Understanding Democracy, State, and Society: Key Concepts
Participatory Model
It is based on the ideas of Rousseau. According to this model, all citizens should have the opportunity to participate actively in the state government. It works internally in many unions and leftist political organizations. At a state policy level, the closest system was that of the former Soviet Union and, now, systems like the Swiss or the U.S., where a large number of policy decisions are subject to a referendum among the citizens.
Phases of Modern Democracy
First Phase: Liberalism (19th Century)
Liberals sought to defend against the absolutist state. They claimed that the state should not intervene in economic activities and market development. This is how the concept of “laissez-faire, laissez-passer” emerged, according to which the state must leave a free market. The best way to avoid the intervention of state power is to divide it into executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as proposed by Montesquieu.
Second Phase: Liberal-Social Stage (Late 19th Century)
This phase fostered liberal ideas of the capitalist system’s development and the emergence of a new social class: the proletariat. The proletariat claimed to have access to power and to defend freedom and positive rights. It is not that the state does not intervene in the lives of individuals, but that individuals participate in the decisions of the state. It calls for universal suffrage, which is the hallmark of modern democracy that provides the stage.
Third Phase: The Social State of Law
Since the economic crash of 1929, and especially its consequences (the rise of fascism and the outbreak of World War II), the idea that citizens should have certain social guarantees to protect them against eventualities such as economic crises was proposed. This introduced the idea of social protection for all citizens (healthcare, free education, unemployment insurance, retirement, etc.), which are characteristics that remain in current democracies. In Europe, this is known as the welfare state.
Nation
The term “nation” has a spiritual character and corresponds with the feelings of individuals belonging to a particular group.
Country
“Country” is the territory in which a state is situated. Accordingly, there can be no nation without a state, but states can exist without a country.
State
State: A set of political, legal, and administrative provisions of a society.
Individual
Individual: An individual is one who is aware of their own uniqueness against the social whole, a subject of rights and duties, and is free.
Society
Society: A society is a set of individuals who have a common culture.
Social Roles
Social Roles: Social roles are the behaviors that accompany a social role.
“Kultur”
“Kultur” has to do with all the ideas and techniques of a society.
“Civilization”
“Civilization” refers to the social customs and practices of what is usually called “morals.”
Uncultured
Uncultured: An uncultured person lacks the elements that make up the “Kultur.”
Wild
Wild: A wild person does not share those social practices that are considered “civilized.”
True Culture
True Culture: True culture would be anything that allows and enables the development and humanization of the individual.
Democracy and “Demos”
Democracy literally means “people’s government.” “Demos” meant “neighborhood” or an area where a certain lineage lived.
Participatory Democracy
Participatory democracy is based on the ideas of Rousseau. According to this model, all citizens should have the opportunity to participate actively in the state government.
Amartya K. Sen Text on the Welfare State
- First Part: The welfare state as a market economy sets in relationship to humans.
- Second Part: There are people who cannot afford healthcare because they do not have a salary or have a difficult illness or disability.
- Main Idea: The state must support certain people to prevent them from falling into poverty or a state of being embarrassing.