Political science concepts and applications

American Democracy

American political democracy had its roots and evolved from small closely-knit communities. The Town meetings were the means of securing communal ends. The much debated electoral college in the last Presidential election and the local school system are reminders that the "public" once operated primarily in highly localized and manageable situations. People had real power, as it is the essence of democracy, they could meet to discuses and resolve issues effecting the entire community. But the technological advancement, the industry and economics forces have broadened human associations beyond local community boundary lines. The new technologies of communications and travel has brought people closer in a way, which has gone beyond the normal community interactions and are more complicated. Political and legal measures have lagged far behind technological forces and Americans are thrown together in a variety of associations over which they have no control. The two most prominent American political theorists John Dewey and Benjamin Barber argue that technology and economics have eliminated the role of an individual and cooperative efforts to being about commonly desired consequences. According to Barber the civil society which lies between the government and corporations is been neglected, overlooked and often maliciously deprived by its bigger, more powerful brothers. While Dewey suggests that the role of the individual so vital in American democracy in determining social outcomes have been deprived of their proper roles. Both the theorist suggest that a realm of civic society should be created, which promotes discussion and persuasion among communities, families and association which can work to bridge the gap between public sector and private sector. Though the analysis of both the philosophers of disintegration of public domain are accurate, the measures they advise are somewhat optimistic considering the fact that both authors say that big corporations have eliminated civil society.

The modern democracy with increased technological and economic advancement has eliminated the role of communities, which were the essence of democracy in America. These advancement have brought about human association on a broad scale, but which is different from community which requires individual participation in a common "public." The strong democratic modal sees civil society composed of communities as severely withered and requiring rehabilitation. The American society is no longer a community wherein individuals have a vital role in determining social outcomes and in controlling and directing the conditions that can bring these social ends.

According to Dewey the only way the disintegration of public can be stooped and put individuals and communities back on track in mobilization. Time, persistence and communication are required to nourish genuine attachments, the basis of communal life. Human beings according to Dewey are organize into a public by means of communication and cooperation, by communication Dewey means the communication between individuals and communities in the form of debates, discussions. Th public is disorganized because it is uninformed. While Barber argues similarly that civil society requires a clear idea of the issues, he suggests that creating a civil society means that Americans engage themselves in politics and in commerce. Barber wants to create a realm of civil society a space in which democratic attitudes are cultivated and promoted by voluntary association of individuals. If human beings do not consciously determine social ends or values other forces will take over. Dewey makes the individual responsible and says that it is up to the people to determine genuine social ends.

Conclusion: