Political Philosophy: State Theories and Democratic Principles

Absolutist Theory: Thomas Hobbes

Hobbes understood the State as a result of a covenant or 'social contract,' to which each individual waived certain desires in exchange for others respecting their rights. Individuals gave up some of their freedom in this state to avoid conflict arising from the pursuit of individual interests. According to Hobbes, human beings are inherently selfish, and the state is the only body that can guarantee peace.

Liberal Theory: John Locke

For Locke, the state of nature is where human beings enjoy certain natural rights (life, liberty, property). However, these natural rights were often violated, making property unsafe and its enjoyment uncertain. To ensure a dignified and peaceful life, individuals transfer their rights to a sovereign group, with the crucial distinction that this decision is not irrevocable. This is the basis of incorporation, and the state emerges from this social contract to protect citizens' rights. Locke proposes a liberal democracy where people regularly elect their rulers, who must ensure social order and the rights of citizens.

Sovereigntist Theory: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Rousseau introduces the concept of popular sovereignty, asserting that the right to rule depends on the general will of the governed. Sovereignty resides not in one person, but in the entire political community, which legitimizes the act of government. For him, the state of nature is characterized by freedom, kindness, and equality. He believes it is society that corrupts humans, throwing them into competition with each other. To avoid the consequences of this corrupt society, the social contract is born. It consists of a compact that eliminates selfish individualism through the submission of each individual to the unanimous will. This would lead to a form of direct democracy. For Rousseau, the state is a means of moral development for human beings and should aim to find the common good.

Key Aspects of Representative Democracy

• Representation: Citizens cede their sovereignty to elected politicians.
• Verticality: Power flows from the people upward.
• Majority Principle: Representation is exercised by the party that achieves the largest percentage of votes.
• Division of Power: While power originates with the people, its exercise is delegated to their representatives in practice.
• Constitutionalism: It is a rule of law, meaning the government is governed by law.

Minimal Democratic Theory: Norberto Bobbio

Norberto Bobbio defined minimal democracy as a set of values and rules that must be respected for a government to be democratic. It expresses who is in charge of making decisions and under what procedures. The basic assumptions are:

• Political Participation: Active involvement of citizens.
• Rule of the Majority: Decisions are made based on the will of the majority.
• Freedom of Communication: Ensuring open communication and the selection of elites.
• Protection of Rights: Safeguarding individual rights.

The state also has to intervene to help people make use of their rights. Minimal democracy seeks to ensure the freedom of individuals against the State.