Democracies – Why It’s Important to Keep Fighting For Democracy
Democracy means “rule by the people,” and in practice, this can mean many different things. For example, the word demokratia comes from the Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (“rule” or “power”). In a democracy, everyone is a citizen with equal rights, responsibilities, opportunities and protections. It’s a complicated system, and it takes all citizens to make sure it works. That could be by voting, protesting or running for office. But a simple definition can’t capture the complexity of democracy or the way it evolved over time.
For instance, in the United States, democracy has survived a civil war; economic expansions and contractions; natural disasters and environmental crises worsened by climate change; income inequality; racial and ethnic conflicts; and even the rise of demagogues. This has been possible because of the fundamental principles that bind a democratic society together, including the protection of basic human rights and freedoms, and the institutions that uphold these principles. These include a free press and the separation of powers, with courts acting as an independent check on power; open and fair elections; and respect for the people’s choice.
A democracy also requires compromise and understanding, especially when the system is under attack. But that’s often difficult to accomplish, as the values that different groups attach to democracy can clash and divide. When this happens, it’s easy for governments to lose legitimacy, and that opens the door to would-be dictators.
Nevertheless, the case for democracy has been strengthened by research that shows the social forces of democracy produce positive outcomes in areas such as health, education, and governance. This is why it’s so important to keep up the fight for democracy: not just because of the values and liberties it embodies, but also because of what it can do.
But in this day and age, democracy is more often defined negatively, as freedom from arbitrary actions or the personality cult of a leader. This is a mistake, because there’s always room to improve the democracy part of democracy, by making it more inclusive and representative of more people’s wishes. It’s also possible to improve the “power” or “will” part of democracy, by giving people more real power over their lives.
It’s essential to get young people involved early in democracy, not just by voting and participating in political life, but also through activism on local issues. This is the way to ensure that democracy thrives over generations. It’s also how to help the next generation understand that democracy isn’t a fixed state but an ongoing journey — one that we all need to work on together. If we do, it can help us address the challenges that lie ahead, from advancing women’s rights and LGBTQ equality to fighting climate change and promoting social cohesion. This is how we’ll build a world that is truly for the people.
Democracy means “rule by the people,” and in practice, this can mean many different things. For example, the word demokratia comes from the Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (“rule” or “power”). In a democracy, everyone is a citizen with equal rights, responsibilities, opportunities and protections. It’s a complicated system, and it takes all citizens to make sure it works. That could be by voting, protesting or running for office. But a simple definition can’t capture the complexity of democracy or the way it evolved over time. For instance, in the United States, democracy has survived a civil war; economic expansions and contractions; natural disasters and environmental crises worsened by climate change; income inequality; racial and ethnic conflicts; and even the rise of demagogues. This has been possible because of the fundamental principles that bind a democratic society together, including the protection of basic human rights and freedoms, and the institutions that uphold these principles. These include a free press and the separation of powers, with courts acting as an independent check on power; open and fair elections; and respect for the people’s choice. A democracy also requires compromise and understanding, especially when the system is under attack. But that’s often difficult to accomplish, as the values that different groups attach to democracy can clash and divide. When this happens, it’s easy for governments to lose legitimacy, and that opens the door to would-be dictators. Nevertheless, the case for democracy has been strengthened by research that shows the social forces of democracy produce positive outcomes in areas such as health, education, and governance. This is why it’s so important to keep up the fight for democracy: not just because of the values and liberties it embodies, but also because of what it can do. But in this day and age, democracy is more often defined negatively, as freedom from arbitrary actions or the personality cult of a leader. This is a mistake, because there’s always room to improve the democracy part of democracy, by making it more inclusive and representative of more people’s wishes. It’s also possible to improve the “power” or “will” part of democracy, by giving people more real power over their lives. It’s essential to get young people involved early in democracy, not just by voting and participating in political life, but also through activism on local issues. This is the way to ensure that democracy thrives over generations. It’s also how to help the next generation understand that democracy isn’t a fixed state but an ongoing journey — one that we all need to work on together. If we do, it can help us address the challenges that lie ahead, from advancing women’s rights and LGBTQ equality to fighting climate change and promoting social cohesion. This is how we’ll build a world that is truly for the people.