Democracy has always been and will always be a concept that centres on the idea of power in the majority. In a truly democratic state the majority decide what is best for the people. Disputes as to the meaning of democracy lie in its interpretation. Less than 200 years ago bribing someone to vote for a particular government rep. or political party was acknowledged and excepted internationally. Today such clean-cut bribery is far less common but still super powers such as the media play a large part in democratic societies.
The significance of democracy has never been so apparent. In liberal, western societies democracy remains the back bone to a form of government in which power is vested in the people. As populations increase the need for fair democracy has never been stronger.
Ideology
A comprehensive and coherent set of basic beliefs about political, economical, social and cultural affairs that is held in common by a sizeable group of people within a particular society. Such Ideas and teachings seek to explain how political, social and economical institutions really do work and also how such institutions ought to operate. Radical and revolutionary ideologies set unconventional, higher, or even utopian standards of living in regards to what would constitute a legitimate social, economic, political system by demonstrating in detail that the exiting order does not even come close to meeting there standards. The way things are or the way things ought to be.
Disputes as to the meaning of ideology arise when ideologies are mistaken for ideas. In order for an idea to be an ideology it must be held in common by a sizeable group of people. What this means is ideologies unlike ideas can not simply be disregarded. More often than none ideologies are very complex and can be the centre for fierce political and social disputes.
The significance of ideology’s are apparent when they constitute “systems of though” (a set of ideas which are interrelated and more or less coherent). The concept of ideology is far less significant when applied to ideas such as conservatism or fascism that simply hang together without a systematic or coherent shape.
Legitimacy
The principles that indicate the acceptance of decisions of government leaders and officials by the majority of the public on the grounds that these leaders have acquired there positions legitimately and in accordance with the societies generally accepted procedures and political or moral values. Legitimacy may be conferred upon power holders in a variety of ways in different societies, usually involving solemn formal rituals of religious or quasi-religious nature. Royal and coronations in monarchies, popular election and swearing-in in democracies.
An example of the significance of legitimacy or rather lack of legitimacy is apparent in most modern monarchies. In the UK for example if you are born or marry into the monarchy you have immediate rights and are placed in a position of authority. Years ago the acceptance of the decisions made by our monarchy and the people surrounding the monarchy were paramount. Today however there has been somewhat of a shift from monarchy to government but legitimacy still remains.
State
A specialised type of political organisation characterised by a full time, specialised, professional work force of tax collectors, soldiers, policemen or bureaucrats. And the like that exercises supreme political authority over defined territory with a permanent population. Independent from any enduring external political control and possessing a local predominance of coercive power great enough to maintain general obedience to its laws or commands within its territorial borders.
The importance and significance of the concept of state has been at the forefront of modern politics for years. Since the Second World War the idea of individual states has become increasingly less important. After WW2 the state of Germany only existed geographically. The politics that once governed Germany no longer existed. For the first time ever different countries through out Europe had to combine political idea’s of law to prosecute the Nazis. Since WW2 the break down of borders and the unquestionable shift towards globalisation has never been so obvious. Soon the concept of individual state politics may well be replaced with a more international type of political ideology.
Class
Social division based upon economic or social factors such as wealth, income, status, living conditions and so on. A social class there for constitutes a group of people who share similar social and economic positions. Marxists use class-consciences to denote an awareness of class interests and a willingness to pursue them. The most common class structure is known as a tripartite structure of lower, middle and upper (based primarily on wealth). More recently however as class is becoming less apparent more complex structures of class have emerged taking factors such as education into account.
The Marxist idea of class splits people up into two distinct groups, the proletariat’s (workers) and the bourgeoisie (owners) and states that one day the proletariat’s will revolt and over throw the bourgeoisie. In Western Europe and the USA class has been apparent prominently since the industrial revolution. Before the revolution land was passed on from generation to generation. People either had money or did not and accepted the fact. Since the revolution however the distinction between upper (owners), lower/middle (workers) has lived on through to today.
Authority
Authority in its broader sense, is a form of power, sometimes thought of as ‘legitimate power’ whereas power is the ability to influence the behaviour of others. Authority is the right to do so. Authority is there for based on an acknowledged duty to obey rather than a form of coercion or manipulation. If too much authority is applied authoritarian ideas emerge. In a form of government in which a large amount of authority in invested in the state, at the expense of individual rights. Often power in authoritarian systems is centred on a small group of autocratic leaders usually used in a negative sense.
Authority and the significance of authority as an idea/concept changes due to many contributing factors such as government, or lack of and monarchies. Disputes as to the meaning of the concept Authority don’t lie in its literal meaning i.e. “the right to influence the behaviour of others” but rather what gives someone the right to be in a position where authority can be applied. Authority is generally applied through democracy but democracy isn’t perfect therefor authority can and has been placed in the wrong hands.
The significance of authority lies in the hands of those who apply it. Authority is essential in many circumstances such as the competent running of army’s and police forces. The significance of authority in such institutes differs depending on the competency of he who remains in ultimate authority i.e. the Prime Minister, President or Monarch.
Power
The Capacity for a personal or impersonal instance to bring someone to do (or not to do) that which left to himself, he would not necessarily have done. It is immediately obvious that the greatest conceivable power lies in the possibility of performing someone in such a way that of his own accord, he does what one wants him to do, without any need for domination.
Power like most concepts can be interpreted differently depending on the context in which it’s discussed. Power comes in all shapes and sizes and is very much dependant on the individual. What one person perceives, as powerful another may not i.e. parents. Much like authority there is little disputes as to the literal meaning of power. But rather disputes as to its allocation. History has been tarnished with people’s disputes as to the allocation of power. Most recently the in Russia but most significantly during the French Revolution.
In democratic societies power is invested in the individual. In fascist dictatorships power can lie in the hands on individuals. Whichever the case may be power still remains extremely significant.
Sovereignty
