Civil society:
Refers to that sphere of voluntary associations and informal networks in which
individuals and groups engage in activities of public consequence. It is
distinguished from the public activities of government because it is voluntary, and
from the private activities of markets because it seeks common ground and public
goods. It is often described as the "third sector." For democratic societies, it
provides an essential link between citizens and the state. Its fundamental appeal
since its origin in the Scottish Enlightenment is its attempt to synthesize public and
private good.
http://www.cpn.org/tools/dictionary/civilsociety.html
“diverse units of social identity and interest... independent of the state..., not only
can restrain the arbitrary actions of rulers, but can also contribute to forming better
citizens who are more aware of the preferences of others, more self-confident in
their actions, and more civic-minded in their willingness to sacrifice for the common
good. At its best, civil society provides an intermediate layer of governance
between the individual and the state that is capable of resolving conflicts and
controlling the behavior of members without public coercion... A viable civil society
can mitigate conflicts…”
http://www.mbc.edu/faculty/gbowen/civilSociety.htm
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Welfare State:
The idea of the "welfare state" means different things in different countries.
An ideal model. The "welfare state" usually refers to an ideal model of
provision, where the state accepts responsibility for the provision of
comprehensive and universal welfare for its citizens.
State welfare. Some commentators use it to mean "welfare provided by the
state". This is the main use in the USA.
Social protection. In many "welfare states", notably those in Western Europe
and Scandinavia, social protection is not delivered only by the state, but by
a combination of government, independent, voluntary, and autonomous
public services. These countries are usually thought of as "welfare states".
http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/wstate.htm
Political
system based
on
the premise that
the government (and
not
the individual, corporations, or the local community) has the responsibility for the
wellbeing of its citizens, by ensuring that a minimum standard of living is within
everyone's reach. This commitment is translated into provisions of universal
and free education, universal medical care, insurance against disability, sickness,
and unemployment, family
age pensions.
allowances for income supplements,
and
old
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/welfare-state.html#ixzz1x7LGTve6
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Democratic deficit:
Any situation in which there is believed to be a lack of democratic accountability
and control over the decision-making process
http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-definition/democratic%20deficit
A democratic deficit may be defined in two ways; John McCormick gives a general
definition to be 'the gap between the powers held by European institutions and the
ability of European citizens to influence the work and decisions of those institutions'
(McCormick, 1999). Christopher Lord of Leeds University adds that a democratic
deficit exists 'wherever political powers are transferred to EU institutions that are
less democratic than national ones'. Both definitions assume a definition of a
legitimate democratic institution as an accountable and representative body
working in its citizens' interests.
http://www.writework.com/essay/democratic-deficit-eu
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Accountability:
Being held responsible and answerable for specified results or outcomes of an
activity (over which one has authority).
http://www.education.com/terms/glossary/?q=democratic+deficit
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Transparency:
Essential condition for a free and open exchange whereby the rules and reasons
behind regulatory measures are fair and clear to all participants.
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/transparency.html
In politics, transparency is used as a means of holding public officials accountable
and fighting corruption. When a government's meetings are open to the press and
the public, its budgets may be reviewed by anyone, and its laws and decisions are
open to discussion, it is seen as transparent, and there is less opportunity for the
authorities to abuse the system for their own interests
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_(behavior)
Legitimacy:
It refers to people's beliefs about political authority and, sometimes, political
obligations
Political Legitimacy: political legitimacy refers to some benchmark of
acceptability or justification of political power or authority and—possibly—
obligation.
Standford Encyclopedia of Phylosophy,
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/legitimacy/#DesNorConLeg
Lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law.
Undisputed credibility
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/legitimacy
State of being legitimate
Legitimate: in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards.
www.dictionary.com
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Impunity:
Exemption from punishment, absence of remedy, immunity from unpleasant
consequences, lack of access to effective justice.
Impunity, in the human rights context, refers to the lack of accountability for human
rights violations committed, or condoned, by agents of the state. In the vast
majority of countries, when agents of the state - members of the military, police and
other armed forces, or even of death squads tolerated by the government - commit
human rights abuses, they are not punished for their actions.
What
is
Impunity?
(online)
http://www.derechos.org/wi/1/1.html
Obtained:
7
June,
2012,
from:
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State of Emergency:
When a government gives itself special powers in order to try to control an
unusually difficult or dangerous situation, especially when this involves limiting
people's freedom:
Longman
Dictionary
(online)
Obteined:
7
june,
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/state-of-emergency
2012,
from:
Rule of law:
The law is supreme over the acts of the government and the people, so individuals,
persons and government shall submit to, obey and regulated by the law, and not
arbitrary action by an individual or a group of individuals.
Democracy: Government of the people, by the people, for the people, rule by the
people, form of government where a constitution guarantees basic personal and
political rights, fair and free elections, and independent courts of law.
References:
Democracy, A short definition of democracy, Democracy building, visited 6 June
2012 on http://www.democracy-building.info/definition-democracy.html
Rule of law, Legal Dictionary Duhaime, visited 6 june 2012
on http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/R/RuleofLaw.aspx
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Direct democracy:
Direct Democracy is a form of government that is said to be by the people, but
also for the people. It is a type of government that the people will make the
decisions for themselves rather than to have the decisions made by
representatives. Another term used to describe Direct Democracy is pure
democracy or “true” democracy.
Advantages:
Raises issues that others may want to hide; Restores authority to the people, and
makes them responsible, not the parties; Curbs the imbalance of power, makes
politicians responsible to the people; Gets the community involved; Makes for
better legislation; Politicians are forced to act on petitions instead of throwing them
out right away; Helps to gain control over Parliament and the direction of the
country; Restores parliamentary government with representatives; Makes
politicians be accountable
Disadvantages:
Cost; The media and government may attempt to influence the decisions made by
the people; Increase in referenda; Some people may be more politically active than
others; Direct democracy gives the steering wheel for government to the people.
As you noticed above there are both many advantages and disadvantages to direct
democracy. This form of government is already in effect in Switzerland and some
states in the United States.
http://direct-democracy.co.ukI
Representative democracy:
Representative democracy is a form of democracy where representatives form an
independent ruling body charged with the responsibility of acting in the people's
interest.
Representative democracies are common not only in governments but in many
other institutions and organizations where a board of directors, committee, or
similar body is in charge of the organization.
Proponents of representative democracy usually hold it to be practically superior to
direct democracy because it provides a solution for the problems of mob rule, issue
overload, and demagogy. However, there are numerous criticisms of
representative democracy.
The problems with representative democracy can be divided into two broad
categories: harms to governance and harms to individuals.
http://metagovernment.org/wiki/Representative_democracy
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Participative Democracy:
Participative democracy is concerned with how unequal distribution of power and
resources affects people and how they can influence decision making which affects
them.
Participatory democracy implies that the power to make decisions should not be
left to a small number of people, but that power should be more equally shared
among all citizens, so that everyone has an opportunity to influence collective
affairs. The concern of participatory democrats is to achieve more egalitarian
(equal) redistribution of power and greater democratisation of the political process
at both national and local level.
http://www.kildare.ie/localdev/CWC/particip.htm
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Crisis of Democracy:
To define what crisis of democracy means you need to define democracy (modern
democracy); "a government in which the will of the majority of qualified citizens
rules, taking the qualified citizens to constitute the great bulk of the inhabitants,
say, roughly, at least three-fourths, so that the physical force of the citizens
coincides (broadly speaking) with their voting power." The Crisis of Democracy
arises today very largely from the fact that the Physical force of the citizens does
not coincide, even speaking as broadly as one can speak and remain truthful, with
their voting Power.
http://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/11034/SandwellCrisis.pdf?se
quence=1
Governance:
The persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the
purpose of administering something. It is the process – by which authority is
conferred on rulers, by which they make the rules, and by which those rules are
enforced and modified. According to Aristotle, governance seek out what is the
best system of government, it is first necessary to define what the most desirable
life is.
Social Contract:
Is one of the foundations of the American political system. This is a belief that the
state only exist to serve the will of the people, and they are the source of all
political power enjoyed by the state. They can choose to give or withhold this
power.
References:
Thomas R. Martin with Neel Smith / Jennifer F. Stuar, “Democracy in the Politics of
Aristotle.” In C.W Blackwell, ed, Demos; edition July 26, 2003
The World Bank. (03 de 2002). Recuperado el 07 de 06 de 2012, de
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/MENAEXT/EX
TMNAREGTOPGOVERNANCE/0,,contentMDK:20513159~pagePK:340041
73~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:497024,00.html
Kelly, M. (s.f.). About.com. Recuperado el 07 de 06 de 2012, de
http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/g/social_contract.htm
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Political Community:
Government accountable to citizens and citizens under government. Communal
responsibility to ensure the enforcing of all.
Acar Ali, The Concept of Legal Culture with Particular Attention to the Turkish Case
on http://civillawnetwork.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/the-concept-of-legal-culturewith-particular-attention-to-the-turkish-case/ last consulted on June 7 2012.
The Center for Public Justice, Political Community, on
http://www.cpjustice.org/content/political-community last consulted on June 7 2012
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Legal Culture:
Overlay of ideas, values, attitudes beliefs and opinions people hold with regard to
law and the legal system. Legal culture is related to the development and the
interpretation of the legal system.
Acar Ali, The Concept of Legal Culture with Particular Attention to the Turkish Case
on http://civillawnetwork.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/the-concept-of-legal-culturewith-particular-attention-to-the-turkish-case/ last consulted on June 7 2012.
The Center for Public Justice, Political Community, on
http://www.cpjustice.org/content/political-community last consulted on June 7 2012
Nationalism:
is an attitude, a way of living, that implies the care for the nation, the national
identity and the self determination of the citizens of a nation. It is important to
highlight that the concept goes far beyond some common terms like origin,
ethnicity and cultural ties. It is the constant voluntary attitude of seeking to achieve
a state of welfare within the society through the execution of self-determination and
sovereignty.
References:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
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Self determination:
is the right of people to determine its own destiny and it is specially applicable to
political, cultural, social and political status. The importance lies in the right choice,
so that the outcome of people's choice should not affect the existence of the right
to make a choice.
References:
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy