What Is Democracy?
Democracy is a set of values and principles which have been forged by history over a long period of time. These include the rule of law, freedom, respect for human rights and periodic elections based on universal suffrage.
The term “democracy” derives from two Greek words: “demos” (the people) and “kratos” (power or authority). It is a system of government in which the people exercise their power by voting for their representatives.
A democratic society is a social fabric made up of many and varied institutions, political parties, organizations and associations. In a democratic system, these elements do not depend on the government for their existence, legitimacy or authority; instead they seek to resolve conflicts among themselves in an unbiased and impartial way.
It is this pluralism of ideas that makes it possible for people to have a voice in the decisions of their government. This right allows you to talk about different issues with others, to form interest groups or lobbying groups or to gather together to protest against decisions you disagree with.
Another essential freedom in a democracy is freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights Article 18. This right permits you to think about and believe what is important to you, without being subjected to discrimination or persecution for your beliefs.
Finally, you have the right to peaceful assembly and association, as protected by the UDHR Article 20. This is a right to discuss your opinions with others, to organise and campaign against decisions you disagree with, and to bring together people who share your interests in order to improve the situation for all.
This right to assemble and speak out is crucial to the survival of any democracy, as governments are often inclined to impose restrictions on their citizens if they believe they will threaten the status quo or their own authority. This is why it is important for you to be involved in the process of bringing about change, so that your voice may be heard.
The most effective way for you to do this is to make your opinion known to the leaders of your country and the media. By doing so, you will help them to better understand your concerns and priorities.
It is also important to stay informed about the decisions being taken in your country, so that you can make your own contribution and influence them where possible. This can be done by making your voice known to your representatives in parliament and to the media, as well as by joining with other citizens who are working on particular issues.
The United Nations has a number of initiatives and projects that promote democratisation, including the UN Democracy Fund. The Fund supports civil society organisations in countries in transition to and during the consolidation phases of democratisation. It also finances projects that promote democracy and protect human rights.
Democracy is a set of values and principles which have been forged by history over a long period of time. These include the rule of law, freedom, respect for human rights and periodic elections based on universal suffrage. The term “democracy” derives from two Greek words: “demos” (the people) and “kratos” (power or authority). It is a system of government in which the people exercise their power by voting for their representatives. A democratic society is a social fabric made up of many and varied institutions, political parties, organizations and associations. In a democratic system, these elements do not depend on the government for their existence, legitimacy or authority; instead they seek to resolve conflicts among themselves in an unbiased and impartial way. It is this pluralism of ideas that makes it possible for people to have a voice in the decisions of their government. This right allows you to talk about different issues with others, to form interest groups or lobbying groups or to gather together to protest against decisions you disagree with. Another essential freedom in a democracy is freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights Article 18. This right permits you to think about and believe what is important to you, without being subjected to discrimination or persecution for your beliefs. Finally, you have the right to peaceful assembly and association, as protected by the UDHR Article 20. This is a right to discuss your opinions with others, to organise and campaign against decisions you disagree with, and to bring together people who share your interests in order to improve the situation for all. This right to assemble and speak out is crucial to the survival of any democracy, as governments are often inclined to impose restrictions on their citizens if they believe they will threaten the status quo or their own authority. This is why it is important for you to be involved in the process of bringing about change, so that your voice may be heard. The most effective way for you to do this is to make your opinion known to the leaders of your country and the media. By doing so, you will help them to better understand your concerns and priorities. It is also important to stay informed about the decisions being taken in your country, so that you can make your own contribution and influence them where possible. This can be done by making your voice known to your representatives in parliament and to the media, as well as by joining with other citizens who are working on particular issues. The United Nations has a number of initiatives and projects that promote democratisation, including the UN Democracy Fund. The Fund supports civil society organisations in countries in transition to and during the consolidation phases of democratisation. It also finances projects that promote democracy and protect human rights.