Different Models of Democracy | PSIR Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Different Models of Democracy

Representative Democracy
Representative democracy is a system of government in which qualified citizens vote for representatives who are responsible for passing laws and making decisions on their behalf. This type of democracy is founded on the principle of elected individuals representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.

Key Principles of Representative Democracy:

• Regular, free, and fair elections based on universal suffrage and secret ballots.
• Competing political parties offering electoral choices.
• Electoral laws supervised by an independent judiciary.
• Freedom of speech and association.
• Freedom to stand as an election candidate.
• Reasonable relationships between votes cast and representatives elected.
• Availability of accurate unbiased political information.

Major Benefits of Representative Democracy

•  People have a say in who is elected to government office.
•  Elected officials are present in all areas of the country, making them accessible to citizens.
•  Encourages citizens to be more educated and uptodate on current issues.

Main Drawbacks of Representative Democracy

•  Limited voice for citizens once the election process is over.
•  Focus on the majority, often neglecting minority groups and their concerns.
•  Elected officials may not always fulfill their campaign promises or act in the best interest of citizens.

Participatory Democracy

Participatory democracy emphasizes the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems. It aims to create opportunities for all members of a population to make meaningful contributions to decisionmaking and increase the range of people who have access to such opportunities.

Aims of Participatory Democracy

• Obtain the consent of the people behind laws and administration, as suggested by Rousseau.
• Enhance human development and the sense of political efficacy, as supported by Mill and Pateman.
• Encourage citizens to take an active interest in government affairs.
• Foster a sense of responsibility among citizens by involving them in the political, legal, and economic processes of the state.
• Stimulate the innovative qualities of individuals through direct participation.

Representative democracy and participatory democracy are two distinct models of governance. While representative democracy focuses on electing individuals to represent the interests of a group of people, participatory democracy emphasizes the active involvement of citizens in the decision-making process. Both models have their advantages and drawbacks, and understanding these differences can help in making informed choices about the most suitable form of governance for a particular society.

Major Characteristics of Participatory Democracy

1. Direct Participation in Decision-Making Processes: In participatory democracy, people have the opportunity to directly engage in the functions and decision-making processes of the state. This means that there is no provision for delegating power to another body or organ, and citizens are actively involved in shaping policies and making decisions that affect their lives.
2. Role of Political Parties: Though Rousseau, a supporter of participatory democracy, did not favor the party system, it is believed that political parties are essential for the smooth functioning of participatory democracy in modern times. Political parties can organize and lead such a system to success by mobilizing citizens and facilitating their participation in the democratic process.
3. People as the Determining Factor at all Levels: In participatory democracy, people are the determining factors at all stages of state administration, including local levels. This means that the representative system cannot be used as an excuse to bypass the will of the people, and citizens must have the opportunity to influence decisions at all levels of governance.
4. Remodeling and Remolding Social and Political Structures: A system that embraces participatory democracy must remodel and remold its social and political structure to facilitate the smooth functioning of democracy. This includes creating institutions and organizations that promote citizen participation and ensuring that these institutions are maintained and operated effectively.
5. Emphasis on Equality: Participatory democracy emphasizes the importance of equality, particularly political equality. This means that all citizens must have equal opportunities to participate in the democratic process and influence decisions that affect their lives.
6. Protection of Rights and Liberties: In addition to equality, participatory democracy also emphasizes the protection of rights and liberties. This ensures that citizens can freely express their opinions, associate with others, and participate in the democratic process without fear of reprisal or discrimination.
7. Political Inclusion and Expansion of Democratic Nationality: Participatory democracy focuses on the "quantitative" dimension of mass democracy by highlighting the political role of civil society. It aims to determine "how many people take part in how many political venues to make how many decisions" (Citroni 2010). Consequently, participatory theory promotes the political inclusion of all individuals in an attempt to enlarge and radicalize democratic nationality. This means that participatory democracy seeks to create a more inclusive and vibrant democratic system in which all citizens have the opportunity to actively engage in the democratic process.

Deliberative Democracy

Deliberative democracy, also known as discursive democracy, is a form of democracy where deliberation is central to decision-making. It incorporates elements of both consensus decision-making and majority rule, and is characterized by authentic deliberation rather than mere voting as the primary source of legitimacy for law-making processes. Deliberative democracy can coexist with representative and direct democracy, and aims to include citizens from diverse backgrounds in the deliberations that directly affect public decisions.

1. Origins of Deliberative Democracy: The term "deliberative democracy" was first coined by Joseph M. Bessette in his 1980 work "Deliberative Democracy: The Majority Principle in Republican Government." Although the history of democracy can be traced back to the Romans and Athenians, democratic forms have evolved over time, giving rise to new theories like deliberative democracy.
2. Emphasis on Citizen Voices: Deliberative democracy seeks to reinforce citizen voices in governance by ensuring that people from all races, classes, ages, and geographies have the opportunity to participate in deliberations that directly affect public decisions. As a result, citizens have more influence on policy and resource decisions that impact their daily lives and future.
3. Principles of Deliberative Democracy: The core principles of deliberative democracy include reasoned reflection, mutual understanding, and the possibility of reframing interests and perspectives. Participants in deliberative processes should be open to understanding the values, perspectives, and interests of others, and should work together in a joint search for common interests and mutually acceptable solutions.
4. Challenges of Mass Participation: One of the challenges faced by deliberative democracy is that mass participation can make deliberation cumbersome and limit the ability of individuals to contribute substantially to discussions. Professor James Fishkin suggests that random sampling can be used to obtain a small but representative sample of the population, though this may not allow for mass participation. Nevertheless, the primary goal of deliberative democracy is to expand opportunities for citizens to engage in deliberation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, representative democracy, participatory democracy, and deliberative democracy are three distinct models of governance that offer various ways for citizens to engage in the decision-making process. Representative democracy focuses on electing individuals to represent the interests of a group, while participatory democracy emphasizes active involvement of citizens and deliberative democracy values reasoned reflection and mutual understanding. Each model has its advantages and drawbacks, and understanding these differences can help societies make informed choices about the most suitable form of governance to meet their needs and aspirations.