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    Liberal Theory of Democracy

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    Adarsh Tripathi
    The document discusses the liberal theory of democracy. It begins by explaining that liberalism arose as a reaction to absolutism and emphasized individual freedom. Key features of the liberal theory of democracy include sovereignty lying with the people, liberty, equality, representative government, periodic elections, and rule of law. The theory is also criticized for potentially leading to unstable government and the rule of the rich.

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    Liberal Theory of Democracy

    Uploaded by

    Adarsh Tripathi
    191 views11 pages
    The document discusses the liberal theory of democracy. It begins by explaining that liberalism arose as a reaction to absolutism and emphasized individual freedom. Key features of the liberal theory of democracy include sovereignty lying with the people, liberty, equality, representative government, periodic elections, and rule of law. The theory is also criticized for potentially leading to unstable government and the rule of the rich.

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    The document discusses the liberal theory of democracy. It begins by explaining that liberalism arose as a reaction to absolutism and emphasized individual freedom. Key features of the liberal theory of democracy include sovereignty lying with the people, liberty, equality, representative government, periodic elections, and rule of law. The theory is also criticized for potentially leading to unstable government and the rule of the rich.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    191 views11 pages

    Liberal Theory of Democracy

    Uploaded by

    Adarsh Tripathi
    The document discusses the liberal theory of democracy. It begins by explaining that liberalism arose as a reaction to absolutism and emphasized individual freedom. Key features of the liberal theory of democracy include sovereignty lying with the people, liberty, equality, representative government, periodic elections, and rule of law. The theory is also criticized for potentially leading to unstable government and the rule of the rich.

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    LIBERAL THEORY OF

    DEMOCRACY
    Dr. Gagandeep Dhaliwal
    Asst prof, pol sci
    AIL, Mohali
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY

    • The Liberal Theory of Democracy is based on the Liberal ideology. Liberalism is an important political,
    economic and social ideology. Till 17th century Liberalism arose as a reaction to Absolutism which was
    prevalent whereby the King, pope and the feudal lord were absolute in their own fields i.e. Political,
    Religious and economic. Due this man’s freedom was suppressed a lot.
    • English word Liberalism has been borrowed from a Latin word 'Liberalis'. The Latin word "Liberalis"
    means "Free Man". The literal meaning of "Liberalism" makes it amply clear that the ideology of
    Liberalism is basically an ideology of a free man or freedom of man. The ideology of Liberalism gives
    importance to the freedom of man in all the walks of life. The freedom of man is the very substance of the
    entire Liberal ideology.
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY

    The ideology of Liberalism is neither a brain child of a particular thinker, nor it can be associated
    with any particular date or era of the history. The various doctrines of this ideology evolved
    gradually and several scholars have made their own contributions in making this ideology to
    flourish extensively. Due to this Liberalism got most lucid expression in the writings of Locke,
    Rousseau, Herbert Spencer, Thomas Paine, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Ricardo etc .
    The classical liberalists believed in ‘Liberty without restraints’.
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY

    • But, after the mid of the 19thcentury, the Negative Liberalism had to face several new kinds of
    circumstances and it resulted in affecting a change in the nature of Liberalism.

    • The propounders of Positive Liberalism laid stress on handing over more and more social welfare
    functions to the state, whereas the supporters of Classical or Negative Liberalism laid stress on
    the policy of Laissez Faire and believed state to be a necessary evil.
    • The various Contemporary Liberalists have laid stress on the principles of human rights, representativebodies,
    universal suffrage, secularism, rule of law, abjuring violence in public life, open competition to enter politics, etc.
    • In the words of a famous scholar, Hallo-well, "Liberalism is the embodiment of thedemand for freedom in every
    sphere of life, i.e. intellectual, social, religious, political and economic."
    • In the view of another scholar, Sartori, "Very simply, Liberalism is theory and practice of individual liberty,
    judicial defence and the constitutional state."
    • Several scholars have made their own contribution in the evolution of the ideology ofLiberalism at different
    periods of time. The names of English scholars like Herbert Spencer,Hobbes, John Locke, James Mill, Bentham,
    John Stuart Mill, T.H. Green, Hobhouse, H.J.Laski; French scholars like Rousseau, Montesquieu and American
    scholars like ThomasJefferson, Banjamin Franklin, etc. are remarkably outstanding
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY

    • The Liberal Theory of Democracy is based on the Liberal ideology.


    • The various democratic principles of the Liberal ideology are
    collectively termed as the Liberal Theory of Democracy. Liberal
    Democracy is also known as Indirect Democracy or
    Representative Democracy.
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY-FEATURES

    • Faith in rationality of man


    • Sovereignty lies with the people
    • Liberty
    • Equality
    • Justice
    • Fraternity
    • Rule of law
    • Representative Government
    • Open competition for political power
    • Freedom to form and join political parties
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY-FEATURES

    • Periodical Elections
    • Rule of majority
    • Adult franchise
    • Secret Ballot
    • Public Opinion
    • Faith in constitutional/peaceful means
    • Independent and impartial judiciary
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY-FEATURES

    • Pluralistic Society
    • Tolerance
    • Fundamental Rights
    • Freedom of Thought and expression
    • State as ‘means not an end’
    • Accountability of the Government towards the people
    • Free and Honest Press
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY-CRITICISM

    • Stress on quantity than quality


    • Rule of incompetent persons
    • Expensive Government
    • Unstable government
    • Most voters do not take interest in voting process
    • Democracy is the government of the rich
    LIBERAL THEORY OF DEMOCRACY-CRITICISM

    • Criticism by the Marxists


    • Criticism by the Elitists

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