Democracies and Their Critics
The word democracy means “rule by the people.” This is a description of a political system in which citizens have direct power over their government, based on their ability to vote and their equality before the law. Democracy is one of the most important pillars of human freedom. It provides the foundation for freedom of speech, religion, assembly, association, and free enterprise. It also provides a way for governments to make decisions based on the needs and concerns of all the citizens.
There are many different kinds of democracy in the world. Some are presidential, some parliamentary, others are mixed types, and still others are combinations of various forms of government. However, all democratic systems share some basic features: all are ruled by elected representatives and they are based on the principle that everyone is equal before the law. There are also many ways that the citizens can participate in their government, from running for office to simply showing up to vote. Democracy also requires that citizens be informed about the issues and policies that are being considered, which is why a democratic society must have an independent media.
Despite the fact that democracy is the most common form of government worldwide, it is not without its critics. Some of these critics have highlighted the flaws and limitations of democracy. Others have compared it with other forms of government such as fascism, anarcho-capitalism, theocracy, or even an absolute monarchy.
For example, Plato opposed Athenian democracy on the basis that it was anarchic, in that it did not have a coherent unity. His criticisms included the fact that democracies tend to follow citizens’ impulsive impulses and are therefore often run by fools. Other democratic critics have included Montesquieu, James Harrington, Thomas Carlyle, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Ruskin, Charles Maurras of the Action Francaise movement, and Carl Schmitt.
Some observers have criticized democracy on the grounds that it does not protect the rights of minorities or women. These concerns have been countered by pointing out that democracy has only recently come to terms with the fact that it must respect all members of society equally. Moreover, it is hard to believe that any form of government that does not guarantee the right to vote by all citizens would be considered a true democracy.
Whether democracy is effective or not depends on a host of factors that vary from nation to nation. For example, a person’s assessment of how well democracy is working in his or her country is closely linked to the degree to which he or she believes that their most fundamental rights are protected. In every nation studied, people who feel that their right to freely express their views in public is not well-protected are significantly less satisfied with the state of democracy in that country than those who hold the opposite view. Nevertheless, in the long term, democracy has been shown to improve the lives of all nations and it should continue to be promoted throughout the world.
The word democracy means “rule by the people.” This is a description of a political system in which citizens have direct power over their government, based on their ability to vote and their equality before the law. Democracy is one of the most important pillars of human freedom. It provides the foundation for freedom of speech, religion, assembly, association, and free enterprise. It also provides a way for governments to make decisions based on the needs and concerns of all the citizens. There are many different kinds of democracy in the world. Some are presidential, some parliamentary, others are mixed types, and still others are combinations of various forms of government. However, all democratic systems share some basic features: all are ruled by elected representatives and they are based on the principle that everyone is equal before the law. There are also many ways that the citizens can participate in their government, from running for office to simply showing up to vote. Democracy also requires that citizens be informed about the issues and policies that are being considered, which is why a democratic society must have an independent media. Despite the fact that democracy is the most common form of government worldwide, it is not without its critics. Some of these critics have highlighted the flaws and limitations of democracy. Others have compared it with other forms of government such as fascism, anarcho-capitalism, theocracy, or even an absolute monarchy. For example, Plato opposed Athenian democracy on the basis that it was anarchic, in that it did not have a coherent unity. His criticisms included the fact that democracies tend to follow citizens’ impulsive impulses and are therefore often run by fools. Other democratic critics have included Montesquieu, James Harrington, Thomas Carlyle, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Ruskin, Charles Maurras of the Action Francaise movement, and Carl Schmitt. Some observers have criticized democracy on the grounds that it does not protect the rights of minorities or women. These concerns have been countered by pointing out that democracy has only recently come to terms with the fact that it must respect all members of society equally. Moreover, it is hard to believe that any form of government that does not guarantee the right to vote by all citizens would be considered a true democracy. Whether democracy is effective or not depends on a host of factors that vary from nation to nation. For example, a person’s assessment of how well democracy is working in his or her country is closely linked to the degree to which he or she believes that their most fundamental rights are protected. In every nation studied, people who feel that their right to freely express their views in public is not well-protected are significantly less satisfied with the state of democracy in that country than those who hold the opposite view. Nevertheless, in the long term, democracy has been shown to improve the lives of all nations and it should continue to be promoted throughout the world.