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The Role and Limits of Representative Democracy: An Analysis from Joseph Schumpeter, Robert Dahl, and Anthony Downs
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2019
Pages:
79-85
Received:
11 September 2019
Accepted:
7 October 2019
Published:
31 October 2019
Abstract: This article comes about with the objective of analyzing in a comparative way the role and limits of representative democracy in the perspective of Joseph Schumpeter, Robert Dahl and Anthony Downs. In practice, it seeks to understand the ideas launched by these three theorists in the quest for a perception of what will become a democracy and its importance in the formation and constitution of the modern democracies. The central argument presented in this article is that in a truly democratic political system, popular participation is an essential element for the construction and execution of political actions. J. Schumpeter conceives democracy as a method that societies use to elect their representatives. R. Dahl conceives it as a polyarchy where both, the degree of incorporation of individuals and the level of institutionalization must be maximized and, A. Downs conceives democracy as a type of government where there should be fair and periodic elections, and one or more parties must compete for government control. Therefore, it is by analyzing the political thinking regarding the power and the representative democracy of these theorists that one perceives how the State left its natural character, thus assuming its civil personality, through the formation of the social contract.
Abstract: This article comes about with the objective of analyzing in a comparative way the role and limits of representative democracy in the perspective of Joseph Schumpeter, Robert Dahl and Anthony Downs. In practice, it seeks to understand the ideas launched by these three theorists in the quest for a perception of what will become a democracy and its im...
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The Basic Situation of Modern Nation-State
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2019
Pages:
86-92
Received:
29 September 2019
Accepted:
26 October 2019
Published:
31 October 2019
Abstract: The modern nation-state is a very important and complicated political entity form in today’s world. In the foreseeable future, it will still be one of the world’s most general and dominant community pattern. Therefore, it has certain academic and practical significance to understand the basic situation of modern nation-state by analyzing and explaining its fundamental definition, core bearing consciousness and legitimacy construction. This paper suggests that modern nation-state as the most common pattern of modern political entity is the product of modern society, which ensuring the existence of the whole ethnic community and all individuals in it. The nation-state has to cohere and unite its people through the dual core of national identity and nationalist ideology. On one hand, national identity has become the operational foundation of modern nation-state and provided the most core cohesion for the establishment, consolidation and development for it. On the other hand, nationalism can be a kind of modern ethnic ideology and social political movement, and also a demand of economic system, a construction of social cultures and feelings. Only on this basis, the nation-state’s autonomy and people’s survival rights and unique values can be guaranteed, then the legitimacy construction of the nation-state can be realized. And the legitimacy construction of modern nation-state embodies in the enforcement of nationality policy, the protection of national sovereignty and the balance of international order. In the era of nation-state, we have to continuous concern both its broad connotation and its problem domain to grasp the essence of the modern society.
Abstract: The modern nation-state is a very important and complicated political entity form in today’s world. In the foreseeable future, it will still be one of the world’s most general and dominant community pattern. Therefore, it has certain academic and practical significance to understand the basic situation of modern nation-state by analyzing and explai...
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The Iranian Constitution: A Compilation of Irreconcilable Articles
Sara Zalzar,
Sadegh Zibakalam
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2019
Pages:
93-100
Received:
11 September 2019
Accepted:
24 October 2019
Published:
17 December 2019
Abstract: The current Iranian constitution is the product of two irreconcilable and at times contradictory perspectives, i.e., a merger of the traditional guidelines from Shiite Islam (or Sharia law) with some principles similar in spirit to the French constitution. The purpose of this literature review is to objectively examine the contents of the Iranian constitution and elaborate on the similarities and differences compared with the principles enshrined in the French constitution that made France a major cradle of Western democracy. Despite the limited analytical literature available on the subject, the authors selected the relevant articles and books to critically compare and contrast the language and spirit of the Iranian constitution versus its French counterpart. The Iranian constitution is a reflection of the Islamic theocracy and fundamentalism, combined with democratic-appearing but irreconcilable articles to govern the nation’s affairs by three branches of independent yet controlled government. The constitution provides the freedom to obey the absolute and unaccountable Leader, and the 177 articles that are claimed to be sufficient for prosperity in this world and the eternal life after. The outcome of the Iranian constitution, which was never tested in a real society before its ideals were put into practice in Iran, suggest that the Islamic guidelines are not reconcilable for the most part with those of the modern democracies as a method of governance in the 21st century.
Abstract: The current Iranian constitution is the product of two irreconcilable and at times contradictory perspectives, i.e., a merger of the traditional guidelines from Shiite Islam (or Sharia law) with some principles similar in spirit to the French constitution. The purpose of this literature review is to objectively examine the contents of the Iranian c...
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Nigerian−Biafra War: Re-interrogating Indiscipline and Sabotage among the Biafran Soldiers
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 4, December 2019
Pages:
101-107
Received:
14 November 2019
Accepted:
26 November 2019
Published:
17 December 2019
Abstract: The Nigeria−Biafran war was an interstate military confrontation engaged in by the forces of Nigeria and Biafra between 1967−1970 as the former tried to maintain the cooperate existence of the country subsequent upon the latter expressing determinationto break away from the national sovereignty of the federal republic of Nigeria. On the one hand, the Biafrans cited discrimination and political marginalization as the bane of the conflict. While on the other hand, it was the inability or rather the unwillingness of the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon to rectify the resolution of 'Aburi Accord' that precipitated the outbreak of the conflict. Consequently, the war that was perceived to be a police-match by the Nigerian troops had ended up in three years of bloodshed and destructions. Although, commentators and historians alike have done a lot of classical studies on the causes and the aftermath of the civil war, which no doubt have provided a framework for understanding and analyzing conflict in Nigeria, however little have been done to unpack the factors necessary for the Biafran troops unprecedented resilience, credence and military capability that repelled attacks from the Nigerian troops who had more firepower, external support and an organized trained army. It is against this backdrop therefore, that this paper argues that Nigerian soldiers gained prominence immediately indiscipline and sabotage began to intrude among the Biafran soldiers. Our objectives are to critically examine how internal squabbles and perfunctory attitude among the Biafran soldiers have combined to weaken their military capability and enthusiasm to win the war. Data were collected from secondary sources such as textbooks, journal articles and archival materials, while content analysis was applied in analyzing data collected for this study. The paper concludes that the 'cancer indiscipline', betrayal and sabotage have caused the Biafrans' dreams of actualizing sovereignty and recognition within the international community to be abruptly terminated.
Abstract: The Nigeria−Biafran war was an interstate military confrontation engaged in by the forces of Nigeria and Biafra between 1967−1970 as the former tried to maintain the cooperate existence of the country subsequent upon the latter expressing determinationto break away from the national sovereignty of the federal republic of Nigeria. On the one hand, t...
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