Option 1: The Struggle for Democracy
Democracy does not require equality in terms of economic standing or wealth, but it does depend to a degree on economic justice to be successful. Ideally, democracy ensures everyone has a voice in governance regardless of economic status. Severe economic inequality, however, can undermine democratic principles by awarding inordinate power to those who have economic power, stifling equal representation and participation (Greenberg et al., 2018). With unevenly held wealth, those with economic power can impose policies primarily to promote their interests, undermining the democratic principle of government by and for the people: Option 1: The Struggle for Democracy.
A nation can become more egalitarian through democratic governance by allowing everyone a voice in policy-making to promote social and economic equality. Through policies such as free elections, representation in politics, and advocacy in policy, governments can address inequalities in terms of health, education, and wealth (Elsässer & Schäfer, 2023). Progressive taxation, social welfare, and workers’ rights are generally a result of democratic governance because leaders have to be accountable to a broad population and not a privileged class. Democratic institutions also promote civic participation and public debate, allowing marginalized groups to demand policies that provide equal opportunities and reduce systemic inequality.
Alternatively, however, democracy can also reduce equality in a nation when economic elites disproportionately influence the political system. Influential firms, lobbyists, and wealthy individuals in capitalist democracies tend to dominate policies that promote their interests, and economic inequality ensues. Campaign donations and lobbying can result in policies favoring deregulation, tax breaks for the wealthy, and reductions in social programs, which contribute to increasing income inequality (Elsässer et al., 2022).
Additionally, structural barriers such as uneven access to quality education, health care, and political participation can be present when democratic governments fail to address systemic disadvantages. Equality does not, therefore, come with democracy, and instead, success in egalitarianism depends on institutions and policies robust enough to balance economic and social differences.
References
Elsässer, L., & Schäfer, A. (2023). Political inequality in rich democracies. Annual Review of Political Science, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-052521-094617
Elsässer, L., Fastenrath, F., & Rehm, M. (2022). Making the rich pay? Social democracy and wealth taxation in Europe after the great financial crisis. European Political Science Review, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1755773922000510
Greenberg, E. S, Page, B. I., Doherty, D., L. Minkoff, S. L., & Ryan, J. M. (2018). The struggle for democracy (12th ed.). Pearson.
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Question 
Week 1 DQ
Reading Resources:
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 1 ,2, 3
- Lesson: Read this Week’s Lesson which is located in the Modules tab
- Initial Post: minimum of 2 scholarly sources (must include your textbook for one of the sources). Follow-Up Post: minimum of 1 scholarly source for your Follow-Up Post.
Option 1: The Struggle for Democracy
Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1 or Option 2:
- Option 1: Does democracy require equality of income or wealth? Discuss why democracy might make a country more or less egalitarian?
- Option 2: Healthcare is a shared power between the federal government and individual states. Outline and describe a federal healthcare policy and contrast it with one policy in the healthcare system of the State in which you currently reside. (These can be any policies as long as they are healthcare policies).
Be sure to make connections between your ideas and conclusions and the research, concepts, terms, and theory we are discussing this week.
Client’s Notes:
- please choose any and write on.
Textbook: