Difference between revisions of "Majoritarianism"
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| − | + | '''Majoritarianism''' is the [[philosophy]] that [[politics|political]] decisions should be primarily (almost purely) based on the [[majority]]'s sentiments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majoritarianism|title=Majoritarianism|language=English|work=Merriam Webster|accessdate=Apr 26 2009|date=1942}}</ref> It is the opposite of [[pluralism]]. | |
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| + | {| style="float: right; border:1px solid #ccc; margin:1em; font-size: 85%; background:#ddeeff; width:23em; max-width: 25%;padding:5px" | ||
| + | |"No man is allowed to be a [[judge]] in his own cause, because his interest would certainly [[bias]] his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time" | ||
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| + | | James Madison – Federalist 10 | ||
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| + | In the history textbook, ''The Challenge of Democracy'', Janda, Berry and Goldman describes the system as "[one that] interprets '[[government]] by the people' to mean government by the ''majority'' of the people ... Usually, we think of elections only as mechanisms for choosing among candidates for public office. Majoritarian theorists also seem them as a means for deciding government policies."<ref>{{cite book|last=Janda|first=Kenneth|coauthors=Jeffrey Berry, Jerry Goldman|editor=Jean L. Woy|title=The Challenge of Democracy|format=text|edition=7th|year=2002|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|location=Boston/New York|language=English|isbn=061825935X|page=39|chapter=Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?}}</ref> | ||
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| + | The system was critiqued by [[James Madison]] - writing as [[Publius]] with [[Alexander Hamilton]] and [[John Jay]] - in [[Federalist Papers|Federalist 10]].<ref>{{cite web|author=James Madison|title=Federalist 10: The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection|url=http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm|date=Nov 27 1787|accessdate=Apr 26 2009}}</ref> | ||
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| + | Majoritarianism can often degenerate into [[mobocracy]] and deprivation of individual rights. As an example, since it is currently trendy and faddish to support [[same-sex marriage|same-sex "marriage,"]] [[Christian]] social [[conservative]]s who disagree with the majority's view of morality can face government [[Christian persecution|persecution]]. | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
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| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Argumentum ad populum]] | ||
| + | *[[Democracy]] | ||
| + | *[[Federalist Papers]] | ||
| + | *[[Mass line]] | ||
| + | *[[Pluralism]] | ||
| + | *[[United States Constitution]] | ||
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| + | [[Category:Political Terms]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:18, May 28, 2021
Majoritarianism is the philosophy that political decisions should be primarily (almost purely) based on the majority's sentiments.[1] It is the opposite of pluralism.
| "No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time" |
| James Madison – Federalist 10 |
In the history textbook, The Challenge of Democracy, Janda, Berry and Goldman describes the system as "[one that] interprets 'government by the people' to mean government by the majority of the people ... Usually, we think of elections only as mechanisms for choosing among candidates for public office. Majoritarian theorists also seem them as a means for deciding government policies."[2]
The system was critiqued by James Madison - writing as Publius with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay - in Federalist 10.[3]
Majoritarianism can often degenerate into mobocracy and deprivation of individual rights. As an example, since it is currently trendy and faddish to support same-sex "marriage," Christian social conservatives who disagree with the majority's view of morality can face government persecution.
References
- ↑ Majoritarianism (English). Merriam Webster (1942). Retrieved on Apr 26 2009.
- ↑ Janda, Kenneth; Jeffrey Berry, Jerry Goldman (2002). "Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy?", in Jean L. Woy: The Challenge of Democracy (text), 7th (in English), Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 061825935X.
- ↑ James Madison (Nov 27 1787). Federalist 10: The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection. Retrieved on Apr 26 2009.