This in-depth paper analyzes the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Federalist Papers while contending that these historical works of writing contain the basic principles which most democraticsocieties around the world are built upon.
Abstract This well-researched paper, written as a proposal intended for a fictitious remote island in the South Pacific, details the basic principles needed to create a viable and prosperous democraticsociety. This paper contains selected texts from the U.S. Constitution, Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights which are all crucial building blocks when instituting a democratic government. This paper also lays out a plan for creating an expedient and profitable economy by making use of existing resources such as land and agriculture.
From the Paper "Given the fact that each state will have its own government for the conduct of its own internal affairs, Article IV is applicable since it contains provisions that pertain to the responsibility of the states to each other and of the central government to the states. This is an important part of the effort to conduct business in each region in such a way that the national interest will be upheld. I suggest that you adopt a similar set of measures to regulate internal affairs in the future as you become more involved in commerce with the rest of the world and with your neighbors in the Pacific."
Tags: democracy, government, history, democratic, society, united, states, bill, of, rights, constitution, plan
Abstract This paper examines several recent attempts at democratization in the 20th century. The paper suggests that in Japan and Germany in the years following World War II, Allied attempts to foster the creation of democraticsocieties were successful to varying degrees. The paper then concludes that consequently many have drawn a parallel between democratization in those nations and current attempts to create a democraticsociety in Iraq.
From the Paper "The Process of Democratization: How Does the Current Issue in Iraq Contrast with the Process in Post-World War II Germany and Japan? The process of democratization in a nation is not as simple and straightforward as many politicians would have us believe. This is evident when we examine several recent attempts at democratization in the 20th century. In Japan and Germany in the years following World War II, Allied attempts to foster the creation of democratic societies were successful to varying degrees."
Abstract This six-page argumentative essay highlights and discusses the contributions of oral, literate and electronic processes to democraticsociety based on extensive research and an in-depth analysis of the topic. The bibliography appends nine sources in APA format.
Abstract This paper examines the book "The Good Society" by Robert Bellah et al. which argues that social problems faced by all today are mainly due to the disappointment of institutions, as well as the collective response of the society as a whole. It discusses a proposed new democraticsociety being an exclusive one in world order and gives a social psychological analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of this ideal world. It argues how in order to be "the good society", individuals should be left free to follow their private satisfactions autonomously of others.
From the Paper "However, another feature of this book to which the author Bellah has argued and may not be much agreeable is when he talked about the new democratic society directly being an exclusive one in world order. He gave a social psychological analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of society that have been proficiently interpreted the necessity for a new public philosophy by asking the question, "Is this great society a good society?" (Andre, 1992). Here the argument lies that no matter how the society is, it always contain its weaknesses and strengths, so the question of author "Is this great society a good society"? does not give a positive impression on the reader's mind."
Tags: homelessness, joblessness, economy, work, government, politics, society
Abstract This paper focuses on the relationship between a free-market economy and a representative government, exploring the values implicit in a capitalist society that are conducive to democratic rule. Using the United States as an example, the paper then moves on to examine other cultural values that may be necessary for the creation and maintenance of a democraticsociety. It looks at the concept of majority rule without compromising the rights and desires of the minority and concludes with a study of voter participation in the USA.
From the Paper "Current definitions of representative democratic government ? which we might more properly call republican (but not Republican) government ? are far more likely to include ideas about economics as well as ideas about the purely political. It is the consensus today of many political scientists ? and many just ordinary citizens ? that democracy cannot exist in the absence of a free or at least a nearly free market. (There are certainly those that disagree that a free market is a requisite for representative government; the electorate of Brazil that just voted a socialist into the country's highest office, for example.)"
Abstract This paper summarizes and reviews author and criminal law professor Jerome Skolnick's book on justice in a democraticsociety. The paper explains the main thesis of Skolnick's book that the first line of defense in the protection of personal safety and property in any democraticsociety is that of effective law enforcement and then explains why Skolnick see this as inherently problematic.
From the Paper "Skolnick wrote in 1966 that despite the appearance in the instutitionsal fabric of American society, of a disinterested justice ethic, the systemic focus upon clearance rates in the then-current American policy model of criminal justice encouaged police to merely create an appearnce of doing their job. Police, Skolnick argued when he first wrote the article that became the text under discussion, that the police were pursuing convictions rather than seeking truth at any price. Police were willing to see the innocent convicted, at the price of justice itself, merely to 'do their job' and they thought, to create a more secure society."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of a free press in a democraticsociety. it explores the importance of an informed public to a democraticsociety. The author defines notions of a free press and discusses why the American Founding Fathers were against government interference with the press.
From the Paper "As the famous quote by Lord Acton states so pithily, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Democracy is a fragile construct precisely because power can corrupt the best of men. For this reason democracy can only flourish when ..."
This paper explores whether the media in the United States, Canada and Mexico are effective in investigating government and sustaining democratic values in their societies.
Abstract The paper provides a comparison and contrast of the societies and political cultures of the United States, Canada and Mexico as well as the media operations in each culture. The paper argues that while the U.S. model is influential in both Canada and Mexico, the similarities are closest between the U.S. and Canada in that corporate power blocks systemic media criticism of government. The paper contrasts this to Mexico where a more authoritarian political structure has historically resulted in more direct political control of media by government and political authority as opposed to corporate entities. The paper clearly shows how in neither of the three countries does the media - albeit in different respects - foster democratic values.
Outline:
Introduction
Media in the United States - Personality over Politics
Media in Canada - Politics and Culture
Media in Mexico - Absolute Convergence
Conclusion
From the Paper "Political and media critics in the United States have argued that one of the defining features of American media's representation of government is its tendency to focus on personality over politics. This can be seen most clearly in presidents, as the recent presidencies of George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have revealed an extraordinary level of focus on one individual personality rather than the complex processes of government itself. In fact, this was a process that began with the era of television in the 1950s, when politicians became celebrities and their political power was closely intertwined with their media images (Schickel 201). Since that time, American political campaigns have been oriented towards television and the importance of the thirty second "sound bite" (Jackson et al. 129)."
Tags: corporate, power, political, control, television
Abstract This paper argues that it is the duty of a democratic government to create equality of opportunity for its citizens and to avoid the equality of outcome so feared by conservatives and critics of liberal welfare reforms. The paper focuses on the issue of poverty within a democraticsociety and examines theories of whether this is a natural outcome of democracy or whether the governments can do something to turn this trend around.
From the Paper "Since racial discrimination has in the past played a large role in perpetuating poverty, government involvement is necessary to put racial minorities in the same socioeconomic level as the majority. In America, African Americans had been fiercely segregated and enslaved for hundreds of years, robbing them of property and even liberty enjoyed by Caucasian Americans. As a result of this discrimination, African Americans emerged poorer than the average white citizens, even after the Civil Rights Movement Legislation of 1950s. In response, various social institutions and public assistance bureaus were created to reduce the difference in economic status (Pivan and Cloward, p128)."
Abstract This paper examines modern democraticsocieties, and discusses how liberal democratic principles are at odds with the model of citizenship held by modern nation-states. The paper shows that conflicts and disputes have arisen because universalistic claims of liberalism and democracy appear to be incompatible with the exclusionary, boundary-staking functions of citizenship laws and policies of the contemporary nation-states. Subsequently, nation-states are under siege from several directions as they struggle to reconcile universal principles of liberalism and democracy with modern political realities.
Abstract This paper looks into the practice of politics in the United States. The writer discusses the polarity in conservative/liberal political views, as represented by the two major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. The writer demonstrates that the significance of this study is to foster an understanding of how the pluralistic dimension of political discourse affects politics in the United States.
From the Paper "The prevalent political culture of the United States has shaped the way politics are practiced. Political culture is the inherited set of beliefs, attitudes and opinions Americans have about how their government ought to operate. We know that there is an overall shared culture through information derived from voting, polls, books, speeches and what we see on the media. The foundation of political culture is based on certain common values including the freedoms in the Bill of Rights, liberty, equality, individual responsibility, democracy ... "
Tags: ideologies, political parties, democrat, republican, pluralistic society, rights, political culture
Abstract This paper discusses the problems of justice in a democraticsociety in terms of philosophical, political, and social issues. Political philosophers such as Plato, Augustine, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, and Marx are cited in order to frame the discussion and provide the foundation for subsequent discourse.
Abstract This paper discusses how public video surveillance is becoming one of the hottest issues regarding privacy rights today. Already common in some countries, public video surveillance is now being used in the United States in places such as street corners, where video cameras are installed to see what people on the street are doing, and at big public events such as the Super Bowl. It shows that, while this new video surveillance is being done under the guise of protecting the security of the general public, it has also brought with it a host of new and serious issues regarding the right to privacy. It debates such issues as how much privacy are we entitled to in a free democraticsociety, where should the eyes of the federal government not be prying, and whether there are any realistic limits to the invasion of privacy in the name of public safety anymore.
From the Paper "Surveillance technology has taken many drastic leaps and bounds in many years, as companies scramble to produce it to meet the growing demand for it by government agencies and other consumers who wish to monitor their fellow man. I.B.M., in fact, has recently announced that it would offer a new system of consulting and system-design services for digital network-based video surveillance systems ("Big Blue" 2003). I.B.M. wants retail stores, corporations, and government agencies to abandon older analogue systems and to move the management of surveillance operations to corporate surveillance management departments that will specialize in the operations of such technology. Unlike older systems, digital images can be indexed and searched easily and can easily capture the face of nearly everyone who walks through the doors of a store on any given day."
Abstract This paper explains how a free market system helps promote and sustain a democracy. The paper describes how the market system of supply and demand functions as an engine for innovation and social progress and how the right to private property helps economic prosperity. The paper also looks at government involvement within a free market and democratic system and the important role that entrepreneurs play in that system.
From the Paper "In a democratic system, such as that currently found in the United States and many European countries, a free market economy is crucial to overall growth and productivity, for within a free market, economic interests "tend to band together to form labor unions, associations, and consumer organizations which enhance their own bargaining power while taking into consideration the profits and power of the giant corporations" (Schatter, 45), not to mention the ruling democratic government which often helps to foster and maintain the economies of any industrialized society. In such a free market system, citizens are allowed to keep and hold private property, bear the responsibility of ownership such as in a small business, strive for profit, and promote fair and equal competition. In addition, a free market economy within a democratic system promotes societal progress through national and international cooperation that advances the common interests by economic and political means."
Abstract This paper traces the history and beginnings of the college organization, Students for a DemocraticSociety (SDS), from its inception to its demise and looks at how the original members and subsequent members contributed to the philosophy and leadership of the organization. The paper also describes the heyday of SDS, as well as the probable reasons for its demise.
From the Paper "These men, although dedicated, were ?from the upper end of the social and financial scale and in their schemes to redress national ills were rather more visionary than revolutionary; in common with much of the American left of the time, they saw the role of good socialists to be one of education.? His beliefs and position in life came down garbled to a writer in New Left Notes; in October 1968, an SDS member wrote that Sinclair had ?resigned as president of Columbia University because he considered the university system to be full of shit.? On several counts, the SDS writer was erroneous, not least of which the movement created by Sinclair et al, with excellent educations and excellent command of the language"not to mention more refined sensibilities"would have eschewed using such language to discuss the high ideals they proposed to educate America about."
Tags: harry, w., laidler, upton, sinclair, the, jungle, clarence, darrow, jack, london, stokes, tom, hayden, port, huron, statement
