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Can Presidential Systems Work Effectively Within Deeply Divided Societies? Essay

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Name: Amanda Raizis
ID: 300306546
Tutor: Tim Webster
Tutorial Time: Thursday 11.00-11.50pm

Can presidential systems work effectively in deeply divided societies? [Make reference to at least two cases of your choosing.]

Thesis Statement
Presidentialism is a system of government in which the president is elected both chief executives and as head of government (Ogelsby & Suárez, 1968) and is the main system of democratic government apart from parliamentary systems. Presidential systems tend to centralise priorities of the government to stabilise society. Normally, they are classed into separate regions of power; where the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government are dependent on one another and cannot work effectively in deeply divided societies. This argument is ruled by the fact that they are 1) divisive, causing isolation between ethnoreligious groups. Elites are prioritised over minority working class groups and 2) inherently majoritarian, as only a single position is given causing proportionality to become impossible. In places such as Latin America and Northern Ireland, we see the ways in which these theories have proven ineffectiveness. However, presidential systems aim to separate powers in order to protect citizens’ rights and deter abuse of power for good governance overall. Through this presidential systems, however, have quick decisiveness in resolving societal issues. Without effective separation; executive, legislative and judicial powers,

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