What is Democracy?
Democracy is a political system based on the principle that decisions should be made by and for the people. It incorporates a number of ideas about freedom, including the idea that each person is equal in their legal rights to life and liberty. It involves the free and fair participation of people in government and society, with elections that reflect their views, and a government that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the people.
It is a system that has endured much change, but it can be difficult to maintain and expand democratic principles in practice. This is because the concept of democracy encompasses many different aspects of governance, which are hard to measure. The term democracy itself can also be interpreted in different ways, with differences in the way that it is measured often resulting in significant variations between countries. This makes it difficult to compare democratic systems and understand their impact on other phenomena such as poverty, inequality etc.
Democracies have historically developed in various ways, with the earliest forms of democracy being city-based republics such as Athens. Later, democracy found its way into monarchical European states through parliaments and councils that advised the king or queen. However, it was not until the 20th century that universal or broader suffrage was introduced, allowing people to participate in politics and govern themselves. This helped to make democracy the world’s dominant form of government.
While there are a wide range of definitions for what a democracy is, the most common features include the following:
Effective participation, meaning that each person has the opportunity to express their views on policy matters and have them considered by others, without discrimination. Transparency, meaning that everyone can have access to information about the way a decision is being made and how it might affect them, and can hold their elected representatives accountable. Considered judgement, meaning that people take a well-informed and balanced view of a policy when making their choices, taking into account the opinions and perspectives of others.
The emergence of democracy transformed the global landscape from the power structures of monarchy, conquest and empire into popular rule, self-determination and peaceful co-existence. Despite its limitations and challenges, democracy has been a crucial tool for human development.
The values underlying democracy are enshrined in international law, for example the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is essential to ensure that these values are respected, and that democracy is able to evolve and adapt in response to new circumstances. This is necessary if democracy is to continue its work of transforming the global political landscape. The more averse we are to change, the less likely it is that democracy will endure. If we fail to keep up with the pace of change, it is possible that democracy may be replaced by other forms of government, such as authoritarianism. This would be a great loss for the planet.
Democracy is a political system based on the principle that decisions should be made by and for the people. It incorporates a number of ideas about freedom, including the idea that each person is equal in their legal rights to life and liberty. It involves the free and fair participation of people in government and society, with elections that reflect their views, and a government that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the people. It is a system that has endured much change, but it can be difficult to maintain and expand democratic principles in practice. This is because the concept of democracy encompasses many different aspects of governance, which are hard to measure. The term democracy itself can also be interpreted in different ways, with differences in the way that it is measured often resulting in significant variations between countries. This makes it difficult to compare democratic systems and understand their impact on other phenomena such as poverty, inequality etc. Democracies have historically developed in various ways, with the earliest forms of democracy being city-based republics such as Athens. Later, democracy found its way into monarchical European states through parliaments and councils that advised the king or queen. However, it was not until the 20th century that universal or broader suffrage was introduced, allowing people to participate in politics and govern themselves. This helped to make democracy the world’s dominant form of government. While there are a wide range of definitions for what a democracy is, the most common features include the following: Effective participation, meaning that each person has the opportunity to express their views on policy matters and have them considered by others, without discrimination. Transparency, meaning that everyone can have access to information about the way a decision is being made and how it might affect them, and can hold their elected representatives accountable. Considered judgement, meaning that people take a well-informed and balanced view of a policy when making their choices, taking into account the opinions and perspectives of others. The emergence of democracy transformed the global landscape from the power structures of monarchy, conquest and empire into popular rule, self-determination and peaceful co-existence. Despite its limitations and challenges, democracy has been a crucial tool for human development. The values underlying democracy are enshrined in international law, for example the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is essential to ensure that these values are respected, and that democracy is able to evolve and adapt in response to new circumstances. This is necessary if democracy is to continue its work of transforming the global political landscape. The more averse we are to change, the less likely it is that democracy will endure. If we fail to keep up with the pace of change, it is possible that democracy may be replaced by other forms of government, such as authoritarianism. This would be a great loss for the planet.