ipl-logo

Ringens Definition Of American Democracy

2355 Words10 Pages

As Ringen writes it, the American democracy is the ‘oldest (…) one, the biggest one, the most powerful one, perhaps the most self-conscious one to see itself as a model for others, and probably also both the most respected and despised one’ (2008: 284). This could be another definition for Americanism. The United States think his role is important in international relations, such as spreading democracy on their model. The Bush government established democratization as one of the strategic priorities after the 9/11. The means used however were highly criticised. The promotion of democracy was associated with military intervention, the use of torture and a tendency to secure their own position with the different government to protect their interests. …show more content…

This quote is widely used to describe American democracy and American Exceptionalism. It embodies the characteristics thought as essential for a democratic government. The possible interpretation for this definition is that the US government is accountable to the people and represent them well. On their side, the people do take part actively in the political process so they have an influence on policies making. And the government is responsive to the people’s interests and needs. Democracy in that case is the interaction from both sides resulting in the ‘rule of the people’ and not “of the government”. There is a need for both sides to fulfil their role in order for the democratic process to …show more content…

Their democracy was never completely a ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’ in the first place. But as Muravic says ‘It took American democracy 86 years to abolish slavery, 144 years to enfranchise women and 189 to assure black people the vote. After a century and a half, American democracy produced the Great Depression. Democracy is not a rose garden. It is as fallible as human beings’ (cited by Newton and Van Deth, 2010: 393) we do realize that it is normal. Democracy is a state ‘rule by the people’ as the Greek said. But as the people are fallible themselves, it seems logical that the system can be fallible as well. Gilens suggests that, as the system where rich people had a greater influence on politics always existed, it should not be considered as a threat to democracy. However, if mobility across incomes and the social ladder will no longer be realisable, a permanent class of politically disenfranchised people would be created. And that could means the end of the American

Show More
Related
659 Words | 3 Pages

It should be noted that American democracy stemmed from Athenian Democracy and although they have tweaked it along the way their roots stem from Athenian Democracy. Their ideas come from the way the ancient Athenians used to rule and have say in their

Read More
997 Words | 4 Pages

Democracy essentially gives the right to liberty and equality of opportunities. Without the vote of the people, society and government are much more susceptible to corruption, resulting in examples such as the dictatorship of North Korea, or the Communistic state of China. Deriving and holding on to the practice of Democracy is what has made the United States the absolute power that it

Read More
1130 Words | 5 Pages

However, that may not be entirely the case, as Paul Cartledge explains, “There is no one 'democracy ' but rather a multiplicity of them”. Cartledge is correct in this explanation, due to the fact that Democracy has changed tremendously within the U.S.. Democracy began with the idea of civilian government, and within Thomas Jefferson

Read More
383 Words | 2 Pages

According to writer, James Mott’s Is the United States a Democracy?, “In the strictest sense of the word, the system of government established by the Constitution was never intended to be a "democracy” This is evident not only in the wording of the Pledge of Allegiance but in the Constitution itself which declares that "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government" Moreover, the scheme of representation and the various mechanisms for selecting representatives established by the Constitution were clearly intended to produce a republic, not a

Read More
1745 Words | 7 Pages

The United States does adhere and promote democratic values The United States adheres and promotes the democratic values upon which it was founded. The United States improved from when it was founded. Throughout history people have shown that the United states has expanded their democratic options profusely with promotions of democracy and adhering of this system of Government. Now, in the United States people are more free than ever.

Read More
1471 Words | 6 Pages

Democracy is where people in a society can enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. While there were changes within America, they were not democratic. More people had political opportunities near the 1770s but America became less democratic because of the conflicts between different religious groups and the division of upper and lower classes in terms of social

Read More
1064 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the 20th century the United States would soon develop into a superpower, for example events like the Berlin Airlift which consisted of supplies being brought from America to berlin promoted democracy. Although this is just one event that shows that the the United States is a promoter of freedom throughout the world during the 20th century, they are also different events that occured to provide evidence that the united states is as well a defender and promoter in and out of the state. The United States developed into the promoter and defender of democracy throughout the 20th century by American Imperialism, promote world peace, and enforcing equality among citizens. America imperialism is just one piece that illustrates the promotion

Read More
1390 Words | 6 Pages

The sinking of the Lusitania was not caused by a natural disaster, but was purposefully sunk in spite of a war. The Lusitania was one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, other than the Titanic, because it was the start of the World War I. America has definitely gone through the worst of times. What is so great about America, though, is that everyone unites together to fix a problem. Many passengers arrived for a relaxing, wonderful cruise but found themselves thrown into chaos as a torpedo entered the ship. This caused America to help out in the war by lending Britain equipment, soldiers, and jobs during this tough time.

Read More
1408 Words | 6 Pages

Scholars from all over the Western world have analyzed and discussed the impact of democracy has had for the citizens of the United States, for over 200 years. Each new period throughout American history, has brought a new concept of being an individual in a democratic society. One flaw scholars from the late nineteenth century saw with democracy was that the majority ruled and if an individual part of the minority their voices were not heard, even if the minority was just and the majority unjust. Thus the democracy most Americans are proud to have is primarily individualistic and can be deemed corrupt because of the focus of majority rule, which might not be the wisest decision. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French writer who wrote several essays on his visit to the United States.

Read More
1052 Words | 5 Pages

In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville provides an analysis and critique of American civic life. During his travels across the country, he discovered how different America was from Europe, particularly France. While the majority of Europe consisted of aristocratic countries with hundreds of years of history, America was a young democratic country. Most notably, he observed that America was growing in equality. The growing equality becomes a presupposition of individualism and isolation, but despite this inevitable growth of equality, individualism and isolation can be minimized.

Read More
581 Words | 3 Pages

The United States of America is not truly a democracy. America’s government is all over the place and pretty much a mixture of everything, it never has been just democracy. The characteristics of a democracy are where the majority wins but that never really happens. For example the president election majority does not elect the president. The United States of America is not a democracy for many reasons; Rule by law, we are more a republic than a democracy, and the founders of a nation didn 't want a democracy.

Read More
1337 Words | 6 Pages

In Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, it talks about democracy in America and its strengths and weaknesses. Having seen the failed attempts at democratic government in his home country of France, Tocqueville wanted to study a stable and prosperous democracy to gain insights into how it worked. His studies led him to conclude that the movement toward democracy and equality of conditions‹ was a universal phenomenon and a permanent historical tendency that could not be stopped. Since this democratic trend was inevitable, Tocqueville wanted to analyze it in order to determine its strengths and dangers so that governments could be formed to reinforce democracy 's strengths while counteracting its weaknesses. Even though Democracy in America

Read More
544 Words | 3 Pages

Problems in America only grew worse when democracy was being added to the mixture of already complicated politics. In Woody Holton’s book, Unruly American and the Origins of the Constitution, he stated that, “many Americans. . . were growing ‘tired of an excess of democracy,’ a ‘prevailing rage of excessive democracy. . .’ [or] ‘democratical tyranny.’” Democracy was an attempt at home rule among the colonies, but not everyone was happy with this extreme excess of colonial citizens contribution to the government.

Read More
736 Words | 3 Pages

In the United States, people always talk about freedom and equality. Especially they want elections could be more democratic. In American Democracy in Peril, Hudson’s main argument regarding chapter five “Election Without the People’s Voice,” is if elections want to be democratic, they must meet three essential criteria, which are to provide equal representation of all citizens, to be mechanisms for deliberation about public policy issues, and to control what government does. Unfortunately, those points that Hudson mentions are what American elections do not have. American elections do not provide equal representation to everyone in the country.

Read More
1127 Words | 5 Pages

“Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy,” said Benito Mussolini. By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. Specifically in America, one is taught that they live in a democratic society. When asking what is democracy, the answer is never truly defiente. The answers given may be; a society where everyone votes, or by dictionary definition “a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of the state; typically through elected representation.”

Read More

More about Ringens Definition Of American Democracy

Related Topics

Open Document