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The Democratic Culture of Unified Germany

Dieter Fuchs

in Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government

Taking the example of unified Germany, this chapter examines how a democratic culture can develop among people who have lived for decades in an autocratic state. The first section outlines the ... More

Taking the example of unified Germany, this chapter examines how a democratic culture can develop among people who have lived for decades in an autocratic state. The first section outlines the theoretical framework, starting with the concept of political support, and going on to consider various normative models of democracy in order to understand what type of democracy people in West and East Germany ultimately prefer. Discusses the formation of democratic attitudes within state‐socialist systems, comparing demonstration and socialization hypotheses on the influence of the social structure on political attitudes. On this basis, expectations about attitudes towards democracy among the East German population are formulated. Develops the empirical analysis further by examining trends in democratic attitudes among West and East Germans—including the commitment to democratic values and principles, support for democratic institutions, and satisfaction with democratic performance. The conclusion summarizes the most important findings and considers their consequences for the prospects of democracy in a unified Germany.Less

The Economic Performance of Governments

Ian McAllister

in Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government

A major conclusion of this book is that there are few consistent trends in popular support for the political community but there is high and perhaps even growing support for democratic values and ... More

A major conclusion of this book is that there are few consistent trends in popular support for the political community but there is high and perhaps even growing support for democratic values and declining support for regime institutions and political leaders. Earlier chapters have traced these patterns with respect to democracy worldwide, and, in particular, regions of the world. This one focuses specifically on the role of public policy in shaping popular support for democratic institutions among OECD countries. The data are aggregate indicators across twenty‐four of the twenty‐nine member countries of the OECD in 1997, as well as individual‐level data from the same twenty‐four countries based on the 1990–1 World Values Survey. The different sections of the chapter are: Explaining Institutional Confidence; Evidence for Trends in Institutional Confidence; The Role of Democratic Experience; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Macro Analysis; Policy Outputs and Confidence: A Micro Analysis; and Discussion and Conclusions.Less

Value Change and Political Support

Russell J. Dalton

in Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices: The Erosion of Political Support in Advanced Industrial Democracies

This chapter examines how the changing political values of contemporary publics alter perceived images of government and support for the democratic process. Postmaterialists are less trustful of ... More

This chapter examines how the changing political values of contemporary publics alter perceived images of government and support for the democratic process. Postmaterialists are less trustful of government and more supportive of democratic values and ideals.Less

Decrease of Political Disillusionment and Apathy?

Margit Tavits

in Presidents with Prime Ministers: Do Direct Elections Matter?

Chapter 6 addresses a third prevalent issue regarding presidential elections—the extent to which direct elections strengthen democratic practices. Empirical analyses using global and European samples ... More

Chapter 6 addresses a third prevalent issue regarding presidential elections—the extent to which direct elections strengthen democratic practices. Empirical analyses using global and European samples of parliamentary systems with elected heads of state demonstrate that citizens' satisfaction with government, political disillusionment, their commitment to democratic values and level of political involvement are not significantly affected by introducing direct presidential elections. In fact, the additional election increases voter fatigue and decreases turnout in parliamentary elections by about seven percentage points. Since direct presidential elections are no more likely to decrease citizen disillusionment with the government and strengthen democratic practices than indirect elections, this chapter concludes that these systems have indistinguishable effects on democratic attitudes. The noticeable effect of introducing additional elections on voter behavior, however, merits the attention of institutional designers.Less

When the State Speaks, What Should It Say?: Democratic Persuasion and the Freedom of Expression

Corey Brettschneider

in When the State Speaks, What Should It Say?: How Democracies Can Protect Expression and Promote Equality

This chapter focuses on democratic persuasion. Although democratic persuasion stresses the importance of an active role for the legitimate state in promoting democratic values, value democracy does ... More

This chapter focuses on democratic persuasion. Although democratic persuasion stresses the importance of an active role for the legitimate state in promoting democratic values, value democracy does not abandon all accounts of neutrality in thinking about freedom of expression. The Supreme Court's doctrine of viewpoint neutrality is appropriate as a standard for limiting state coercion. Viewpoint neutrality means that all viewpoints, regardless of their content, should be protected by freedom of expression, provided they are not direct threats to individuals. However, while viewpoint neutrality is appropriate as a standard for applying the right of free expression to citizens, it is misplaced as a guide to determining the state's own expression and what it should say. The chapter argues that the state should be non-neutral in its persuasive and expressive roles.Less

Why Are There So Many (or So Few) Electoral Reforms?

Richard S. Katz

in The Politics of Electoral Systems

Electoral reforms are surprisingly rare in established political systems. This chapter analyses the reasons why political actors might attempt to change an electoral system to one that more closely ... More

Electoral reforms are surprisingly rare in established political systems. This chapter analyses the reasons why political actors might attempt to change an electoral system to one that more closely matches their own interests, and the reasons why they might decide not to attempt to do this. It discusses the limitations of the rational actor paradigm. It identifies the circumstances under which electoral reform becomes more likely. It discusses ‘fashions’ in electoral reform, particularly the adoption of mixed systems in a number of countries and moves to widen voters’ intraparty candidate choice, and emphasises the important role of democratic values.Less

Changing Citizen Orientations

Russell J. Dalton

in Democratic Challenges, Democratic Choices: The Erosion of Political Support in Advanced Industrial Democracies

This chapter assembles an array of cross-national public opinion data to track the decline in political trust in advanced industrial democracies. Contemporary publics are less trustful of ... More

This chapter assembles an array of cross-national public opinion data to track the decline in political trust in advanced industrial democracies. Contemporary publics are less trustful of politicians, political parties, and political institutions. However, support for democratic values has increased over time, and support for the nation and political community remain strong.Less

Introduction: Democracy and Institutional Design

Adrian Vermeule

in Mechanisms of Democracy: Institutional Design Writ Small

This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of institutional design writ small. It considers the mechanisms of democracy, and proposes mechanisms that advance four core values of democratic ... More

This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of institutional design writ small. It considers the mechanisms of democracy, and proposes mechanisms that advance four core values of democratic constitutionalism: impartiality, accountability, transparency, and deliberation. The chapter then discusses the advancement of democratic values, disagreements about democratic values, the limiting conditions for democratic mechanisms, and the feasibility constraints on democratic reform. An overview of the subsequent chapters is presented.Less

Arriving at Democracy

Konrad H. Jarausch

in After Hitler: Recivilizing Germans, 1945-1995

This chapter focuses on the process of “inner democratization”, which went beyond a mere observance of democratic forms to an internalized belief in democratic value systems.

Elections and Democracy

Richard S. Katz

in Democracy and Elections

This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the relation between elections and democracy. The result reveals that there are two classes of democratic theories each encompassing a number of ... More

This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the relation between elections and democracy. The result reveals that there are two classes of democratic theories each encompassing a number of alternative models of democracy and each are dependent on alternative assumptions about the character of elites and social structure. The chapter describes the best or most democratic electoral systems based on the analysis of democratic values and of the operation and consequences of electoral institutions.Less

Rawls's Political Constructivism and Democratic Values

George Klosko

in Democratic Procedures and Liberal Consensus

The preceding chapters reviewed the central beliefs of liberal citizens. The main conclusions are that in spite of deep-seated disagreements between proponents of different comprehensive views, there ... More

The preceding chapters reviewed the central beliefs of liberal citizens. The main conclusions are that in spite of deep-seated disagreements between proponents of different comprehensive views, there is strong consensus on central political values concerning the need for democratic procedures and individual rights, on distributive norms based on merit, and that people should have equal economic opportunities. However, this measure of consensus rests upon a substructure of underlying disagreements, and people with different comprehensive views interpret central values differently. Combining these differences on central values leaves a situation that is accurately described in Rawls's account of ‘overlapping consensus’: agreement on a range of central principles, which people interpret differently from perspectives of their own comprehensive views. This chapter reviews Rawls's views on political liberalism.Less

Towards a Democratic Vision of the Public Interest

Mike Feintuck

in ‘The Public Interest’ in Regulation

Though the very phrase ‘the public interest’ has an air of democratic propriety, the absence of any identifiable normative content renders the concept insubstantial, and hopelessly vulnerable to ... More

Though the very phrase ‘the public interest’ has an air of democratic propriety, the absence of any identifiable normative content renders the concept insubstantial, and hopelessly vulnerable to annexation or colonisation by those who exercise power in society. This chapter considers whether the concept might in fact be capable of resuscitation and reinvigoration via closer examination and deeper understanding of its functions and conceptual connections. It seeks to establish an analytical framework upon which a more robust construct of the public interest might be developed. It examines the historically changing nature of the concept of public interest and its manifestation in law and regulation. The concept is discussed in the context of democratic values, and in particular in relationship with expectations of citizenship, with which the public interest is intimately connected. Some commentators note how the public interest serves as a complement to concepts of human rights, or view it as offering a degree of linkage or balance between the rights and duties associated with citizenship.Less

The Roles of Elections

Richard S. Katz

in Democracy and Elections

This chapter examines the role of elections in the democratic process. It aims to provide an alternative structure for considering the expectations about, and evaluative standards for, elections ... More

This chapter examines the role of elections in the democratic process. It aims to provide an alternative structure for considering the expectations about, and evaluative standards for, elections raised by democratic theories. It discusses the equality element of democracy and suggests that though elections play a central role in all theories of democracy, the specific functions of elections vary tremendously from one conception of democracy to another. It concludes that a valid connection between electoral institutions and democratic values must be based on an accurate picture of the options available in the design of those institutions and of the consequences of choosing one option rather than another.Less

Summary and Conclusions

Mike Feintuck

in ‘The Public Interest’ in Regulation

The essential argument of this book has been that ‘the public interest’ need not be a cover for ignorance, or an empty vessel, and that seeking to understand it need not be comparable with the ... More

The essential argument of this book has been that ‘the public interest’ need not be a cover for ignorance, or an empty vessel, and that seeking to understand it need not be comparable with the mythical quest for the Holy Grail. Rather, the concept has the potential to serve fundamental democratic values. Viewed holistically, both civic republicanism in the United States and liberalism in the United Kingdom acknowledge democratic values beyond those of the market, and identify citizenship concerns as central to the democratic settlement. In addition to the hegemony of market-individualist ideology and the rise of global capital, a combination of other factors have led to the ‘non-commodity values’ contained within democracy being put under severe threat. While in practice it is likely that the term ‘public interest’ will continue to be used loosely, and will carry a variety of meanings, a core meaning could be established in the context of regulation which identifies it closely with the values of equality of citizenship within democracy.Less

Wider Applications of the Public Interest

Mike Feintuck

in ‘The Public Interest’ in Regulation

This chapter considers other areas in which the concept of public interest might be used to facilitate the legal system's potential to reflect fundamental, substantive, democratic expectations. The ... More

This chapter considers other areas in which the concept of public interest might be used to facilitate the legal system's potential to reflect fundamental, substantive, democratic expectations. The areas covered here suggest some preliminary thoughts and agendas for future research, where public interest values arising from expectations of equality of citizenship may appear to relate closely to existing or nascent legal principles, both in public law and private law. In essence, the agenda identifies a range of areas in which private property power is, or might be, limited by reference to non-commodity values. The focus of this book has been from the outset specifically on the impact of regulation in the name of the public interest rather than broader questions of the constitutional order. Thus, this chapter explores potential edifices for legitimate public interest intervention which highlight the actuality of, or potential for, the lawyer acting as institutional architect in pursuit of constitutional objectives. The focus is on the extent to which law may fulfil its potential as a ‘surrogate political process’ in relation to democratic values.Less