Difference Between Authoritarian And Democratic Power example essay topic

1,144 words
The Two powers Each person is born with a tendency to rule, and in order for people to achieve this purpose, they use different means of power. As a result, many methods of power have been developed; perhaps the two most common types of ruling are authoritarian and democratic. When we talk about ruling, we are referring to the act of governing. The difference between authoritarian and democratic power, is best illustrated in The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. In this book, Ralph and jack struggle to carry these two different methods of ruling in their respective roles. Ralph and jack portrait the difference between authoritarian and democratic power with situations that compare in our world today.

One of the most influential means of government is Authoritarian means, un forcing unquestioning obedience to authority, as that of a dictator, rather than individual freedom of judgment and action (COMPTON S ENCYCLOPEDIA). Authoritarianism is any form of government in which relatively few people run the country and the rest of the population takes little or none in the decision making. in a authoritarian government the rulers make prohibit or manipulated elation's in a way that makes them win. This governments may not only restrict individual freedom, but also limit the power of those who represent the people. gover mets such as, absolute monarchy, dictatorship, and totalitarianism are also under the same government. People that live under an authoritarian set of rules are many times treated with unjust and cruel power.

Those who tried to go against the ideas of the government are punish, put in jail, and many times killed. As a result, in an authoritarian government all people must do what the ruler said even if the majority disagree. Sever a authoritarian governments have develop throughout history, and some of them have let enormous destruction and suffering such as Nazi Germans under Adolf Hitler. In the lord of the flies the character that best describes authoritarianism is Jack.

Jack, a tall, thin red-head, initially appears in the novel as the leader of the boys' choir. After losing the election for leader to Ralph, he voluntarily takes charge of hunting and maintaining the signal fire. As the structure of life on the island breaks down, Jack forms a tribe of savage boys on the far side of the island. Jack's name, Hebrew in origin, means "one who supplants", reflecting his use of force. This character does not believe that the Beast exists and is the leader of anarchy on the island. From the start of the novel he does not like to follow rules of any kind.

He simply wants to hunt and have a good time. Not seeming to care about being rescued, Jack and his tribe are examples of the Beast running angry. Jack began as the arrogant and self-righteous leader of a choir. The freedom of the island allowed him to further develop the darker side of his personality as the Chief of a savage tribe. As the story progresses he becomes less and less attached to any societal rules. Near the end, he feels no shame about the deaths of Simon and Piggy, or his attempt to kill Ralph.

Jack tried to be the leader of the group by using terror. I m scared of him, and that's why I know him. If you re scared of someone you hate him but you can't stop thinking about him. You kid yourself he's all right really, an then when you see him again; it's like asthma an you can t breathe. (golding 93).

He led his choir by administering much discipline resulting in forced obedience from the cloaked boys. His anger was well expressed through his rude way of saying, "Shut up, Fatty". at Piggy. (p. 23). As show, jack is well characterized by the authoritarian ruling. Jack illustrates some types of government seen in the world, where terror has been use to manipulate society.

Democracy, as opposed to Authoritarian, is defined as government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives; rule by the ruled. Democracy was defined by united states president Abraham Lincoln as Government of the people, by the people, for the people (World book Encyclopedia). In a democratic system, people take action in all political activities, either directly or indirectly. Since most of the countries that practice democracy are very big countries, then most of them use the indirect democracy system. In an indirect democracy, the people elect a certain number of people to represent them, and make the laws. democratic governments allow the participation of all the citizens because, according to them, majority rules.

People are guaranteed freedom and equal rights. The only time in which a democratic country may temporarily adapt cruel punishment is during times of war. Ralph, a tall, blond twelve year old, establishes himself as the leader of the boys when he blows the conch shell to call the first assembly. Throughout the story, he struggles to maintain order, forced to compete with Jack for respect.

Ralph's name, derived from the Anglo-Saxon language, means "counsel". Ralph is somewhat energetic and is chosen for chief, who makes it his job to lay down rules and try to organize a society. Throughout the novel he is always in conflict with Jack, who wants to be chief himself. A lth Ralph never reaches the understanding about the Beast that Simon does, he knows right from wrong. Since the beginning Ralph wanted to create a society in which all of them will take part in the decision making and creating rules to be obeyed. I agree with Ralph.

We ve got to have rules and obey them (Golding 42). By using different characters the author was able to show different types of people found in our society. Their true selves were exposed in the freedom from adult supervision. Under the rulers that jack lived, his real evil was kept secretly. But when the rules no longer existed, he was free to do whatever he wanted and desired.

Ralph had grown up with rulers of a civilized world, that the changes they had were difficult for him to understand. Lord of the Flies understating of evil is such that it shows through symbolism, to remind the natural condition of man and which is illustrated the influence of authoritarian in jack character as in the manifestations of Nazi regression. However, It also shows Ralph interpretation of democracy in a set of rulers in which everyone participates.