Preview

Citizens Participation In The Middle Ages

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
156 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Citizens Participation In The Middle Ages
In contrast to the antique, the Middle Ages were less concerned about the role of citizens in a democracy. Rather than debating the values and pitfalls of civic participation, political philosophers, such as Machiavelli, contemplated the proper form of government and the role of rulers and subjects. However, the renaissance, reformation, and enlightenment revived old ideas of political involvement of the public. While views diverged on the matter, a resurgence of interest in democracy occurred. Themes and topics investigated ranged from the necessity of citizens participation as a protective measure of private property, as pointed out by Bentham, and to attain better outcomes, as put forth by Mill, to citizen apathy, an uniformed, uneducated

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Early modern Western Europe faced political changes from 1500-1750. These were based on three main political ideas: monarchy, balance of power, and religious reforms. The main type of government became monarchies, which had one main ruler and a parliament. The parliament was a group of state-elected legislatures, used to represent the citizens. Document five, Political Craft and Craftiness on page 420-421, explains the qualities that Machiavelli thought that a prince should have to be a proper prince. In the past, empires had one ruler and that was it, which meant that the citizens had no say in what was going on in the government. This made the process of law-making more fair than if just one person were making all of the decisions. Balance…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay I will explain the 4 main ways in which the participation in our democracy in the UK can be strengthened. The 4 ways are; Increased use of referendums, compulsory voting, Digital democracy and finally, lowering the voting age. Obviously, all of the listed ideas have advantages and disadvantages and this is what I will explain in this essay.…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Enlightenment started in the early 1700’s and helped to develop Europe to a state closer to what it is today. During this time period, art and literature flourished. A new focus earthed that sparked interest in science and reason. This time period is known as a period of discovery. Political developments were made as well; kings now did not rule by divine right. People believed that if they gave their consent to be governed, that actions should be taken in their best interest; failure to do so implicits the overthrow of the government. Here, we see small steps being made towards democracy in european societies. Overall, The Enlightenment sparked a new way of thinking among the people of Europe. Interest in science and reason led to many important discoveries. The Enlightenment lit the fuse for political…

    • 574 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Absolutism Dbq Analysis

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages

    One of these people, Voltaire, preferred democracy as their Method of rule. In document 4 Voltaire expressed his thoughts on leadership “the best government seems to be that in which all ranks of men are equally protected by the laws….” This philosopher is trying to convey his beliefs on democracy and this will get citizens to question the churches methods in the future. The same can be said about document 5, another philosopher john Locke, wrote about his ideas. Both john and Voltaire share the same ideas on government: this is a quote from johns Two Treatises on Government “Men being by nature all free, equal, and independent no one can be subjected to the political power of another without his consent” in this quote he wants the system of government to be centered around the people,…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    To keep the government working towards the general good of the people, Rousseau believed that any governing body should be elected by the individuals of a nation. In the American republic, mayors, senators, even the President, are elected by the citizens. In this fashion, the general good is put before individual interests.…

    • 291 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marshall’s (1950) theory of citizenship has been discussed and criticised widely as this is where the basis of the concept of citizenship lies. He divided citizenship into three parts. Firstly the civil component, which includes the ‘freedom of speech, the right to own property and the right to justice’ (Marshall 1950 cited in Turner 2003:189). This component is necessary for the achievement of individual freedom. Secondly is the political element; ‘constituted by the rights to participate in the exercise of political power, in particular the rights to free elections and a secret ballot’ (Turner 2003:190). And finally the social component as the right to ‘a modicum of economic welfare and security to the right to share to the full in the social heritage and to live the life of a civilized being’ (Marshall 1950 cited in Turner 2003:190). Marshall further argues that tension has developed in society because of an increasing need for economic profitability, the taxation requirements and the rights of citizens to welfare provisions (Turner 1990). However his theory has been criticised by writers who argue that his argument is complacent and conservative (Roche cited in Turner 1999:192). On the other hand Taylor 2001 uses Aristotle’s notion of citizenship. Taylor maintains that Aristotle recognised that the success and fate of democracy depended upon the quality of its citizens, although…

    • 2923 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Democracy Dbq

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the world many societies are switching to democracies from the demand from the people in that area. One of the first democracies ever was in Athens, Greece. Even though they were the first democracy ever assembled, questions arose as to how democratic they really were. Opinions vary, but although Athens became more democratic over time, because of a series of reforms, it still was still more un-democratic then democratic. Therefore there power was too limited to be considered a true democracy due to the fact that poor people didn’t participate in government, and that only a small amount of people were considered citizens. In order to further analyze the issue, we can ask poor people their thoughts and their participation in government. Another source would be written history of the city, so they can see if the people were more satisfied under a democracy or a non-democratic state.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Age Of Reason Dbq Essay

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the Age of reason a thinker named John Locke declared that all individuals have the right to be involved in government. “The people are at liberty to provide for themselves,by erecting a new legislative [law making body],...for the society can never ...lose the native [natural]and original right to preserve…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the present political spectrum, democracy is essentially understood as both the most humane and effective means by which to govern a body politic. While democracy is currently relatively non-controversial, this was not the case during its establishment. The democratic experiment in America was viewed somewhat indifferently by many of the world's prominent political philosophers. Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill existed among those most apprehensive of the democratic experiment. To each of these men, democracy certainly possessed certain positive attributes, but at the same time, represented a potential threat to the individual freedoms of man, through a much feared 'tyranny of the majority'.…

    • 982 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The enlightenment era, can be said, produced some of the most critical ideas that clearly impacted the development of democracy. This intellectual period that roughly lasted from the 17th to the 18th century is responsible for producing some of the most brilliant political philosophers. Amongst these philosophers and philosophes were political revolutionaries such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Cesare Baccaria, Baron de Montesquieu, David Hume, and John Locke. The ideas they promoted and would later be adopted by flourishing democracies included the individual’s freedom of expression and religion by Voltaire, the separation of powers and checks and balances by Montesquieu, rights in the field of criminal justice by Baccaria, federalism by David Hume, and the idea of natural rights by John Locke. One of the most critical enlightenment ideas that contributed greatly to the understanding of the role of government was Rousseau’s social contract. This idea was viewed and generally accepted by many contemporary philosophers and seen as genuine and practical. According to Rousseau, legitimate political authority comes only from a Social Contract agreed upon by all citizens for their mutual preservation. The collective grouping of all citizens, or the “sovereign” he states, expresses the general will that aims for the common good. Thomas Paine further explains this point in his essay Rights of man (1791) by writing that government is not a compact between those who govern and those who are governed, but instead it is a compact between the individuals themselves to produce a government.1 According to both, the general will finds its clearest expression in the general and abstract laws of the state2. Furthermore John Locke viewed the Social Contract as a form of giving legitimacy to a government only through the consent of those whom it governs and that the objective of the government is to protect the individual’s natural rights. Paine further explains that a…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Plato and Aristotle viewed democracy as a “chaotic rule of masses at the expense of wisdom and property”. Nineteenth century liberals agreed with this idea as they saw democracy as dangerous and feared it. They were concerned that democracy could threaten individual liberty. Democracy is necessarily collectivist, in that it places political authority in the hands of the people who are not a single entity but are turned into a collection of individuals or groups. This contradicts the liberal principle of individuality and atomistic society. Therefore this might lead in the interests of individual citizens being ignored. In society people have different opinions and opposing interests often resulting to political instability and conflict. The democratic solution to this conflict is the application of the majority rule; the principle that the will of the majority should prevail over that of the minority. Mill feared the unintended consequences of the rule of masses. Therefore nineteenth century liberals feared the negative repercussions of democracy such as the tyranny of the majority as the principle of the majority rule can result into the suppression of individual freedom and minority rights. Majoritarianism can not only ignore the interests of the minority but it can also create a culture of dull conformism, where people according to Mill become “transformed into mere industrious sheep as they defer to the judgments of the majority based on the unfounded assumption that the…

    • 1083 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Jacksonian Era

    • 3380 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Since Americans were victorious in the American Revolutionary War, the ideology of becoming a democracy has become a very significant part of everyday life. The Jacksonian Era in the 1820’s had an emerging working class of people like workers, clerks, and small tradesmen. As they made up a large portion of Americans, they felt that they deserved the right to vote, even though their occupations did not consist of owning any land to be able to do them. Even the lower class felt that they deserved this right because they wanted to ensure that they could vote for the candidate that would make them prosper the most economically. Another large…

    • 3380 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The most effective form of government according to Machiavelli, the prince in 1513, is absolutism. Machiavelli believed that absolutism was the most effective form of government because a democracy would have all men controlling. Machiavelli sates in document 1 that “Men are ungrateful, fickle, and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers and avid for gain, and while you are useful to them they are all with you, but as soon as danger approaches, they turn on you.” Machiavelli is saying that most men are afraid and with fear you forget your responsibilities, and since most men were afraid of the consequences of voting they would theoretically run away. Machiavelli…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    He believed that the good of the individual would produce the good of society. He preached an utilitarian view that the individual had the right to do whatever they wish with their lives. This could only be obtained if the individual’s choices didn’t hinder the growth of the state and/or harm others. However, Mill felt that the power popular opinion has a big influence on the individual causing them to not depend on their own personal thoughts, but instead the thoughts of the majority.“...The nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. A question seldom stated, and hardly ever discussed, in general terms, but which profoundly influences the practical controversies of the age by its latent presence, and is likely soon to make itself recognised as the vital question of the future.” (Mill, Introduction). Mill feels that the will of the people is actually the will of the majority of those who are in charge of governing others. To Mill, this is the tyranny of the majority which to him is just as evil as the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way. In order to fight against this tyranny by preserving dissenting…

    • 1432 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    For one to be a good citizen, there are certain expectations a person must follow to achieve this goal. While many people have their own ideas of what makes a good citizen, there is little consensus to exactly what this would be. Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in their books The Leviathan and The Social Contract, create a system of political governing where the citizen plays a certain role and has certain expectations to carry out this role for the governmental system to work properly. In this paper, I will discuss what each of the men believed to be the role of the average citizen to support the state. Both men have quite different opinions in regards to the roles of citizens. While both are good theories, and create a strong case for government, neither is applicable in the real world because what is demanded of the citizen in these systems of government is based on certain assumptions. The assumptions made by these men, both good and bad, are not evident in the every day person. Thomas Hobbes believes, that all men are egocentric, by nature. This is to say that men spend their whole lives looking for what makes the happiest as an individual. Even when men socialize, it is not for the benefit of building strong ties be…

    • 619 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays