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kouga
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did montesquieu have a point when he said that democracy won't work or was he completely ignorant??
I also don't know Montesquieu but - what do you mean by 'works'? Works for whom? And which system of democracy? It's just an opinion but if you mean the Anglo-American industrio-scientific version then I'd say it doesn't work at all except for those who have no interest in anything at all except short-term economic growth. This is perhaps why democracy is so strongly encouraged world-wide,(or, rather, rammed down people's throats). It opens up markets, homogenises them, and removes any cultural, religious or ethical barriers to trade, thus promoting the economies and cutural exports of those who are doing the encouraging.kouga said:did montesquieu have a point when he said that democracy won't work or was he completely ignorant??
Montesquieu believed in a system of checks and balances within a democratic government. He argued that power should be divided among three branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - in order to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Montesquieu's ideas about checks and balances and the separation of powers greatly influenced the development of modern democratic governments, including the United States Constitution. His belief in limiting the power of government and protecting individual rights is reflected in many democratic systems today.
Montesquieu believed that a pure democracy, where the people have direct control over decision-making, was dangerous because it could lead to majority tyranny. He also criticized the idea of a strong central government, arguing that it could easily become despotic and oppressive.
Unlike other Enlightenment thinkers, such as Rousseau, who believed in a direct democracy, Montesquieu argued for a representative democracy where elected officials would make decisions on behalf of the people. He also emphasized the importance of a balance of power between different branches of government.
Montesquieu's belief in the separation of powers and checks and balances reflects the Enlightenment values of reason, logic, and progress. By limiting the power of government and protecting individual rights, he sought to create a more just and fair society. His emphasis on the importance of a balance of power also reflects the Enlightenment belief in the need for a rational and organized government.