Civics Theory

Most civic theories are more trusting of public institution and can be characterizing on a scale from least (mob rule) to most (the totalitarian) degree of trust placed in key public institution.

An historical view of civic theory in action suggests that the theories be ranked as followed:

1.      Mob rule   : Trusting of the instincts and power large group #no consistent civic at all.

2.      Anarchism  : No government or other hierarchy, a common ethical code enforced only by personal governance and voluntary association, some means of preventing or ending mob rule.

3.       Monarchy : minimal hierarchy #example: sometimes said to include eco-anarchism.

4.      Libertarianism : a fixed set of rules that define property rights and allow no laws to be passed that is not authorize by the constitution. Calls for minimal government intervention, both in foreign and domestic policy.

5.      Direct democracy : decisions made directly by the citizens without guidance or moral suasion.

6.      Deliberative democracy : decisions made by locally-grouped citizens obligated to participate in consensus decision making process.

7.      Bioregional democracy : a deliberative democracy regulated by a caste of highly-qualified scientific advisors (both ecologists and ethicists) who can use scientific method to challenge or veto major ecological decisions means of measuring well-being or selecting criteria for moral purchasing by the entire bioregional state.

8.      Technocracy : reliance on castes of scientists, e.g. doctors to rule society and define risk for the whole society sometimes generalized into anticipatory democracy.

9.      Aristocracy : general trust in one class in society to rule and protect, e.g. members of particular noble famishes that have worked for and foe defended the community across many generations, upholding traditions, standards of living, art, culture, commerce and defense. Not to be confuse with plutocracy, where rule is based solely on financial wealth.

10.  Constitutional monarchy : a monarch, possibly rule is symbolic and devoted to moral example, avoiding vesting such popularity in any less trustworthy political figure-typically tied to at least some deliberative institutions, and making the monarch a tiebreaker or mediator or coach. E.g. Queen Elizabeth II and Tony Blair.

11.  Representative democracy : a political class of elected representatives is trusted to carry out duties for the electors-these may be responsible to any group in society, or none, once elected.

12.  Absolute monarchy : a monarch who rules for life and can pass on this rule to his or her heirs, by is responsible to some social ideal or culture that has trained him or her to carry our these duties. E.g. Louis XIV, Hirohito, most dynastic emperors, August Caesar.

13.  Dictatorship : a political or military ruler who has the power of the monarch, but whose basis for rule is not heredity, but based upon military or political power, or by popular election. E.g. Benito Mussolini, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Jullius Caesar, Josef Stalin, Mao Ze Dong.