The Global State of Democracy
Democracy is government by the people, through their elected representatives, according to their will. Democracy enables citizens to shape their society by creating, supporting and holding their elected leaders accountable for policies that improve their lives. In a healthy democracy, citizens have a strong sense of participation and ownership of their system of governance, which builds trust and can shield them from the siren calls to autocracy.
Democracy has many different forms around the world. No one form is “correct.” But democracy is always about more than just elections. It is about a healthy society of cooperation and compromise, fairness, respect for everyone’s views, good governance and accountability.
A key element is freedom of speech and assembly, meaning that every individual has the right to share their views in public without being subject to threats or violence, to join a group to advance a common cause or purpose, and to peacefully demonstrate against decisions they disagree with. This freedom of expression is essential to democracy.
It is also important to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and with dignity, regardless of their social or economic status (as defined by law). Representatives and leaders need to make difficult decisions affecting the whole community. The most effective and legitimate way to do this is through free and accessible elections that reflect the will of the people.
Lastly, democratic governments must have strong laws to prevent corruption and abuse of power. This requires independent and impartial courts that investigate and prosecute offences, as well as clear rules about who can hold office and what limits their power.
While there is concern about the state of democracy, it is important to remember that no country is born a democracy and that building a healthy democracy takes time and effort. There is a real risk that democracy will fail if people become disillusioned or apathetic, and their political participation declines. A healthy democracy requires citizen engagement – voting, engaging in a wide range of civil societies, participating in local government and volunteering to serve their community.
The Global State of Democracy Indices are an open-source data project created to measure how well countries are advancing towards a vision of democratic government that is responsive, inclusive and able to protect fundamental rights for all citizens. They draw on 13 extant data sources and 116 indicators to estimate the values associated with five principal attributes of democracy: representative government, fundamental rights, checks and balances, and impartial administration.
Philanthropy’s role is to support institutions that promote the intrinsic value and faith in democracy. This may include funding the creation of journalism schools and encouraging cross-party dialogue or supporting projects at public parks and libraries. It may also involve advocating in support of specific legislation or organizing voter mobilization around a particular cause. Philanthropy’s efforts to strengthen democracy should always be grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy is the most sustainable and enduring path toward achieving a better world for all.
Democracy is government by the people, through their elected representatives, according to their will. Democracy enables citizens to shape their society by creating, supporting and holding their elected leaders accountable for policies that improve their lives. In a healthy democracy, citizens have a strong sense of participation and ownership of their system of governance, which builds trust and can shield them from the siren calls to autocracy. Democracy has many different forms around the world. No one form is “correct.” But democracy is always about more than just elections. It is about a healthy society of cooperation and compromise, fairness, respect for everyone’s views, good governance and accountability. A key element is freedom of speech and assembly, meaning that every individual has the right to share their views in public without being subject to threats or violence, to join a group to advance a common cause or purpose, and to peacefully demonstrate against decisions they disagree with. This freedom of expression is essential to democracy. It is also important to ensure that all citizens are treated equally and with dignity, regardless of their social or economic status (as defined by law). Representatives and leaders need to make difficult decisions affecting the whole community. The most effective and legitimate way to do this is through free and accessible elections that reflect the will of the people. Lastly, democratic governments must have strong laws to prevent corruption and abuse of power. This requires independent and impartial courts that investigate and prosecute offences, as well as clear rules about who can hold office and what limits their power. While there is concern about the state of democracy, it is important to remember that no country is born a democracy and that building a healthy democracy takes time and effort. There is a real risk that democracy will fail if people become disillusioned or apathetic, and their political participation declines. A healthy democracy requires citizen engagement – voting, engaging in a wide range of civil societies, participating in local government and volunteering to serve their community. The Global State of Democracy Indices are an open-source data project created to measure how well countries are advancing towards a vision of democratic government that is responsive, inclusive and able to protect fundamental rights for all citizens. They draw on 13 extant data sources and 116 indicators to estimate the values associated with five principal attributes of democracy: representative government, fundamental rights, checks and balances, and impartial administration. Philanthropy’s role is to support institutions that promote the intrinsic value and faith in democracy. This may include funding the creation of journalism schools and encouraging cross-party dialogue or supporting projects at public parks and libraries. It may also involve advocating in support of specific legislation or organizing voter mobilization around a particular cause. Philanthropy’s efforts to strengthen democracy should always be grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy is the most sustainable and enduring path toward achieving a better world for all.