Direct Democracy A philosophical point of view 11 April 2016
What is Democracy? Democracy (Christiano, 2015) [... ] a method of group decision making characterized by a kind of equality among the participants at an essential stage of the collective decision making. Decisions made for groups that are binding on every member. Families, firms, states, transnational organizations,... Definition is not normative. Equality can be more or less deep.
How to evaluate Democracy? Consequentially Instrumental arguments pro Democracy: Good laws and policies Improvements in character of participants Instrumental arguments against Democracy: Expertise to govern societies undermined Apathetic and ill-informed citizens special interests control the behavior of politicians state used for their own purposes Intrinsically Liberty pro: Democracy extends to collective decision making the idea that each ought to be master of his/her life Equality pro: Everyone has an equal say when trying to resolve disagreements on matters of common concern problem: How to deal with persistent disagreement and minorities? ( consensus hardly achieved)
Problems of Democracy (and possible responses) 1. Some people are more intelligent or moral than others; 2. People devote time to politics People devote time to other important tasks; 3. The impact of a single vote is small Responsibility for the outcome fades away. Elite Theory of Democracy Interest Group Pluralism Neo-Liberalism
Direct and Representative Democracy Direct (Pure) Democracy Form of democracy in which people decide policy initiatives directly. Representative Democracy Form of democracy in which elected officials (representing a group of people) decide policy initiatives. Not necessarily a clear-cut division (e.g. representative democracy with referenda).
In defense of Direct Democracy Thesis (Barber, 1984) Strong democracy is the only form of government that is genuinely and completely democratic. Under a representative democracy the voter is free only the day he casts his ballot. Representation incompatible with (among others): freedom: it delegates ( alienates) political will at the cost of genuine self-government and autonomy. People might enjoy security, private rights, and freedom from interference but they might still not be free if they are not directly responsible through common deliberation, decision, and action for the policies that determine their common lives.
From Direct Democracy to Strong Democracy In strong democracy citizens govern themselves directly: Not necessarily at every level and in every instance, but frequently enough, and when basic/important policies are decided. It is not the only form of direct democracy, according to Barber. Unitary direct democracy (seeks consensus). Risk: citizens identified or merged with the state/general will. Small face-to-face communities Fascism
Strong Democracy - Resolution of conflict How is conflict resolved, in absence of independent grounds? A participatory process of self-legislation and the creation of a political community capable of transforming: dependent private individuals free citizens partial and private interests public goods freedom: comes as a result of the process public ends: forged through public participation, common deliberation, common action
Strong Democracy - Competence Politics should be an activity of qualified people. Specialists and experts have as only distinctive qualification the fact that they engage in politics. Problem of implementation of representative democracy. Our age is too complex and technical for the average citizen to make choices. Citizens just have to employ judgment to evaluate opinions in terms of value priorities.
Strong Democracy - Mob behavior and self-destruction Danger for tyranny and irrationalism of the community. What if people democratically abdicate their own right to self-rule? For irrationalism and mob behavior: rely on reasonableness, commonality, participation and their cultivation (which is one of the defining traits of strong democracy, via adequate institutions). For self-destruction: the citizen community should be created so that preservation of autonomy is more sacred than its exercise. Quick (optimistic?) way out to philosophical objection.
Strong Democracy - Apathy and Selfishness of Citizens The common citizen is often apathetic towards politics. In Democracy participation breeds participation. People do not participate if they think that it doesn t matter. Masses are selfish and they mostly care about private interests. Representatives know better what is their best. The real problem is giving decisional power to people (referenda on complicated subjects) without providing Adequate information Full debate Protection from money and media pressures/manipulation
Strong Democratic Institutions - Desiderata 1. Be realistic and workable; 2. Be compatible with the primary representative institutions (strong democracy has to come without revolution); 3. Address the anxieties about propensities to irrationalism, prejudice, uniformity, and intolerance Offer safeguards for individuals & minorities; 4. Deal with obstacles to participation: scale, technology, complexity, paradox of parochialism; 5. Make possible the government of non-professional citizens. Institutions to be taken all together, or not at all.
Strong Democratic Talk Neighborhood Assemblies (5000 25000 citizens) Place for public debate on local/national issues Place for self-regulation, vote at local/national level, civic telecommunication; Weekly meetings when working people and parents available; 1st task: decide the agenda; Participation optional; Located in a specific building; Presence of moderators.
Strong Democratic Talk Television Town Meetings Forums for regional and national talk (problem of scale); Direct participation, but regional and national communication; Technology used for education, access to information and communication. Civic Communication Cooperative Institution to protect from media abuse and manipulation, to experiment new forms of broadcasting, to regulate electronic voting,... ; Checked by a congressional watchdog committee. Who watches the watchmen?
Strong Democratic Talk Civic Education Postal Act Subsidized postal rates for civic educational publishing on pertinent political information; The less popular the point of view, the greater the need for subsidy (but attention to single eccentrics and mavericks). Civic Videotex Service Under the aegis of the CCC; Regular news + discussion of issues + technical/political/economic data. Cannot force people to watch and inform themselves Risk for manipulation of information, depending on the CCC and the congress committee Supplementary Institutions Citizens in charge of local offices for roads, water, housing, education, etc. (little competence or responsibility required); Jury duty. Is the freedom of citizens respected here?; Elected by lot + system of rotation + minimal training.
Strong Democratic Decision-Making National Initiative and Referendum Process (a) Legislative initiative coming from the people (signature collection) (b) Mandatory tie-in with neighborhood assemblies and television town meetings for civic education (topic in the local agendas) (c) Multi-choice format (to enforce discussion + understand better what people think) (d) Two-stage voting process (vote twice, with 6 months of discussion in between) Electronic vote To be casted in a public place (unless health problems).
Strong Democratic Action 1 year (min.) of Universal Citizen Service for every citizen Local Options: crime-watchers, cleaning public places,... (voluntary) Workplace: decision making shared by workers and management Architecture and design of neighborhood to enhance participation Strong democracy is obtained by adding participatory elements (step by step) to already existing representative institutions.
Representative Democracy - Conceptual Analysis Pitkin (1967) Representation is acting in the interest of the represented, in a manner that is responsive to them. The representative must act independently with judgment. She must act so that there is (normally) no conflict with the represented; if it occurs, an explanation is called for in terms of the interests of the represented. The represented must be conceived as capable of action and judgment (not merely being taken care of). They act through their government and they are not passive recipients of its actions.
Representative Democracy - Conceptual Analysis The extremes are not part of the concept altogether. Adult taking care of a child. Scientist solving a technical problem (not pursuing interests). A person who merly consults and reflects. Political questions are about what should be done: they involve both facts and value commitments. Trivialities (e.g. choosing between two foods at a restaurant). True or false (an expert can answer).
Discussion on direct democracy Are we just dissatisfied with how the representative system is implemented? Shall the issues be decided in a yes/no manner or with multiple choices? How to take into account minorities, after the public has spoken and the decision has been made? How to provide pertinent information to citizens? How do we protect voters from being subject to manipulation?
References Barber, B. (1984). Strong Democracy, Berkeley, University of California Press, (chapters 7 & 10). Christiano, T. (2015). Democracy, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta (ed.), <http://plato.stanford. edu/archives/spr2015/entries/democracy/>. Pitkin, H. F. (1967). The Concept of Representation, Berkeley, University of California Press, (pp. 209 240).