Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780393639407
Author: Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
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Chapter 13, Problem 1CC-P322
Summary Introduction

Introduction

Participatory democracy requires everyone to be involved in decision making. Modern states have too many people for this option to be practical. Direct democracy works better by letting people choose their representatives who then make decisions. When this becomes problematic, however, is when those elected officials opt not to act on behalf of and for the will of those by whom he or she was elected.

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Modern states do not use participatory democracy because they have too many people to make it practical. That system needs each voter to be informed and motivated enough to participate in making decisions, by voting for new laws, for example. This system worked in ancient Athens because only men could vote and their numbers were manageable. Direct democracy is better suited to modern states because it features representatives chosen by the voters to take their concerns to the government and vote on policy decisions. For example, India is the largest democracy, with over a billion citizens, and it uses direct democracy rather than participatory democracy.

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