetherness that the group is not at risk of polarising into irreconcilable enemies or breaking up completely.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acknowledgements v
- Introduction: Democracy in distress 1
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Has democracy a future?
- Why we need democracy 13
- Rethinking how we govern 33
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How to sustain democratic togetherness
- Shared mission 51
- Mutual respect 73
- Coherent membership 95
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How to underpin democratic objectivity
- Collaborative learning 119
- Critical re-examination 143
- Responsible communication 167
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How to achieve democratic power balance
- Participatory decision making 193
- Civic parity 215
- Public accountability 237
- Conclusion: Learning to govern ourselves 259
- References 269
- Index 299
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Acknowledgements v
- Introduction: Democracy in distress 1
-
Has democracy a future?
- Why we need democracy 13
- Rethinking how we govern 33
-
How to sustain democratic togetherness
- Shared mission 51
- Mutual respect 73
- Coherent membership 95
-
How to underpin democratic objectivity
- Collaborative learning 119
- Critical re-examination 143
- Responsible communication 167
-
How to achieve democratic power balance
- Participatory decision making 193
- Civic parity 215
- Public accountability 237
- Conclusion: Learning to govern ourselves 259
- References 269
- Index 299
