NATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL
POLITICAL SCIENCE – I
TRIMESTER-III
TOPIC: Comparative Analysis of Democracy-
Liberal and Social Democracy
SUBMITTED TO – PROFESSOR Raka Arya
SUBMITTED BY- RITIK NANDAN
A-2075
2019BALLB33
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Comparative analysis of democracy- liberal and social, Assignments of Political Science
A distinctive analysis has been done in determining the facets of liberal and social forms of democracy and how their similarities and dissimilarities concomitantly aid in the enhancement of democracy, as a whole.
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NATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL
POLITICAL SCIENCE – I
TRIMESTER-III
TOPIC: Comparative Analysis of Democracy-
Liberal and Social Democracy
SUBMITTED TO – PROFESSOR Raka Arya SUBMITTED BY- RITIK NANDAN A- 2019BALLB
Acknowledgement
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to Prof. Raka Arya for her guidance and constant supervision as well as for providing necessary information regarding the project & also for her support in completing the project. I would like to express my gratitude towards my parents & seniors for their kind co-operation and encouragement which help me in completion of this project. I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to the Vice-Chancellor of National Law Institute University, Bhopal for giving me such ample time and opportunity. My cheers and appreciations also go to my colleague in developing the project and people who have willingly helped me out with their abilities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Acknowledgement 2 Objectives 3 Research Methodology 3 Review of Literature 3 INTRODUCTION 4 WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? 5 TYPES OF DEMOCRACY 6 NORDIC SOCIAL DEMOCRACY 9 NORDIC WELFARE MODEL 10 Common values – different systems 11 Nordic welfare innovation 12
Review of Literature
Capitalism and social democracy by Adam Przeworski
The book helped me understand the concept of Social Democracy in detail and provided me
with its various characteristics.
Liberal democracy 3.0 by Stephen Park Turner
The book helped me understand the concept of Liberal Democracy in detail and provided me
with a Framework of the same.
Course Material by Prof. (Dr.) Raka Arya
The book helped me by introducing the concepts in a clear and intelligible manner.
INTRODUCTION
One of the ways to understand politics is to look at different political ideologies. Political ideologies are defined as the beliefs and practices that guide political actors in real political communities. These ideologies reflect the underlying vision of these political actors, and study the ideals that have continued to inspire political leaders, and also illuminate operational practices. One of the most important political ideologies of the modern era is Liberal Democracy. At its most basic level, liberal democracy includes, as its name suggests, two great ideals- 1) the belief in democracy- the idea that people should rule. 2) What are the important components of some democracies? These include constitutionalism, protection of basic rights, etc. What is to be noted is that liberal democracy does not have one single meaning, rather there are pluralistic versions providing for justice, order, welfare as well as liberty. Another important ideology that is crucial to the understanding of social democracy is Social Democracy. What exactly do we understand by social democracy? What is the difference between liberalism and conservatism? To which ideology does our government belong? Though there are many definitions of
social democracy as there are social democrats. Today’s social democrats promote first and foremost, a society in which members can lead a free and just life, under all circumstances. Therefore, fundamental rights have to be legally ensured and secured by the State. But what if a person is not educated and cannot read or write? Since the tangible outcome of fundamental rights often depend upon the social and economic situation of the individual, social democrats call for the implementation of social, economic and cultural rights. They believe it is not enough to legally ensure fundamental rights. In order to ensure citizens a just and free life, these rights need to be actively promoted and implemented. Social democracy has developed through time, has been tested under various conditions and various people, and has been altered to suit the local circumstances.
Through this project, I would like to make a comparative analysis between these two important
ideologies of Political Science, and thoroughly understand how these two concepts are different,
and in some aspects, similar from each other.
WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens are meant to participate equally – either directly or, through elected representatives, indirectly – in the proposal, development and establishment of the laws by which their society is run. This term originates from the Greek word – dēmokratía which means “rule of the people’ 1 which was found from demos “people” and kratos “power” or “rule” in the 5 th^ century BCE to denote the political then existing in the Greek-city states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to aristokratia “rule of an elite.” While theoretically these definitions are in opposition, in (^1) Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, "A Greek-English Lexicon", at Perseus.
allow for three forms of political action that provide for direct democracy which is limited- referendum (plebiscite), initiative and recall. Referendums may include the ability to hold a binding vote on whether a given law should be rejected. Effectively, this grants the population which holds suffrage, a veto on a law which is adopted by the elected legislature (For example, Switzerland uses this system). Initiative , which is usually, put forward by the members of the general public, which thus compels the consideration of the laws, without the consent of the elected representatives, or sometimes even without their expressed opposition. Recalls give the public the power to remove the elected officials from office when before their term ends, although this is a rare occurrence in modern democracies.
- Representative Democracy - In most of today’s modern democracies, the whole body of eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is also called representative democracy , or democratic republic. Representative democracy, which is also referred to as indirect democracy is a variety of democracy which is based on the principle of elected officials which represented a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy. All modern Western-style democracies are types of representative democracies. For example, the United Kingdom is known as a constitutional monarchy and Germany is a parliamentary republic. It is an element of both the parliamentary system as well as the presidential system of government and it is usually used in a lower chamber, such as the House Of Commons (UK), and it may be curtailed by constitutional constraints such as an upper chamber. In it, the power is in the hands of the elected representatives who are elected by the general public through a regular system of elections. Types of representative democracy – a) Electoral democracy – type of representative democracy which is based on election, on electoral votes, as liberal democracies. b) Dominant Party System – Democratic Party system where only one politically party can realistically become the government, by itself or in a coalition government.
c) Parliamentary democracy – democratic system of government where the executive branch of a parliamentary government is typically a cabinet, and headed by a prime minister who is considered to be the head of the government. d) Westminster democracy – Parliamentary system of government which was modelled after that of the United Kingdom system. e) Jacksonian democracy - this is a form of democracy which was popularized by President Andrew Jackson and promoted the strength of the executive branch and the Presidency at the expense of Congressional power. f) Soviet Democracy/ Council Democracy - This is a form of democracy where the workers of a locality elect recallable representatives into organs of power called soviets or councils. These local soviets then elect members of regional soviets who then go on to elect higher soviets. g) Totalitarian Democracy - It is a system of government in which lawfully elected representatives maintain the integrity of a nation state whose citizens, while granting them the right to vote, have little or no participation in the decision-making process of the government.
- Liberal Democracy – Liberal Democracy is defined as ‘a democracy which is based on the recognition of individual rights, in which decisions from direct or representatives processes prevail in many policy areas.’ 6 It is also a form of government in which representative democracy operates under the principles of liberalism, i.e. which protects the rights of the individual, which are enshrined in the law. This is characterised by fair, free and competitive elections which happen between multiple and distinct political parties, which includes separation of power into different branches of the government- namely the legislature, executive and judiciary, and also includes the rule of law in everyday life as part of a society which is open, and equal protection of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, and political freedoms for all the citizens of the State. In practice, liberal democracies often draw up a Constitution, which may be either formally written or uncodified, which is used to delineate the powers of the government and thus enshrines the social (^6) Collins dictionary , http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/liberal-democracy (Last Accessed - 10th September, 20.00 pm).
NORDIC SOCIAL DEMOCRACY
The Nordic model (or Nordic capitalism or Nordic social democracy)^9 10 refers to the economic and social models of the Nordic countries namely- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, which involve the combination of a free market economy with a welfare state. 11 Although there are significant differences among the Nordic countries, they all share some common traits. These include support for a “universalist” welfare state (relative to other developed countries) which is aimed specifically at the enhancement of individual autonomy, promotion of social mobility and ensuring the universal provision of basic human rights, as well as for stabilizing the economy, which also includes a commitment to free trade. The Nordic model is also distinguished from other types of welfare states in its emphasis on maximisation of labour force participation, promotion of gender equality, egalitarian and extensive benefit levels, the large magnitude of income redistribution, and liberal use of expansionary fiscal policy. 12 The Nordic model is described as a system of competitive capitalism combined with a large public sector. (^13) In 2013, The Economist described its countries as “stout-free traders who resist the temptation to intervene even to protect iconic companies” while also looking for ways to temper capitalism’s harsher effects, and declared than the Nordic countries” are probably the best-governed in the world. 14 The Nordic combination of extensive public provision of welfare and a culture of individualism has been described by Lars Tragardh, of Ersta Skondal University College, as “statist individualism.” 15 The Nordic model of social democracy has been referred to by some economists as “cuddly capitalism”, with some levels of inequality, generous welfare states and reduced concentration of top incomes, and contrasts it with the more "cut-throat" capitalism of the United States, which has high levels of inequality and a large concentration of top incomes.^16 (^16) Kenworthy, Lane (2014). Social Democratic America, Oxford University Press, p.88-93. (^15) Supra note 13. (^14) “The secret of their success” The Economist , 2013. (^13) “ The Nordic countries: The next supermodel ” The Economist (Retrieved 27 July 2013). (^12) Esping-Andersen, G. (1991). The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (^11) “The surprising ingredients of Swedish success- free markets and social cohesion.” Institute of Economic Affairs June 25, 2013. (^10) Nik Brandal, Øivind Bratberg, Dag Einar Thorsen The Nordic Model of Social Democracy. Palgrave Macmillan,
(^9) The Nordic Way , Klas Eklund, Henrik Berggren and Lars Trägårdh. 2011.
The Nordic model, however, is not a single identical set of policies and rules in every country, each of the Nordic countries has its economic and social models, which sometimes comes with large differences from its neighbours. Though Sweden’s neoliberal reforms have reduced the role of the public sector over the last few decades, and saw the fastest growth in inequality of any OECD economy , Sweden still remains^17 equal as compared to most societies.^18
NORDIC WELFARE MODEL
Is the Nordic welfare model more than just a public-sector provision?
The Nordic welfare states are based on a shared political goal of encouraging strong social cohesion. The Nordic social model is renowned for the universal nature of its welfare provision, which is based on the core values of equal opportunities, social solidarity and security for all and it also promotes social rights and the principle that everyone is entitled to equal access to social and health services, education and culture. This also applies to care for social outcasts and vulnerable groups in society. A central goal is to create opportunities for all to take part in the social life and in the decision-making process in society. The Nordic model is also characterised by strong ties between welfare and labour-market policy. The welfare system is mainly funded by taxes, which are relatively high in the Region. The levels of employment and flexibility on the Nordic labour market are high – as are the birth rates. Comprehensive and financially affordable child-minding services and care of the elderly enable women, especially the low-paid, to combine family and work. It is precisely because the Nordic welfare states have largely taken over tasks such as these that women have been able to enter the labour market and the political arena to a greater degree than in other parts of the world. The Nordic Region is right at the forefront as far as gender equality is concerned.
Common values – different systems
There are also interesting differences between the Nordic countries in terms of how the welfare policies are organised. 18 (^17) ‘Swedish riots rage for fourth night’ The Guardian , 23 May 2013.
innovative solutions in the health and social sector – particularly in terms of services for the elderly, preventative medicine and health. In an increasingly globalised world, the Nordic Region and the EU face more or less the same challenges. Welfare researchers and opinion formers agree to a great extent about the nature of these challenges – E.g. the need for better care for the elderly, getting more people into work, improved retention on the labour market, maintaining the quality of welfare services, and promoting the integration of vulnerable social groups, especially immigrants. An important task in Nordic co-operation is to focus on how the Region can refine the Nordic welfare model in order to compete in the global economy but maintain social cohesion. The similarities between the social systems make it relatively simple for the Nordic countries to look at their neighbours and derive inspiration from their successes. The Council of Ministers has initiated a number of wide-ranging initiatives designed to stimulate the sharing of experiences and to further develop welfare policy. Nordic co-operation might be considered a kind of testing ground, in which positive experiences within the Region are harnessed for the benefit of all.
The family in the Nordic Region -
The family is an important area of co-operation in the Region. The family is a fundamental social community that characterises and shapes future Nordic citizens. A well-functioning family life is one of the most important prerequisites for people's well-being and quality of life. Nordic co-operation affects family issues from many different angles: the Nordic countries work together to promote children and young people's well-being, further develop the Nordic welfare model to guarantee safe living conditions for Nordic citizens, develop Nordic gender equality policies that benefit family life and, to an even greater extent, make efforts to improve older people's participation in society.
LIBERAL DEMOCRACY
A liberal democracy is defined as a form of representative democracy with free and fair form of election procedures and a competitive political process. 22 What is the most interesting feature of liberal democracy is that all the adult citizens are given the right to vote regardless of race, gender, place of birth, language, (^22) ‘Liberal Democracy Law & Legal Definition’ (Last Accessed- 11th (^) October, 11.15 pm) URL- http://definitions.uslegal.com/l/liberal-democracy/.
or their income. A liberal democracy may take various constitutional forms such as – constitutional republic, federal republic, or constitutional monarchy, presidential system, or sometimes even a semi-presidential system. For example, countries such as the United States of America, India, Germany, or Brazil take the form of a constitutional republic, since the head of the government, that is the President, is elected or nominated, rather than a monarch. On the other hand, countries such as United Kingdom, Japan, and Spain take the form of a constitutional monarchy. A liberal democracy is also called as a
bourgeois democracy 23 or constitutional democracy.
The features of Liberal Democracy are as follows-
Free and Fair Elections-
The most important feature of a liberal democracy is a regular system of free and fair elections to fill government positions. This also ensures that those working for the government are supported by the majority of the people- by doing this; the citizens are given an opportunity to vote out the government, if they do not fulfil their obligations and duties. This also means the people can never held hostage by a tyrannical state. The whole adult population should be allowed to cast a vote regardless of age, gender, sex or race, and the vote cast by each individual carries the same amount of weight. They elect people to represent them in the government, and these elected individuals then air the concerns of the common people to the government at the highest levels of authority.
Multiparty system -
Holding free and fair elections does not hold any water if all the candidates belong to the same political party, or represent the same political position. For a formal opposition to the government, liberal democracies require at least two organized movements. The existence of the opposition balances the government, and its members can officially speak in the place of the citizens who disagree with the policies of the government. The existence of the political opposition is part of the wider tolerance of conflicting beliefs and philosophies central to liberal thinking. (^23) ‘ MIA-Encyclopedia of Marxism-Glossary of Terms ’ (Last Accessed – 11th October, 11.30 pm) URL- https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/b/o.htm.
companies and banks, which have become accustomed to "playing the system" to get their own way. A robust democratic government thus has to have firm and well-thought-out strategies to manage and regulate the economy for the benefit of society as a whole.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully, this research paper has managed to clearly elaborate upon the ideologies of Social Democracy as well as Liberal Democracy. The idea of social democracy has to be implemented and assessed every day. While the core values remain the same, resultant policies must be adjusted to changing circumstances. Special about the debate on social democracy is that it is ever changing; it considers societal developments, perceives risks and opportunities and then uses these possibilities. This distinguishes social democracy from other political models; it neither clings to what has been handed down nor is blind to changed realities and new challenges. One thing that we do know about liberal democracy is that, it is changing. In 19th^ century United States, the liberals were originally committed to a very limited government- however by the 20th^ century, many people called ‘liberals’ believed that governmental intervention in the economy was necessary to protect farmers, workers, and social philanthropists. The changing nature of liberal democracy has led to the development of different political actors in the United States. Each of these political actors shared a fundamental belief in the older ideals of democracy- the ideal of political ruling, the ideals of equality, and the belief in human freedom. However, in the face of a complex world, they would have different priorities and emphasise on different aspects of the liberal democratic tradition.