In this thesis, the argument is made that the extent to which secrecy was employed in early twentieth-century lynching in the American Deep South is dependent on whether that secrecy provided the...Show moreIn this thesis, the argument is made that the extent to which secrecy was employed in early twentieth-century lynching in the American Deep South is dependent on whether that secrecy provided the desired sense of security from persecution to those participating in a lynch mob. Using three case studies, ranging from a highly publicized and public killing in Waco, Texas, to a group slaying of remotely situated Mexican Texans by a division of Texas Rangers, to a highly coordinated attack on a jewish factory boss in the dark of night, it is argued that either the cover of obscurity or the anonimity in a large group setting could each supply the needed sense of safety for those participating in the lynching to commit to the act fully. The circumstances which would dictate the public or secretive approach varied widely in the studied cases, yet there are some common grounds to be found among them as well.Show less
An elected representative has the obligation to make decisions based on how this affects the population. There are various organized groups which seek to actively influence politicians in the...Show moreAn elected representative has the obligation to make decisions based on how this affects the population. There are various organized groups which seek to actively influence politicians in the decision-making process. This raises the question how a representative should deal with these organized groups, which we normally call lobbyists. In this thesis I will look at lobbying from a philosophical perspective. I will answer the question how lobbying influences democracy and how it affects democratic legitimacy. This will be done based on three accusations, that lobbying can create imbalances in decision-making, that lobbying can lead to a lack of transparency, and the accusation that lobbyists use immoral practices. I will first discuss different types of democracy and what the important features and requirements of a democracy are, and what exactly we mean by lobbying. Following this I will discuss the second accusation as well as the positive aspects lobbying can have on democracy. Positive aspects include the fact that lobbying allows for an exchange of information between politicians and external parties, that lobbying can lead to better representation by politicians because citizens can contact government officials directly, and the fact that lobbying can lead to increased publicity. Following this I will discuss possible solutions to the problems of lobbying. The first solution we will discuss states that publicity in the government is a strong way to counter many of the problems of lobbying. The second way to solve the problems of lobbying is by turning towards a more deliberative mode of democracy.Show less
