A comparison to understand the influence of

politics on everyday life

Birma VJ ; berichten uit een
gesloten land
http://www.npo.nl/holland-doc/29-07-2010/POW_00286445
Assignment (15 minutes)
Describe how your everyday life would be if the Netherlands would
have a dictatorship and compare it with your everyday life in our
democracy.
Hand in your written account at the end of this lesson (around 200
words).

Homework: Read Chapter 1 (page 82 89)

Politics and power from a global perspective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeCtO3uMEzk
Politics is about the question: who gets
what and why?

In the end politics is backed by force.

So an interesting question is: which
country is most powerful in the world?

Question: what is the message of

Jeremy Scahill in his documentary Dirty
Wars(2013)?
Programme
Introduction and Learning goals
Writing assignment Dirty Wars (15 minutes)
Questions about chapter 1 What are politics (p.82 - 87)
Definition politics *additional info
Question about democracy and dictatorship
Assignment new school curriculum
Three models of democracy * additional info
Learning goals this lesson
You are able to:
describe how US global politics influences our lives;
mention two definitions of politics;
evaluate the usefulness of democracy and dictorship;
describe three different models of democracy;
Writing assignment
What is the message of Jeremy Scahill in his documentary Dirty
Wars(2013)?

How is this related to our way of living, our daily lives in the
Netherlands?

(write a short essay of about 300 words)

Questions about
chapter 1 What are politics (p.82- 87)
Learning goals chapter 1 What are politics?
You are able to:
mention two definitions of politics;
describe three different models of democracy;
list the features of a dictatorship.
compare and contrast autocratic and totalitarian dictatorships.
compare and contrast a dictatorship and a democracy.
list the features of a democracy and recognize them in a context.
compare and contrast a parliamentary system and a presidential system.
explain how the Dutch Constitution reflects the values of freedom and equality.
describe the theories about democracy of Michels and Lipset and relate the
theories to given context.
*Additional information
Definitions of politics:
The way in which a country is governed
(limited definition, used in the book)

Politics is about who gets what and why

(broader definition)
Question

Is (indirect) democracy always better

than dictatorship?
Assignment Democracy the best? (10 minutes)
A decision has to be taken about a new school curriculum, which subjects our
school wants to teach (or no longer wants to teach).
Discuss in groups of four and write your answers down
(10 minutes):
a. Who should take this decision and why (the principal, teachers, parents,
students)?
b. What is the most effective and efficient way of making this decision and why?
c. What is the fairest way of making this decision and why?
d. What is the most democratic way of making this decision and why?
e. What is the best method to take this decision and why?
*Additonal information
Three models of democracy
The majority model:
the majority decides.
The consensual model:
finding agreement via negotiation involving as many people as
possible and taking as many minority interests in account as
possible.
The deliberative model:
by discussing all viewpoints, people must come to an
understanding what the most reasonable option is for
everyone.
Political Systems
1.2 DICTATORSHIP
No division of power
(e.g. no independent courts)
Restrictions on individual
freedom
Restrictions on political
freedom (censorship)
Much government violence
(without the possibility to
complaint)
1.3 DEMOCRACY
Free elections on regular basis
Separation of powers (Trias
Politica)
Individual freedom
Basic political rights
Army and police have restricted
power
Independent judicial system
Freedom of press
Political Systems: Dictatorship & democracy
Autocratic dictatorships
Single ruler
Small powerful elite
Sometimes quick succesions
No ideology
Totalitarian dictatorships
Fairly large group leading
people
One ideological/ religious
party
Complete control over
society
Direct democracy
Indirect democracy
Parliamentary democracy
Citizens elect parliament
Non-elected head of state
Presidential system
Citizens elect parliament and
the head of state
President composes
government
1.4 Theories about democracy and
dictatorship
Robert Michels: Iron law of oligarcy

Seymour Lipset: Increase of prosperity and education will lead to more

democracy