Democracy which was born in the 5th century BC Athens is a government power and a civic responsibility that protects human freedom. This power is exercised in either direct and/or indirect way to integrate its important principles and roles of the social life.
The democratic state was shaped through many policies presented in the Golden Age of Capitalism which was affiliated by Keynesian demand management that reflected through the theories a lot about democracy. The Golden age of capitalism represents the period of time from the early 1950s to the mid 1970s.Keynesian demand management was one of the essential endeavours to transfer the social democratic ideas into actions in to real life that was influenced by the idea and esteem of the social democratic political tradition. This management had s a big transference in the regulation of work and employment. Such disposal had given the power to the social democratic state. As a result ideas about economy and its responsibilities, work and welfare have predisposed representing the Keynesian model of economy as “a big machine” -1 to proliferate the national economy.
Believing that the uncertainty and volatility of the capitalist system in the 1930s were behind the increase of unemployment rates, Keynes considered the importance of demand. H e believed that it was necessary to take in consideration goods’ and services’ demand. This demand is believed to be the responsibility of either the consumers or the supplier or the government responsibility. What really mattered for employment was the demand (aggregate Demand). Keynesian social democracy was challenged from two directions the increase of diversity in the society and the need for greater competitiveness in industry.
Regardless Keynesians hard efforts and ideas about the national economy, many cases were left unrelieved and unchanged. According to Marxist theory, Keynesian increased mass production and unemployment. But can we ignore what Keynesian added to national economy?! ?! The cost for maintaining secure levels of the national economy was high, specially when price and inflation started to change and the economic growth began to slow regardless the high mass production .The idea of democracy is based on the principles of freedom and equality, therefore equal rights for all individuals – males and females – not only theoretically but also in practice at work, in families and in all areas of the social life. Even though democratic socialist strive to achieve equal rights for all races, nations and cultures, some regions of the world today and in the Golden age still see democracy as a problematic political term specially when debating the issue of political power.
Although the golden age of capitalism have changed the lives of many people but there was still individuals who suddenly felt their selves with no jobs and no security , many people were not alright due to the diversity of the workforce that challenged the Golden Age . The saying ‘I’m alright Jack’ was an epilogue to this period of time. After the balance of employment power has changed in the 1950s. Organisations quoted for improved solutions for better pay and secure jobs .Consequently trade union power used this saying to explicit class unity solidarity. I’m was refer to the Individual in the workplace ( employee ), alright means that this employee is in a secure job , Jack is just a name that might signify that this employee is reflecting his situation whether it was right or not to another person that may be ambassador for the government or the political authorities at that time –Golden Age . In order to seek for a solution to get them out of this quandary. Though the golden age changed the lives of a lot of people, the social democratic capitalism of that age had difficulties in juxtaposing the hurdles facing the growing multifarious ness of society in general. Some people were excluded from full participation in economic success therefore a democratic state rules were needed to be achieved and implemented through the society.
Democracy was taken in the golden age as a political ideology to organize the lives of individuals affecting their families and their work as well. The Social democratic transformation gave new power to the society in terms of rights, security and freedom. In reaction to this social democracy many situations in the Golden age and in the world today have been influenced with the results of their implementation and their survival.
Glossary *1 *2
Social Democracy: is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th century and early 20th century from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means.
Democracy: right and the capacity of a people, to control their institutions for their own purposes. To designate a government where the people share in directing the activities of the state.
Capitalism: economic system based on private ownership of free enterprise, in which personal profit can be acquired through investment of capital and employment of labour.
Demand Management: Policies seek to influence the level of aggregate Demand.
Aggregate Demand: Is the total demand for goods and services in the economy during a specific time period.
Political Ideology: A cluster of ideas that both describe societies, propose moral and practical alternatives which are aligned with political movement.
Resources and References
1. Ordering lives: Family, work and welfare, Gordon Hughes and Ross Fergusson, Routledge, United Kingdom, 2002
2. Online Encyclopaedia: