Single Idea 20509

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / e. Democratic minorities]

Full Idea

Most of us can accept losing from time to time, but sometimes an entrenched majority will win vote after vote, leaving the minority group permanently outvoted and ignored.

Gist of Idea

Occasional defeat is acceptable, but a minority that is continually defeated is a problem

Source

Jonathan Wolff (An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) [2006], 3 'Protecting')

Book Reference

Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.100


A Reaction

This is the key problem of the treatment of minorities in a democracy. Personally I have only once been on the winning side in voting for my MP, and he changed party a couple of years later.