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    Democracyvauthoritarian

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    Democratic nations are representative governments where citizens elect politicians to represent their interests and have rights like freedom of speech that are protected by a constitution. Authoritarian states concentrate power in a single entity like a dictator and prioritize national interests over individual freedoms. While democracies emphasize checks on power and individual rights, they can become authoritarian under some conditions, and some citizens may have less representation. Authoritarian states can enact laws without public input but bring stability and national unity, though peace may not last without the authoritarian system.

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    Democracyvauthoritarian

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    Democratic nations are representative governments where citizens elect politicians to represent their interests and have rights like freedom of speech that are protected by a constitution. Authoritarian states concentrate power in a single entity like a dictator and prioritize national interests over individual freedoms. While democracies emphasize checks on power and individual rights, they can become authoritarian under some conditions, and some citizens may have less representation. Authoritarian states can enact laws without public input but bring stability and national unity, though peace may not last without the authoritarian system.

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    Democratic nations are representative governments where citizens elect politicians to represent their interests and have rights like freedom of speech that are protected by a constitution. Authoritarian states concentrate power in a single entity like a dictator and prioritize national interests over individual freedoms. While democracies emphasize checks on power and individual rights, they can become authoritarian under some conditions, and some citizens may have less representation. Authoritarian states can enact laws without public input but bring stability and national unity, though peace may not last without the authoritarian system.

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    366 views9 pages

    Democracyvauthoritarian

    Uploaded by

    api-301535260
    Democratic nations are representative governments where citizens elect politicians to represent their interests and have rights like freedom of speech that are protected by a constitution. Authoritarian states concentrate power in a single entity like a dictator and prioritize national interests over individual freedoms. While democracies emphasize checks on power and individual rights, they can become authoritarian under some conditions, and some citizens may have less representation. Authoritarian states can enact laws without public input but bring stability and national unity, though peace may not last without the authoritarian system.

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    of 9

    STRUCTURES OF GOVERNMENT

    Democratic v. Authoritarian Nations

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    What is a Democracy?
    In a democratic society, individual citizens have the power, and the right, to influence
    decisions made about how their country will be governed. Citizens have the political
    right to say and write what they wish, to go where they please, to live in privacy and
    security and to not be arrested or imprisoned without due legal process.
    Modern democracies are representative. Citizens of a country elect politicians to
    represent their interests.
    Rights of citizens in a democracy are protected under a constitution, or bylaws,
    defining how the country will be governed. The U.S. constitution establishes:
    Fundamental rights of citizens to live in safety without fear of being attacked
    When elections should be held
    Powers of various offices of state
    How laws should be made.
    Places limits on powers of government
    Guarantees political rights and freedoms of individuals

    Democratic government has three branches, and may have four functions.
    Ceremonial Head of State [4th function].
    King or Queen with a ceremonial role but no real power
    Executive Branch
    Initiates and carries out policy
    Positions: president, prime minister, chancellor and his/her cabinet
    Sometimes referred to as "The Government"
    Judicial Branch
    Interpret and enforce law and decide legal arguments when the law is not clear
    Legislative Branch
    Debates and approves laws arising from policies of executive branch

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    What are Authoritarian States?


    Authoritarian states are nations where one single voice, individual or ideology governs
    the state [the country].
    Authoritarian nations frequently arise in lands with violent civil conflict. Or are a
    byproduct of monarchy rule - rule by a single king or queen.
    An authoritarian state can also be formed as a reaction to the abuse of one country's
    resources by foreign nations and individuals. For example, Cuba and China shut their
    doors to foreigners in order to cultivate strong national identities of their own, free
    from the interference of outsiders. By doing so, these countries were also able to
    protect their nations' natural resources from ongoing outside exploitation.
    Authoritarian governments are:
    absolute monarchies
    dictatorships
    despotisms
    theocracies and
    police-run states [also known as militarchies]

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    Strong Points of Democracies


    In democratic governments, citizens have the right:
    To protest
    To have freedom of speech
    To assemble
    Citizens have freedom to choose representatives
    and to vote representatives out of office
    Elected representatives have finite terms of office
    Integrity of elections is protected by both government monitoring
    and citizen watchdog groups
    Equality Under the Law:
    Every person regardless of status
    must act within boundaries of law and constitution
    Every person has the same political rights
    The power of government is separated into individual branches
    There is a system of Checks and Balances in government
    and no one branch holds all the power
    Public has a right to expect that their elected representatives
    will not abuse the power they have been given
    Separation of Church and State
    guarantees religious freedom

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    Strong Points of Authoritarian States


    This form of government presents
    "A way to force civility onto a third world country." Singapore's first Prime
    Minister
    Removes barriers to economic expansion
    - as one central agency [the government] controls production, export and
    expenses
    Citizens have a strong national loyalty,
    as national welfare takes precedence over individual needs

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

    Detracting Points of Democracies


    Point One:
    Under certain conditions, a democratic government becomes an autoritarian one.
    Point Two:
    Citizens with the best command of language and most skilled in logical argument,
    become the government and judicial leaders. Those with less language skill may have
    little or no voice in the making or laws and may have inadequate representation in the
    judicial system.
    Point Three:
    Most countries embrace the religious ideology of one particular religion over all
    others.

    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

    Detracting Points of an Authoritarian Government


    Point One
    State is able to make laws without citizens having a say in defining them.
    Point Two
    The self-expression of individuals, and other personal freedoms, may be limited.
    Point Three
    Peace achieved by imposing authoritarian rule may disappear when that rule is relaxed
    or lifted.

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    WORKS CITED
    Dept of Political Science, Central Connecticut State University. Regime Types.
    Connecticut. Home. Jan 19, 2007
    <http://www.polisci.ccsu.edu/brown/regime_types.htm>
    Jensen, Dr Dennis, MP, Member for Tangney (WA), First Speech To Parliament.
    Commonwealth of Australia. 2004. Home, Jan 18, 2007
    <http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=DYN>
    Jenkins, Simon, Not totalitarian - but guilty of creeping authoritarianism. Guardian
    Unlimited. 2006. Home. Jan 20, 2007.
    <http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1761389,00.html>
    Rummel, Rudolph, Rudolph Rummel
    Talks About the Miracle
    of Liberty and Peace. Interviewed by The Freeman: Ideas on Liberty 47. 1997.
    Home. Jan 22, 2007.
    <http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/FREEMAN.INTERVIEW.HTM>
    Swank, Duane, Ph.D., Democracy. World Book Online Reference Center. 2006.
    Thomas Jefferson Library, Dec. 18, 2006.
    <http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id-ari153840>
    Authoritarianism. Wikipedia. 2007. Home, Jan 19, 2007.
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism>
    Wolf, Alex. D, Democracy Milwaukee: World Almanac Library, 2005.
    Zube, John, A Selection of Unconventional Thoughts on Democracy. 2004. Home
    Jan 19, 2007. <http://www.panarchy.org/zube/democracy.html>

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