The Justification For Democracy
Democracy is a system of political governance that gives people power to choose their own leaders, policies and institutions. It is based on the belief that every person has an equal right to self-government.
In theory, it should promote a broad range of social goods, such as inclusion, fairness and transparency. The practical elements of a democracy include free and fair elections, a vibrant civil society, an active and unrestricted press, checks and balances on power, an effective legal system and transparent decision-making. Democracy is not easy to live up to in practice, however. A democratic society requires citizens who are informed and understand the positions of others, a willingness to discuss ideas in depth, and a commitment to compromise. Democracy also needs to be flexible enough to adapt to rapid social change.
This is why a good understanding of democracy is essential to the success of any philanthropic strategy. We have an opportunity to ensure that our democracy is thriving, so that it can provide us with the best possible outcomes in the future.
A core justification for democracy is that it provides a better, more tangible set of results than autocracy. This includes things like economic growth, the level of public education and the protection of basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and religion. Nevertheless, the question of whether these benefits outweigh any negatives is a subjective one that varies by personal values and conceptions of the world (Rawls 1993).
Another justification for democracy appeals to its value as an instrument to secure basic liberal rights. This argument claims that well-functioning democratic institutions are associated with the strong protection of core liberal rights such as the right to a fair trial, the right to privacy and the freedom of association (Brennan 2016).
Finally, a moral justification for democracy is based on the idea that every person ought to be master of their own destiny. In order for people to achieve this, they need to be able to influence the laws that govern them and the institutions that make those laws. This is only possible through democracy (Gould 1988).
Democracy provides the opportunity for each person to shape the society they live in, and to hold government accountable when it fails to deliver the goods that it promises. Despite its problems, democracy is generally seen as the best system for achieving this goal compared to other alternatives. The question for philanthropists is, what can we do to ensure that it thrives?
Democracy is a system of political governance that gives people power to choose their own leaders, policies and institutions. It is based on the belief that every person has an equal right to self-government. In theory, it should promote a broad range of social goods, such as inclusion, fairness and transparency. The practical elements of a democracy include free and fair elections, a vibrant civil society, an active and unrestricted press, checks and balances on power, an effective legal system and transparent decision-making. Democracy is not easy to live up to in practice, however. A democratic society requires citizens who are informed and understand the positions of others, a willingness to discuss ideas in depth, and a commitment to compromise. Democracy also needs to be flexible enough to adapt to rapid social change. This is why a good understanding of democracy is essential to the success of any philanthropic strategy. We have an opportunity to ensure that our democracy is thriving, so that it can provide us with the best possible outcomes in the future. A core justification for democracy is that it provides a better, more tangible set of results than autocracy. This includes things like economic growth, the level of public education and the protection of basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and religion. Nevertheless, the question of whether these benefits outweigh any negatives is a subjective one that varies by personal values and conceptions of the world (Rawls 1993). Another justification for democracy appeals to its value as an instrument to secure basic liberal rights. This argument claims that well-functioning democratic institutions are associated with the strong protection of core liberal rights such as the right to a fair trial, the right to privacy and the freedom of association (Brennan 2016). Finally, a moral justification for democracy is based on the idea that every person ought to be master of their own destiny. In order for people to achieve this, they need to be able to influence the laws that govern them and the institutions that make those laws. This is only possible through democracy (Gould 1988). Democracy provides the opportunity for each person to shape the society they live in, and to hold government accountable when it fails to deliver the goods that it promises. Despite its problems, democracy is generally seen as the best system for achieving this goal compared to other alternatives. The question for philanthropists is, what can we do to ensure that it thrives?