How to Measure the Health of a Democracy
Democracy means ‘rule by the people’ and there are many different ways to achieve that. It has evolved through the centuries in countries around the world and no two systems are identical. There are presidential and parliamentary democracies, ones with proportional representation and others without, a range of electoral systems, and some that combine different forms of government such as monarchy or federalism with democracy.
A key feature of a democratic society is that citizens have the freedom to express their views and opinions on any subject. They are free to speak and act on their beliefs in a way that is peaceful, respectful and does not harm or cause distress to other members of society. They can also vote, participate in protests and campaign against things they feel are unjust or unfair. They can join groups based on shared values such as the environment or those who are committed to human rights.
People are also free to choose their own religion and practise it in a way that is peaceful and respectful of the beliefs of other people. They can own property and have their own business. They can assemble with other people in public places and are free to join groups and organizations such as unions or political parties. They can take part in public debates, have access to education and health care. They can also take part in social activities such as volunteering and donating to charitable causes.
The word ‘democracy’ is derived from Greek words meaning ‘people’ or ‘rule by the people’ and refers to a system of government in which the people have the power to make decisions through representatives elected through free and fair elections. It is one of the oldest forms of government in history. It appeared in the city-states of classical Greece, including Athens, as early as the fifth century BC and replaced an older form of government called a oligarchy which was characterized by rule by a small elite class.
Democracies have many benefits, but they can also face challenges. Anger at political elites, economic dissatisfaction and anxieties about rapid change have fueled political upheaval in regions of the world in recent years. Organizations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House and V-Dem have documented declines in democracy worldwide.
In order to measure the health of a democracy, researchers must first determine what a democratic society is. This involves establishing what makes a country more or less democratic and arriving at a definition of democracy that is agreed upon by all those involved. This process is not easy. It takes time and it is not without controversy. For example, the definition used to compile the Global State of Democracy Indices uses a number of criteria such as free and fair elections, freedom of expression, civil liberties and the separation of powers and government from justice. Some of these criteria are uncontroversial, such as freedom of elections and the press, but other issues are contentious.
Democracy means ‘rule by the people’ and there are many different ways to achieve that. It has evolved through the centuries in countries around the world and no two systems are identical. There are presidential and parliamentary democracies, ones with proportional representation and others without, a range of electoral systems, and some that combine different forms of government such as monarchy or federalism with democracy. A key feature of a democratic society is that citizens have the freedom to express their views and opinions on any subject. They are free to speak and act on their beliefs in a way that is peaceful, respectful and does not harm or cause distress to other members of society. They can also vote, participate in protests and campaign against things they feel are unjust or unfair. They can join groups based on shared values such as the environment or those who are committed to human rights. People are also free to choose their own religion and practise it in a way that is peaceful and respectful of the beliefs of other people. They can own property and have their own business. They can assemble with other people in public places and are free to join groups and organizations such as unions or political parties. They can take part in public debates, have access to education and health care. They can also take part in social activities such as volunteering and donating to charitable causes. The word ‘democracy’ is derived from Greek words meaning ‘people’ or ‘rule by the people’ and refers to a system of government in which the people have the power to make decisions through representatives elected through free and fair elections. It is one of the oldest forms of government in history. It appeared in the city-states of classical Greece, including Athens, as early as the fifth century BC and replaced an older form of government called a oligarchy which was characterized by rule by a small elite class. Democracies have many benefits, but they can also face challenges. Anger at political elites, economic dissatisfaction and anxieties about rapid change have fueled political upheaval in regions of the world in recent years. Organizations such as the Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House and V-Dem have documented declines in democracy worldwide. In order to measure the health of a democracy, researchers must first determine what a democratic society is. This involves establishing what makes a country more or less democratic and arriving at a definition of democracy that is agreed upon by all those involved. This process is not easy. It takes time and it is not without controversy. For example, the definition used to compile the Global State of Democracy Indices uses a number of criteria such as free and fair elections, freedom of expression, civil liberties and the separation of powers and government from justice. Some of these criteria are uncontroversial, such as freedom of elections and the press, but other issues are contentious.