Political Participation in Modern Democracies
Political Participation in Representative Democracy
The original meaning of the word participation in Latin was to take part in a deal and communicate something. Political participation refers to taking part in the election of rulers. It is a process by which political power is allocated and distributed by the public, and through which the electoral process voluntarily communicates policy preferences from citizens to politicians and the general public.
Forms of Political Participation
Political participation
Read MoreLiberalism’s Evolution & Durkheim’s Social Theories
Key Concepts in Liberalism and Sociology
Major Events Shaping Liberalism
- 1789: The French Revolution and the Ratification of the American Constitution.
- 1848: Revolutions across Europe, beginning in France, marking the end of Absolutism.
- 1859: J.S. Mill publishes On Liberty, establishing standards for the relationship between authority and individual freedom. Mill emphasized individuality as a prerequisite for higher pleasures and criticized past attempts to defend it, noting how democratic ideals could
Understanding Global Cultural Dimensions
Understanding Culture: Visible and Invisible Dimensions
Culture represents the shared assumptions, values, and beliefs of a group of people, which result in observable behaviors. Developing a close relationship with a person from another culture can greatly assist you in understanding and working within that culture.
Culture can be understood through two main dimensions:
- Invisible Dimension: Encompasses assumptions, values, and beliefs.
- Visible Dimension: Includes behavior and speech.
These two dimensions
Read MoreBalancing Choices: Understanding Key Life Decisions
Student Living Choices: Alone or With Friends?
When students start university, they often face a significant choice: living alone or sharing accommodation with friends. This decision is crucial, as both options present distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on an individual’s lifestyle and personality.
Living Alone: Key Considerations
While offering independence, living alone comes with specific challenges:
- Higher Costs: All bills and rent must be covered by one person, which can be particularly
Spanish Political Systems: Costa’s Critique and PSOE’s Rise
Joaquín Costa’s Critique of the Restoration
Analysis of “Oligarchy and Despotism”
This document is a historical text and primary source, offering a direct socio-political analysis. Its author is Joaquín Costa, an Aragonese historian and jurist, known for his republican ideology and influence by Krausism.
Circumstances of Development
Joaquín Costa developed his key works between 1898 and 1902, during which he intensified his criticism of the political system of the Spanish Restoration.
Core Ideas:
Read MoreThe Process of Democratization: Rustow’s Model
Rustow’s Stages of Democratization
The process of democratization, as conceptualized by Dankwart Rustow, unfolds through distinct phases:
1. Preparatory Phase (Liberalization)
This phase is characterized by a prolonged, inconclusive conflict in which no single party seems to win. It is a struggle where people represent a clear political action and social role. The struggle is based on polarization: a conflict over several issues, as there are multiple ways to perceive things. The protagonists must
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