What is Democracy?
Democracy takes its name from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (rule). It is a form of government that allows citizens to participate in governing themselves. Democracy has played a critical role in shifting power structures from monarchy, empire and conquest into popular rule, self-determination and peaceful co-existence. It is a system that is continually evolving and changing, and it requires the active participation of people in all aspects of society to thrive.
While simple definitions are useful, they don’t capture the full scope of what democracy is all about. Democracy is not just the electoral process, but the entire fabric of people’s lives – how they interact with one another, their ideas and aspirations. It is the ability to resolve differences through open, transparent and accountable processes. It is the opportunity to have your voice heard and to act collectively in order to create a better world.
Throughout history, democratic systems have struggled to be more inclusive and responsive to people’s desires. These efforts have typically focused on either expanding the “people” part of the equation, or improving the “power” or “will” part.
The expansion of democracy into areas that were previously closed off to it has been one of humanity’s greatest legacies. It is still a work in progress and will remain so until every person on the planet has the fundamental right to choose who governs them.
Democracy is a system of societal organization where people participate in the governing of their community, city-state or nation through elections by universal suffrage. It includes the right to freedom of expression and association, including the right to hold political parties and to organize protests (provided it does not prevent others from doing so). It also includes the right to free and fair elections and a government that is transparent, responsive and accountable.
Democracies are able to resolve conflicting interests and demands through a process of arbitration, where different components of society share the burden and benefits of decisions. This is what the UDHR refers to as the “rule of law”.
In recent years, democracy has emerged in countries that have not traditionally been regarded as democracies. The so-called Arab Spring exemplified the power of “people power”. In Europe, too, students and trade unions have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with government policies.
The Economist Group’s Democracy Index measures the quality of democracy around the world using 60 indicators grouped into five categories. It ranks nations according to their overall score and places them into four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian states. Its methodology is based on the World Democracy Forum’s Norms and Principles of Democracy, which are a set of internationally agreed standards. The Economist Group also produces a number of other democracy indices such as the V-Dem and Bertelsmann Transformation Index.
Democracy takes its name from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (rule). It is a form of government that allows citizens to participate in governing themselves. Democracy has played a critical role in shifting power structures from monarchy, empire and conquest into popular rule, self-determination and peaceful co-existence. It is a system that is continually evolving and changing, and it requires the active participation of people in all aspects of society to thrive. While simple definitions are useful, they don’t capture the full scope of what democracy is all about. Democracy is not just the electoral process, but the entire fabric of people’s lives – how they interact with one another, their ideas and aspirations. It is the ability to resolve differences through open, transparent and accountable processes. It is the opportunity to have your voice heard and to act collectively in order to create a better world. Throughout history, democratic systems have struggled to be more inclusive and responsive to people’s desires. These efforts have typically focused on either expanding the “people” part of the equation, or improving the “power” or “will” part. The expansion of democracy into areas that were previously closed off to it has been one of humanity’s greatest legacies. It is still a work in progress and will remain so until every person on the planet has the fundamental right to choose who governs them. Democracy is a system of societal organization where people participate in the governing of their community, city-state or nation through elections by universal suffrage. It includes the right to freedom of expression and association, including the right to hold political parties and to organize protests (provided it does not prevent others from doing so). It also includes the right to free and fair elections and a government that is transparent, responsive and accountable. Democracies are able to resolve conflicting interests and demands through a process of arbitration, where different components of society share the burden and benefits of decisions. This is what the UDHR refers to as the “rule of law”. In recent years, democracy has emerged in countries that have not traditionally been regarded as democracies. The so-called Arab Spring exemplified the power of “people power”. In Europe, too, students and trade unions have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with government policies. The Economist Group’s Democracy Index measures the quality of democracy around the world using 60 indicators grouped into five categories. It ranks nations according to their overall score and places them into four regime types: full democracies, flawed democracies, hybrid regimes and authoritarian states. Its methodology is based on the World Democracy Forum’s Norms and Principles of Democracy, which are a set of internationally agreed standards. The Economist Group also produces a number of other democracy indices such as the V-Dem and Bertelsmann Transformation Index.