What Is Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government where people exercise power over the state by electing representatives. Its most basic principle is that the power of government is shared, rather than concentrated. The government must do what its citizens want, and this means that people should have an equal say in the decisions made. As such, democracy encourages equality.
Democracy is most natural in well-bounded groups like tribes. It permits the tribal elders and members to make decisions for their group. This is supported by studies of nonliterate tribal societies. In early human history, people survived on hunting and gathering. The concept of democracy is thus an innate quality of such societies.
A liberal democracy is one in which power cannot be taken against the will of the people. It protects civil liberties against the encroachment of powerful forces. This concept is contrary to the idea of absolute power based on tradition. In addition, it rejects the concept of voluntarism, which appeals to people’s rights but results in repression of all forms of opposition.
In modern democracies, representatives are elected to represent the people. These representatives make the laws and set policy. Their job is to strike a balance between conflicting demands and obligations. In doing so, lawmakers strive to protect individual rights and maximize freedom. In the end, democracy is not a perfect system. The United States’ representative democracy, while it is not ideal, is still a step forward in history.
In order to remain strong, a democracy needs a majority of citizens to support its institutions. It must also have significant support among its people and its leaders. Unfortunately, nearly half of the new democracies created since 1960 have failed. In addition, many governments are pursuing authoritarian policies, which is inimical for democracy. It is therefore important to develop a democratic system that is resilient enough to respond to threats and ensure its survival.
The Arab Spring has shown that even non-democracies are experiencing new levels of civic engagement. In the European Union, for example, students and trade unions have brought people to the streets in protest of economic cuts. This means that democracy is not just about voting. In many parts of the world, citizens are deciding on policies that benefit their own interests and the wellbeing of their communities.
Moreover, a democracy must protect individual freedoms and liberties. This means that people must be aware of what government is doing to their lives and what their rights are. They should also have the right to form independent associations, political parties, or interest groups, and make their opinions known to government officials. Leaders can only lead according to their priorities, but citizens should make every effort to make their voice heard and to make their views heard in public forums.
Democracy has undergone a number of changes since the beginning of human civilization. While it was associated with Greece around 500 BCE, there is evidence that democracy existed in several other regions before then.
Democracy is a system of government where people exercise power over the state by electing representatives. Its most basic principle is that the power of government is shared, rather than concentrated. The government must do what its citizens want, and this means that people should have an equal say in the decisions made. As such, democracy encourages equality. Democracy is most natural in well-bounded groups like tribes. It permits the tribal elders and members to make decisions for their group. This is supported by studies of nonliterate tribal societies. In early human history, people survived on hunting and gathering. The concept of democracy is thus an innate quality of such societies. A liberal democracy is one in which power cannot be taken against the will of the people. It protects civil liberties against the encroachment of powerful forces. This concept is contrary to the idea of absolute power based on tradition. In addition, it rejects the concept of voluntarism, which appeals to people’s rights but results in repression of all forms of opposition. In modern democracies, representatives are elected to represent the people. These representatives make the laws and set policy. Their job is to strike a balance between conflicting demands and obligations. In doing so, lawmakers strive to protect individual rights and maximize freedom. In the end, democracy is not a perfect system. The United States’ representative democracy, while it is not ideal, is still a step forward in history. In order to remain strong, a democracy needs a majority of citizens to support its institutions. It must also have significant support among its people and its leaders. Unfortunately, nearly half of the new democracies created since 1960 have failed. In addition, many governments are pursuing authoritarian policies, which is inimical for democracy. It is therefore important to develop a democratic system that is resilient enough to respond to threats and ensure its survival. The Arab Spring has shown that even non-democracies are experiencing new levels of civic engagement. In the European Union, for example, students and trade unions have brought people to the streets in protest of economic cuts. This means that democracy is not just about voting. In many parts of the world, citizens are deciding on policies that benefit their own interests and the wellbeing of their communities. Moreover, a democracy must protect individual freedoms and liberties. This means that people must be aware of what government is doing to their lives and what their rights are. They should also have the right to form independent associations, political parties, or interest groups, and make their opinions known to government officials. Leaders can only lead according to their priorities, but citizens should make every effort to make their voice heard and to make their views heard in public forums. Democracy has undergone a number of changes since the beginning of human civilization. While it was associated with Greece around 500 BCE, there is evidence that democracy existed in several other regions before then.