The Good Society: An Introduction to Comparative Politics
1. Introduction
In his book “The Good Society: An Introduction to Comparative Politics” Alan Draper argues that society has something to strive for to become better than it is. The question that immediately arises is what society should strive for, if anything. To answer this question, Draper looks to the nature of society and the political regime under which it is organized. He concludes that democracy is the best political regime and that freedom and practical reason are the two highest goods that society can aspire to.
2. The Nature of Society
Draper begins by looking at the nature of society. He defines society as “a group of people who interact with one another on a regular basis and share a common culture.” (Draper, 5) He goes on to say that societies can be characterized by their size, their structure, and their level of development.
Size refers to the number of people in a given society. Structure refers to the way in which those people are organized. And development refers to the degree to which the members of a given society have realized their human potential.
Draper argues that all societies are organized around two basic principles: hierarchy and affiliation. Hierarchy is the principle of inequality, whereby some people are more equal than others. Affiliation is the principle of solidarity, whereby people are united by shared values and interests.
3. The Good Society
Draper defines the good society as “one in which individuals are able to realize their Highest Potential.” (Draper, 9) In order to achieve this, Draper argues that four conditions must be met:
First, individuals must have access to the resources they need in order to develop their talents and abilities. Second, there must be a system of education in place that allows individuals to learn about and develop their talents and abilities. Third, there must be a system of government that protects individuals’ rights and liberties. And fourth, there must be a system of social welfare that provides for the needs of those who are unable to provide for themselves.
4. The Political Regime
The political regime is the system of government under which a given society is organized. Draper argues that democracy is the best form of government because it is the only form of government that meets all four of the conditions necessary for a good society.
First, democracy provides access to resources by ensuring that all citizens have an equal say in how those resources are used. Second, democracy ensures education by providing public schools for all children and ensuring that all citizens have the right to vote. Third, democracy protects rights and liberties by guaranteeing certain basic rights for all citizens and by placing checks on the power of government officials. And fourth, democracy provides social welfare by ensuring that all citizens have access to basic goods and services such as healthcare and education.
5. Freedom and the Senses
Draper argues that freedom is the highest good that society can aspire to because it allows individuals to realize their Highest Potential. He defines freedom as “the condition in which individuals are able freely to act according to their own will.” (Draper, 16) Freedom requires both internal freedom (the ability to act according to one’s own desires) and external freedom (the ability to act without interference from others).
External freedom requires a political regime that protects the rights and liberties of individuals. Internal freedom requires that individuals have access to the resources they need in order to develop their talents and abilities.
6. Imagination and Thought
Draper argues that imagination and thought are necessary for the development of the individual and for the achievement of the good society. He defines imagination as “the ability to see things in new and different ways.” (Draper, 18) Thought is the process of using reason to think about and understand the world.
Imagination and thought are necessary for the development of the individual because they allow individuals to see things in new and different ways. They are also necessary for the achievement of the good society because they allow individuals to reason about the best way to organize society.
7. Practical Reason and the Good Life
Practical reason is the ability to use reason to solve problems. Draper argues that practical reason is necessary for the good life because it allows individuals to figure out what they should do in order to achieve their Highest Potential.
Practical reason is also necessary for the good society because it allows individuals to figure out how best to organize society in order to achieve the common good.
8. Affiliation and the Good Society
Affiliation is the feeling of solidarity that people feel when they share values and interests. Draper argues that affiliation is necessary for the good society because it allows individuals to cooperate with one another in order to achieve the common good.
Affiliation is also necessary for the good life because it allows individuals to develop relationships with others.
9. The Environment and the Good Society
The environment is the natural world in which humans live. Draper argues that the environment is necessary for the good society because it provides the resources that humans need in order to survive and thrive.
The environment is also necessary for the good life because it allows humans to interact with nature and to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
10. Conclusion
Draper’s book “The Good Society: An Introduction to Comparative Politics” provides a helpful introduction to the study of comparative politics. It helps us to understand the nature of society and the political regime under which it is organized. It also provides us with a framework for thinking about the best way to organize society in order to achieve the common good.