Unit I: The Democratic Ideal: The Foundation of Liberal Democracies
What did Pericles and the democrats believe about governing?
they believed that most citizens were capable of governing if only they could afford to take the time away from their farms and work.
What did the Athenian democracy do to enable citizens, both poor and rich, to go to the assembly and decide policy?
they paid citizens an average days wages to enable them, poor as well as rich, to go to the assembly and decide policy by direct vote of the citizens in the General Assembly.
Who were the "common people" in ancient Greece?
those who were uneducated, unsophisticated, and poor. Because these people made up the majority of the citizenry, and democracy was identified with majority rule.
What did Mao Zedong call his government?
"people democratic dictatorship."
What did demokratia specifically mean for the Greeks?
"rule or government by the common people".
What made up the majority of the citizenry in ancient Greece and how was democracy identified?
the majority consisted mainly of a single class, the demos (people).
What did ideology originally mean when the term was coined?
the scientific study of ideas
What is the definition of an ideology as a system of political beliefs?
An ideology is a system of political beliefs that either has been converted into a specific plan of action or serves as a criticism of existing reality.
What city-state provided the best example of a democratic city-state and when did Athens call their polis a democracy?
Athens, second half of the 5th century BCE (golden Age of Athens)
What was fascism's reaction against?
It rejected many of the core principles of liberalism and democracy that had dominated Western political thought for centuries. Fascists were opposed to both socialism and liberalism, seeing them as weak and ineffective responses to the challenges of the modern world.
What were the dominant political ideologies of the twentieth century?
Liberalism: The ideology of individual freedom and limited government intervention in the economy. Liberals believe in individual rights, free markets, and democratic governance. Conservatism: The ideology of maintaining traditional values, institutions, and practices. Conservatives believe in limited government intervention in the economy, individual responsibility, and moral and cultural values. Socialism: The ideology of collective ownership and control of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of goods and services. Socialists believe that the government or the people should own and control the economy. Fascism: The ideology of extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism. Fascists believe in a strong and centralized government, militarization, and suppression of political opposition. Communism: The ideology of a classless society, where the means of production and distribution are owned and controlled by the people. Communists believe in a centralized government, the abolition of private property, and the redistribution of wealth. Anarchism: The ideology of the absence of government and the state. Anarchists believe in the abolition of all forms of authority and the establishment of a society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid.
How did many Greeks understand democracy?
Many Greeks understood democracy to be a form of class rule - government by and for the benefit of the lower or working class.
What did Mussolini's slogans represent and what did the fascists reject?
Mussolini's slogans, such as "Believe, Obey, Fight" and "Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state," represented the fascist rejection of individualism and liberalism in favor of a strong, centralized state. The fascists rejected democracy, capitalism, and socialism, and instead promoted national unity, discipline, and the pursuit of a common goal. The fascist regime believed that the state was the ultimate authority and that the individual existed to serve the state. This belief was reflected in the fascist slogan "Tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, nulla contro lo Stato" ("Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State"). The fascist regime also rejected internationalism and promoted the idea of a strong, self-sufficient nation that could achieve greatness through aggressive expansionism and military conquest.
25. What is one of the most striking features of contemporary politics?
One of the most striking features of contemporary politics is the almost universal popularity of democracy.
Who was the most famous leader of the Athenian democracy?
Pericles
How does a totalitarian regime appeal to the masses for support?
Propaganda, Nationalism (to rally support among the population. They emphasize a sense of national pride and identity, and portray themselves as the protectors of the nation against external threats), Fear and intimidation (to maintain control and suppress dissent. This can include the use of secret police, arbitrary arrests, and torture, as well as public displays of force such as military parade), Economic promises ( by promising economic prosperity and stability. They use state-controlled industries and planned economies to provide jobs and basic necessities, and they also promise to eliminate economic inequality), Social unity (promote the idea of social unity and the common good by emphasize the importance of sacrifice and hard work for the good of the nation, and they suppress individualism and dissent in the name of the collective).
What do some ideologies assume about human nature?
that it is the nature of human beings to compete with one another in hopes of acquiring the greatest possible share of scarce resources.
What do the Nazis maintain about the struggle for dominance and interracial peace?
The Nazis maintain that it is natural for races to struggle for dominance and unnatural to seek interracial peace and harmony.
Who coined the word "totalitarian" and what does it mean?
The word "totalitarian" was coined by the Italian fascist philosopher Giovanni Gentile. It was later popularized by anti-fascist writers and thinkers such as Hannah Arendt and Friedrich Hayek to describe the political systems of fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union. The term "totalitarian" is used to describe a form of government that seeks to exercise complete control over all aspects of its citizens' lives.
What is the etymology of the word "democracy"?
The word - democracy - comes from a combination of the Greek noun demos, meaning "people" or "common people" and the verb Kratain, "to rule".
What do communists believe about competitiveness and acquisitiveness?
They are unnatural, nasty vices of the capitalist system.
What does a conservative urge people to do?
They urge you to cherish and defend traditional social arrangements.
Is fascism a reactionary ideology? Explain.
Yes, fascism is generally considered a reactionary ideology. It is rooted in a rejection of liberal democracy and the principles of the Enlightenment that underpin it, as well as a reaction against socialist and communist movements. Fascism seeks to establish a new social and political order that is often based on hierarchical structures, authoritarianism, nationalism, and a rejection of modernity and individualism.
What does a communist believe about a classless society?
a classless society is something human beings are capable of achieving.
What is one way ideologies attempt to mobilize the masses?
by appealing to their emotions and values through powerful rhetoric, symbols, and propaganda. Ideologies may also create an enemy or scapegoat to blame for problems, and offer a vision for a better future that requires collective action and sacrifice. By presenting a compelling narrative and offering a clear sense of direction, ideologies aim to motivate people to work together towards a common goal.
What do other ideologies take for granted about human beings?
that human beings have a natural or innate raial consciousness that compels them to associate with their own kind and to avoid associating or even sympathizing with members of other races.
Why do all ideologies claim to promote freedom?
freedom is an essentially contested concept.
What are the functions of an ideology?
is a fairly coherent and comprehensive set of ideas that explains and evaluates social conditions, helps people understand their place in society, and provides a program for social and political action.
Which ideologies joined forces to defeat the fascist alliance during World War II?
liberal democracy, communism, and socialism. The Allied Powers, led by the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, were united in their opposition to the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The defeat of the fascist alliance during World War II was a victory for a broad coalition of political ideologies that were united in their opposition to tyranny, aggression, and totalitarianism.
What did majority rule stand in contrast to?
majority rule stood in contrast to aristocracy, that is, rule by the aristoi - the "best", those most qualified to govern.
Who could be a citizen in Athens?
male, 18+ years old, born in Athens with two Athenian parents , no females or slaves
What notions are present in every ideology, at least implicitly?
notions of basic human drives, motivations, limitations, and possibilities, is present
What did aristocrats generally believe about governing?
only the well-established citizens with substantial property and ties to the noble families were wise enough to govern.
What do other ideologies hold about human nature?
people are naturally inclined to cooperate with one another and to share what they have with others.
