PS 473: THE NORMATIVE BASES OF PUBLIC OPINION: 

DEMOCRATIC THEORIES AND PUBLIC OPINION

(Warning: this is a “bare-bones” outline of class discussions, not a substitute for taking notes)

I. Democratic reform as a 2,500 year-old debate:  Historical Examples of Democracy in Ancient Greece and Rome

A.  Direct democracy of Greek city-state of Athens. 

B.  Sparta: members of the Council elected by a method called “The Shout”    

C.  Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave," from The Republic, makes a strong argument why the masses aren’t fit to rule 

D.  Which is closest to our democracy? Why?

E. What if the public is uninformed, or worse, misinformed? Contemporary survey examples

II. Classical Representative Democratic Theory ( Mill, Locke, Jefferson, Dewey)

A.  Background:  Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence; John Dewey’s update in 20^th Cent.

B.  Values: Popular sovereignty, political equality, political liberty, public deliberation.

C.  Role of elites: Delegates

D.  Role of masses: Politically sophisticated, active

E.  View of Human Nature:  High potential for self-rule and reason, “enlightenment” through mass education and participation.

F.  Consequences for Government:  Selection of representatives, delegate representation, responsiveness, potential for electoral mandates.

III. Democratic Elitist/Guardian Democratic Theory (e.g., Plato, Framers, Lippmann)

A.  Background:  Plato, Framers’ distrust of public in Federalist Papers 10, 49, 71; Lippmann’s Public Opinion and experiences in 20^th Century

B.  Values:  Minimal choice in elections, stability, elite deliberation.

C.  Role of Elites:  Guardians (of democracy), trustee representation

D.  Role of Masses: Politically unsophisticated, passive, low mass participation

E.  View of Human Nature:  Masses inherently unsophisticated, inattentive, anti-democratic/authoritarian, and human nature is immutable, fixed.

F.   Consequences for Government:  Trustee representation, competition of elites in elections, institutional barriers to limit public opinion

IV. Table Comparing Theories

IV. Topics for Further Discussion

A. The democratic dialogue in the 21^st century, the democratic dilemma today

1. NY Voters Opposed To Mosque Near Ground Zero

2. Cheney On Two-Thirds Of The American Public Opposing The Iraq War

3. Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim Lawmakers and the 'birther'/Muslim myths

B. Lippmann versus Dewey

1.

Pluralistic Intolerance: while political intolerance among the masses is quite high, the diversity of target groups makes it difficult to focus intolerance on any one group; thus, repression is less likely.