A10457218
Problematics of Democracy and the Important of Democratic Stability Democracy does not exist without any problems. One of the main problems that undermine the stability of democracy is not solely about the triumph of one party or another but rather the cost of maintaining democratic stability. The issue at hand is cost and is specified into two types, transition and compensational costs. Transition costs include conflict, potential, instability and social polarization (Magagna, Lecture 17 January 2016). These costs include a differing in opinion between political groups and the forming of organizations to support a specific cause. The second cost is based on the uneven distribution of benefits in the democratic situation. …show more content…
For example, in order for democracy to function, people need to vote. However, when perverse incentives come into play, some people may decide not to vote even when there is a legality requirement for voting. There are other incentives at hand that people are willing to give up voting requirements for. In addition, democracy also induces intractable cleavages. These cleavages are conflicts that are inevitable in every society and these conflicts may affect the institutional and political stability of democracy. For example, coalitions of small groups that are not represented may cause issues that affect the democratic state. A common known example would be union groups that can go on strikes that affect the everyday lives and progress of their companies. Dissatisfied people will generate opposition to the democratic government. Mayhap, the general problems are rooted from the institutional design also known as the No Perfect Rule (Magagna, Lecture 17 January 2016). This rule demonstrates that there will also be some source of unexpected error to undermine an intended cause. For example, Free Rider and collective action problems are involving in voting stability. Agency costs and agency loss is also a problem since many agents will not act fully in your interest and may have somewhat dwelled upon their own …show more content…
The problem of democratic instability roots from the idea of a faulty institutional design. Modern states all have institutional mechanisms between the opponents and the supporters of democracy (Magagna, Lecture 24 January 2016). The conditions of democratic change along with stability and instability is what is critical to the explanation. Firstly, market logic displayed that as society became more commercial and market relations became more centralized, democratic ideals will also be promoted at the same time. Nevertheless, the market logic does not always apply. When we look at China, its economic situation is very robust and progressive but the country is not necessarily moving towards more a democratic political state. The connections between market and democracy does not explain the outcomes of the transitioning into democracy. The next idea introduced is the middle class demand where that most middle class are more pro-democratic. Throughout history, it has shown that middle class has shown more trending support for democratic ideals. This is another false theory because there has not yet been shown a specific class that is leading the democratic supporters. It is false to say that the more we develop a middle class, the more stable democracy can exist (Magagna, Lecture 24 January 2016). The next