tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875945.post113128861845673018..comments2023-10-03T11:58:35.983+02:00Comments on ECONOCLASM: What is democracy?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875945.post-1131719612922272422005-11-11T15:33:00.000+01:002005-11-11T15:33:00.000+01:00Hi Sean. Your point is important. The question is ...Hi Sean. Your point is important. The question is whether or not government becomes one "for the people" if all the conditions I listed above are satisfied. I think this is where lobbying kicks in. In elections, only one or two issues determine the outcome. Obviously there are myriads of issues in society. For those interested in issues ignored during elections, they form a lobby and try to influence government. This itself is a good thing. Lobbying complements electoral democracy.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if those whose interest is aligned with candidates defeated in elections lobby the government to alter policy-making process, this hurts democracy, which may lead to people's disillusion on democracy. But autocracy is unlikely to change this as dictators are (even more?) susceptible to lobbying as well.<BR/><BR/>I may not directly respond to your point. I need to elaborate more on this...<BR/><BR/>I'll email you later.<BR/><BR/>MasaMasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02071045428202830819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875945.post-1131489234943775032005-11-08T23:33:00.000+01:002005-11-08T23:33:00.000+01:00Hi MasaHow are you? A very well organised approach...Hi Masa<BR/><BR/>How are you? A very well organised approach to a complex problem. I am going to sound like a broken record. I am a firm believer in Lincoln's comment on what constitutes democracy. Democracy is also government 'for the people'.<BR/><BR/>Thus, one factor that is often ignored, and probably for reasonable methodological reasons, is the extent to which the decisions of the government match the preferences of the greater proportion of the people.<BR/><BR/>This aspect is key to understanding the challenes to democracy and democratization in developing countries, inluding my own. Continued frustration in terms of government delivering on promises or addressing concerns of their people is a critical component of democratic fragility and breakdown. <BR/><BR/>So how is the research otherwise? Email me let me know whats new. You can keep up to date by reading my blog.<BR/><BR/>SeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875945.post-1131484491014299152005-11-08T22:14:00.000+01:002005-11-08T22:14:00.000+01:00Hi Eik. How have you been? Glad you liked this pos...Hi Eik. How have you been? Glad you liked this post. I'm not sure yet but I think this checklist covers all possible political events associated with democracy around the world and makes it easy to think about various kinds of democratization.<BR/><BR/>I hope I will be on the job market next year, but the prospect is not good at all as I haven't finished any paper yet...<BR/><BR/>MasaMasahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02071045428202830819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875945.post-1131413684497464392005-11-08T02:34:00.000+01:002005-11-08T02:34:00.000+01:00Hello. Although my primary fields are development ...Hello. Although my primary fields are development ad political economy, I have to say that I have no specific interest in democracy. But, your post was sufficiently interesting for me to keep on reading. Good job! When are you planning to go on to the job market?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com