Authority
3 articles filed under this keyword.
Democracy from Citizens’ Perspective
Jalal Ahmed Abdullah
The main aim of the study was to accomplish an exploratory execution of the citizens’ conceptualization of democracy. To achieve this goal, the researchers relied on qualitative design to conduct in-depth semi-open interviews with 24 citizens from the IKR, residing in the governorates of Erbil, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and several autonomous administrations. Then, the results were summarized within several themes, such as: democracy as rights, freedom, equality and social justice; Democracy is the best political system and form of governance; Democracy is not just a Western way of life; democracy is a utopia; Democracy and religion will not be an alternative to each other. At the same time, the results of the study showed that those who have a positive view toward democracy, often stem from exigencies and expectations placed on democracy, particularly in its political dimension, especially in terms of providing the right to participate, freedom of expression, social justice in terms of distribution of wealth, roles and positions, equality before the law and providing opportunities. However, in its social and cultural facets, and as a result of comments about some of the outcomes and consequences of democracy in western countries in particular, the desire for democracy among Kurdistan citizens is lower.
Volume 12 · Issue 1 · February 2025The Power in the View of Michel Foucault
Zryan Hamza Aziz, Darstan Abdulrahman Hussien, Bayar Othman Qadr
Michel Foucault is a well-known French philosopher who has a different understanding of the concept of "power" and emphasizes that power is different from what we know and that we do not see its hidden facets. Modern power has completely changed from the imposition of power, from the will of the individual to self-imposing, and it is no longer in its old forms. It is available in all places and at all times, and it is applied equally to all without distinction. Foucault analyzes the concept of power in terms of its quality and divides it into two parts according to the time and time in which it is exercised, namely the power of the state and the authority of pastoralists. The power of the state is a modern form of power that seeks to impose its supreme hegemony over the entire society. The disciplinary power portrays the ruler as a shepherd and the community as a herd and gives the ruler the responsibility of full care. In Foucault's view, the enabling environment of power that tells us what is true and what should not be said is called "discourse." It has a strong relation with the government and has the power to strengthen or weaken it. In the same way, "knowledge" is closely related to power and influences the direction of the individual and becomes the basis for the development of his or her views on authority. In Foucault’s view the power comes in a variety of ways. such as the power of repression, the power of the sovereign, the power of discipline and the power of bio-power. The government is responsible for the subjugation and subjugation of the citizens. The government is trying to impose its dominance and sovereignty on the community. The Disciplinary Authority works on the rules and regulations of the organization of the society, and the Biopower works on the revitalization of the society and uses the latest methods of community management.
Volume 8 · Issue 4 · December 2021The Principles of The City-State in Plato’s View
Muslim Hassan Mohammed, Zryan Hamza Aziz
Plato’s thoughts, as great Greek philosopher, are still counted as one of the best references in terms of political philosophy and are in practice in the world of politics. Plato owns a utopian state based on the foundation of justice and virtue. Plato’s state, ruled by philosopher-kings, is characterized by having particular thoughts about the system of education. Politics is vitally important within Plato’s philosophy. It is regarded as means of planning his utopian city. Plato believes that political systems can be classified, in accordance to their ruling type, into aristocracy, timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, monarchy and dictatorship. Among them, Plato believes that aristocracy is the best since it’s practiced by a philosopher-king. Plato in his ideal state refers to metaphysics as an important basic of his utopian city. Plato’s view is that the ideal state can only be cherished in the life of hereafter, though those in power may be able to find some sort of the ideal life in this world. The philosopher-kings, on the other hand, are able to practice such an ideal life in this world. In Plato’s view, any sort of change happening in the world from the perfection towards the imperfection and weakness. This is due to the unstable feature of the world that never stays constantly. Only God is characterized by stableness and mortality. Plato thinks that ‘ethics’ is one of the practical fields of philosophy which shows the will of any human being that depends on performing the duty of individuals in the society to establish social justice. Plato states that education refers to the right preparation of human beings to suit the world of justice. He sees the education as the highest virtue. Plato repeats that all the social city-state classes have to get the proper education formed in certain phases based on the age of the citizens.