The Council of Europe’s Standards for Democracy
Democracy is about giving people power to make their own choices about the society they live in, and the actions of their government. It is a system in which every person has the right to take part directly in governing their country (direct democracy), or through freely chosen representatives (representative democracy). Democracy also allows citizens to hold their elected leaders and government accountable, in order to make sure they work for everyone in their society. Democracy is much more than voting in elections, however – and the Council of Europe has a number of programmes to support the development and implementation of standards for democracy.
The process of making a political system more democratic is known as democratization. While there are many different theories about what makes a government democratic, most agree that it involves the transfer of power from an authoritarian regime to a more legitimate, popularly-mandated one. This can be accompanied by reforms to electoral systems, increased suffrage and reduced political apathy.
Democracies are usually more successful than autocratic systems in producing better tangible results for people, such as improved living standards and greater economic prosperity. This measurable success reinforces the argument that democracy is the best form of government invented by humans, even though it is not perfect.
A key feature of a democracy is freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which means that citizens can hold whatever beliefs they want without being punished for them. This is an essential part of a democracy because it allows citizens to explore alternatives to their current systems of government, and to try out new ways of organising themselves. Governments that seek to limit this freedom are often seen as authoritarian and repressive, and they risk losing the trust of their citizens.
In this video, experts in democracy and governance debate how we can make the world more livable for all, while respecting diversity. They focus on how to strengthen democracy at the local level, where it will be most effective in addressing the issues that matter most for individuals and communities, such as reducing poverty, climate change, corporate exploitation or conflict.
This project is supported by the European Commission for Democracy through Law – the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters – and its programmes on democratic participation, education for democratic citizenship and youth participation. It is part of a wider effort by the Council of Europe to promote democracy and its core values, along with human rights and the rule of law. This includes supporting the development and implementation of international standards for democracy, as well as running programmes to improve democratic institutions and practices at a national level. The Council of Europe is committed to the notion that democracy, along with the other pillars of its Charter of Fundamental Rights, is indispensable to a peaceful and prosperous future for all. It is the only way that we can ensure that our governments work for us, not against us.
Democracy is about giving people power to make their own choices about the society they live in, and the actions of their government. It is a system in which every person has the right to take part directly in governing their country (direct democracy), or through freely chosen representatives (representative democracy). Democracy also allows citizens to hold their elected leaders and government accountable, in order to make sure they work for everyone in their society. Democracy is much more than voting in elections, however – and the Council of Europe has a number of programmes to support the development and implementation of standards for democracy. The process of making a political system more democratic is known as democratization. While there are many different theories about what makes a government democratic, most agree that it involves the transfer of power from an authoritarian regime to a more legitimate, popularly-mandated one. This can be accompanied by reforms to electoral systems, increased suffrage and reduced political apathy. Democracies are usually more successful than autocratic systems in producing better tangible results for people, such as improved living standards and greater economic prosperity. This measurable success reinforces the argument that democracy is the best form of government invented by humans, even though it is not perfect. A key feature of a democracy is freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which means that citizens can hold whatever beliefs they want without being punished for them. This is an essential part of a democracy because it allows citizens to explore alternatives to their current systems of government, and to try out new ways of organising themselves. Governments that seek to limit this freedom are often seen as authoritarian and repressive, and they risk losing the trust of their citizens. In this video, experts in democracy and governance debate how we can make the world more livable for all, while respecting diversity. They focus on how to strengthen democracy at the local level, where it will be most effective in addressing the issues that matter most for individuals and communities, such as reducing poverty, climate change, corporate exploitation or conflict. This project is supported by the European Commission for Democracy through Law – the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters – and its programmes on democratic participation, education for democratic citizenship and youth participation. It is part of a wider effort by the Council of Europe to promote democracy and its core values, along with human rights and the rule of law. This includes supporting the development and implementation of international standards for democracy, as well as running programmes to improve democratic institutions and practices at a national level. The Council of Europe is committed to the notion that democracy, along with the other pillars of its Charter of Fundamental Rights, is indispensable to a peaceful and prosperous future for all. It is the only way that we can ensure that our governments work for us, not against us.