Democracy vs. Republic

[Karl Marx's Camel]

In bourgeois understanding, what is the difference between republic and democracy?

[Forward Union]

There isn't one, they consider them to be synonymous. Look up democracy in an online thesaurus...

[LSD]

Democracy is a broad category general understood as any system in which decisions are made based on popular opinion.

Accordingly, a republic is considered a form of democracy.

[OleMarxco]

Yes, but it is a "lesser" form of democracy, for the 'soft' despots who want to give a few powers to the people, but want to retain power to the "most important" stuff, like top-state level decisions...for the "Republic's good". I.e., henche the name, Republican. And I think that describes Bush well too.

Taking from the Civilization-games, Democracy would be the most hardcoresth out there in full-power to the people, but Republic would only have a "senate", thus it's like Greece and Rome, in other words, chokin' on it's pride with, "equality for important men" (like workers, soldiers, farmers) and not children or women..and the senate would only force peace half of the time, if offered ;)

[Lamanov]

the only historical difference is that burgoise democracy can exist both in republic [presidential authority] and monarchy [parliamentary].

All 'western' countries today are burgoise democracies but some are republics and some are monarchies.

[Livetrueordie]

There isn't one, they consider them to be synonymous
no, republic is a form of democracy, but democracy isn't a form of republic...
Republic is just representative democracy. i don't trust republics.

[Severian]

"Republic" is a pretty vague term. Literally, it means "public thing" or "the public business." (Latin, res publica.)

If there isn't a monarch, it's a republic, pretty much. A republic may or may not be democratic. The Roman Republic sure wasn't.

The U.S. is a capitalist democratic republic.

Some people like to insist "it's a republic, not a democracy". These people are confused.

[fernando]

The Netherlands are a consitutional monarchy with a democracy

[Hiero]

Australia is not a republic, but we had multi party elections, with a representation parliament.

The head of state is the Queen and that is hereditory.

So if we become a republic, then the difference will be the head of state will be choosen from the parliament or the public.

[KptnKrill]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2005, 07:50 PM

There isn't one, they consider them to be synonymous
no, republic is a form of democracy, but democracy isn't a form of republic...
Republic is just representative democracy. i don't trust republics.
Exactly. I use this little charty-listy thing. It's blatantly stolen from "the Joy of Revolution".

(1) Unrestricted freedom
(2) Direct democracy
____ a) consensus
____ b) majority rule
(3) Delegate democracy
(4) Representative democracy (republic)
(5) Overt minority dictatorship

[bolshevik butcher]

Isn't a republic just a country without a monarch? ;)

[Comrade san]

Originally posted by Clenched [email protected] 6 2005, 04:08 PM
Isn't a republic just a country without a monarch? ;)
Ha pretty much, i prefer it with a Queen rather than a Bush ran state.

At least the Queen could spell 'Head of State' ;)