What Is Democracy?

Democracy is the form of government that is widely assumed to be best. It is defined as the people’s sovereignty – in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The idea that the people have the power to determine laws and policies, and that those decisions are based on their preferences and needs, is central to the concept. The people also have the right to hold their governing officials accountable for their actions, preventing corrupt practices that undermine the public interest.

Historically, democracy has meant that laws, leadership, and major undertakings of a state are directly or indirectly decided by the people – a group initially limited to free, adult males in ancient Athens and later expanded to include all adults with a certain amount of property (usually land). Today, there are different forms of democratic government, including direct democracy, wherein individuals participate in legislative debates, and representative democracies, where the people select representatives and governors to deliberate on their behalf and decide laws and policies.

The core features of a democracy are freedom of assembly and association, individual ownership of property, the freedom to practice one’s religion, and the right to vote in elections that are conducted regularly, openly, and without coercion or intimidation. It is also expected that the law will be fairly and impartially enforced, and that no person can be taxed or prosecuted for any reason other than what is stipulated in advance by the legal system. In addition, all citizens should have access to the same information through the media, and be able to protest their government’s actions.

However, it is important to remember that democracy does not equate to perfect governance. Oftentimes, democracy suffers when the people do not uphold and defend its principles. It can also be damaged or lost when the governing body is perceived to be incompetent, and when citizens and groups that are lower on the social hierarchy do not feel represented or included in the process.

There are a number of ways to improve the quality of democracy, including by providing education and training in civic skills and social inclusion, encouraging participation through civic organizations, reducing extremism within at-risk populations (e.g., veterans) by supporting organizations they trust to reduce their chances of being recruited by violent radical movements, and creating spaces where all communities can speak out on behalf of democracy in a non-threatening way.

The fundamental challenge is not only to promote and strengthen democracy but to make it truly inclusive and participatory. This will require the effort of all, from the highest levels of government to the smallest civic organization. It will mean educating children on the virtues of democracy, recognizing that no one is born a good citizen or a democracy, and it requires daily vigilance to prevent those who would erode the democratic process for their own personal or political gain. Most importantly, it will necessitate the creation of a new sense of shared ownership and responsibility for ensuring that democracy thrives in the future.

Democracy is the form of government that is widely assumed to be best. It is defined as the people’s sovereignty – in Abraham Lincoln’s words, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The idea that the people have the power to determine laws and policies, and that those decisions are based on their preferences and needs, is central to the concept. The people also have the right to hold their governing officials accountable for their actions, preventing corrupt practices that undermine the public interest. Historically, democracy has meant that laws, leadership, and major undertakings of a state are directly or indirectly decided by the people – a group initially limited to free, adult males in ancient Athens and later expanded to include all adults with a certain amount of property (usually land). Today, there are different forms of democratic government, including direct democracy, wherein individuals participate in legislative debates, and representative democracies, where the people select representatives and governors to deliberate on their behalf and decide laws and policies. The core features of a democracy are freedom of assembly and association, individual ownership of property, the freedom to practice one’s religion, and the right to vote in elections that are conducted regularly, openly, and without coercion or intimidation. It is also expected that the law will be fairly and impartially enforced, and that no person can be taxed or prosecuted for any reason other than what is stipulated in advance by the legal system. In addition, all citizens should have access to the same information through the media, and be able to protest their government’s actions. However, it is important to remember that democracy does not equate to perfect governance. Oftentimes, democracy suffers when the people do not uphold and defend its principles. It can also be damaged or lost when the governing body is perceived to be incompetent, and when citizens and groups that are lower on the social hierarchy do not feel represented or included in the process. There are a number of ways to improve the quality of democracy, including by providing education and training in civic skills and social inclusion, encouraging participation through civic organizations, reducing extremism within at-risk populations (e.g., veterans) by supporting organizations they trust to reduce their chances of being recruited by violent radical movements, and creating spaces where all communities can speak out on behalf of democracy in a non-threatening way. The fundamental challenge is not only to promote and strengthen democracy but to make it truly inclusive and participatory. This will require the effort of all, from the highest levels of government to the smallest civic organization. It will mean educating children on the virtues of democracy, recognizing that no one is born a good citizen or a democracy, and it requires daily vigilance to prevent those who would erode the democratic process for their own personal or political gain. Most importantly, it will necessitate the creation of a new sense of shared ownership and responsibility for ensuring that democracy thrives in the future.