Wed, Feb 15

Ch. 5, Democratic Regimes

Exercise

Compose a true or false statement for the chapter section assigned to your group. We'll combine the five, group-authored statements to make a 10-point graded Exercise.

  1. 141-145: Defining Democracy; Origins of Democracy
  2. 145-150: Contemporary Democratization
  3. 150-157: Institutions of the Democratic State; Models of Democracy
  4. 161-169: Electoral Systems
  5. 158-161, 169, 172-173: Democratic Systems: Benefits and Drawbacks; Political Parties; Referendum and Initiative; Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Discussion

  1. Would we have democracy without the Greeks? The Romans? The English? Explain your answers.
  2. Which of the competing explanations for democratization make(s) the most sense to you, and why?
  3. What's the best democratic system? Why? Should the U.S. have a different democratic system? Why?
  4. What's the best electoral system? Why? Should the U.S. have a different electoral system? Why?
  5. How might choosing the "right" democratic and electoral system help to build a strong(er) state?
  6. Institutions in Action (170-171): What explains democratization in Asia?
  7. Questions and Methods (176-177): What is undermining democracy?