Participatory democracy

There is currently a great debate in our nation about the necessity of Voter ID laws and the impact they will have on our democracy. It is with clear distinction that the Voter ID laws recently passed in various states, noted by right wing support, are a clear infringement on the ideals of a collective and openly participatory democracy. Voter ID laws, which in their inception are supposedly to protect democratic thought, would be a noble effort if they were implemented without malicious…

This paper is written based on an exploration and subsequent interview of a city administrator in Brooklyn Park. It will address the role and challenges that an administrator whose practices are closely aligned with the New Public Service world view faces in discharging her duties to the public. In an attempt to answer the central question of how and in whose interest do public administrators serve as agential leaders, three tenets, key to a good public agency that administers in the interest of…

terms to describe the nature of democracy, and this paper will aim to bring forth yet another one. Each term has its own different definition attached to it, ranging from the original, participatory form that did not have any notion of a hierarchy, to the more modern liberal democracy that instead relies on this notion of a hierarchy. Democracy is the movement that never stands still; it sails on the ship that is progressiveness. Progress is what has allowed democracy to be shaped and molded so…

by means of voting and debate. Representative democracy derives its legitimacy from the electoral process which weeds out any unfit candidates who lack the fundamental depth of knowledge it takes to rule effectively. As the elected officials are drawn from the larger civic body, the precondition of a democracy being of the people is maintained, thus debunking the question of their “elitism” raised in the prompt. If and only if this form of democracy is filled with an engaged citizenry…

Action research is about immersion and willing to critique yourself and change what you thought and did. Action research is about feeling exposed and vulnerable but it helps others to share and learn in a similar way to you. Action research is changing and gives values to opinions and experiences of others. Perspective becomes the whole and challenges you to listen learn and act differently. Action research is about immersion and willing to critique yourself and change what you thought and did.…

nature and looks to enhance theory and verify its applicability. In the literature, there is also the mention of participatory action research (Cassell and Johnson, 2006; Greenwood et al, 1993). In their work, Greenwood et al (1993) make a case for participatory action research by explaining its composition and how it enhances the quality of research. By their definition, participatory action research brings together a member of the organization (insider) and an expert research in the research…

Pericles became the most influential politician and general in Athens from the late 450s until his death in c.430-29. He was from the prominent noble Alkmeonidae family which gave him status and privilege and he was closely involved at a young age, in the democratic reforms of Ephialtes (In which the power of the Areopagus was weakened and then transferred to the demos) Pericles had been the leader of the democratic faction of Athenian politics since 462 BCE and his leadership meant that Athens…

Greek democracy is different from contemporary democracy, but the overall idea is similar. “Democracy is a form of government that gives power to the people” (“What Is a Democracy?”). In Athens, they had a direct democracy. Today, we have a representative democracy. In both democracies, the people ultimately have the power. Athenian democracy is different than contemporary democracy because it is exclusive, while contemporary allows more people to have a say, and Athenian officials are chosen…

Democracy was a revolutionary development of the Ancient Greek society; it was an innovative idea which gave the citizens of Ancient Greece the freedom to participate in the governmental system and contribute in the processes and decisions, this in turn helped Ancient Greece succeed politically and economically. This democratic society, not only helped Greece succeed in the Mediterranean region, but also influenced modern day society in relation to our democratic system. The Ancient Greeks…

Republic, Plato outlines his distaste for democracy, a system which he saw as ineffective and corrupt. He then puts forward his idea of just government – that the ruling class should come from the top of a stratified society, the guardians and then for philosopher rule. Plato believed that democracy allowed for the unjust and least virtuous in society to rule for their own gain rather than the common good, an idea that was extremely important to the participatory politics of Ancient Athens.…