Democracies Around the World
The word “democracy” combines the Greek words demos (“people”) and kratia (“rule”). It is government by the people, or in other words, a system of rule based on popular sovereignty. It is a concept that is central to the international political order and a goal of many international organisations, including the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, in recent years there have been growing concerns about the state of democracy around the world, with organisations such as Freedom House, The Economist Intelligence Unit and V-Dem documenting declines in democratic quality across different parts of the globe.
The reason for these concerns is complex. Amongst other things, dissatisfaction with the economy, distrust of politicians and concern about immigration have all contributed to rising tensions in some countries. At the same time, many of the institutions that make democracy work, such as free media and independent judiciaries, have been under increasing pressure from powerful interests.
Despite these challenges, it is worth remembering that, on average, people are fairly satisfied with democracy. In most nations, more than six-in-ten people say that they are at least somewhat satisfied with the way their democracy works. But satisfaction varies widely between nations. Some, such as Sweden and Hungary, have high levels of satisfaction; others, such as Italy and Greece, do not.
It is also important to recall that, when people are asked whether they want their country to be a democracy, most answer yes. This is not surprising, as democracy offers a number of benefits.
In particular, it allows citizens to have a say in the decisions that affect them. It means that they can challenge government policy and hold their representatives to account. It also allows citizens to form and join groups to take up issues that they are concerned about, or to protest against policies or decisions that they disagree with. This is vital if diverse views are to be taken into account in making decisions and it is an essential part of what makes democracy worthwhile.
Many theorists argue that we can justify democracy along two dimensions: instrumentally, by reference to the outcomes of having it compared with alternatives; and intrinsically, because there is a moral right to democracy that goes beyond the fact that it is a practical means of political decision making. Various arguments have been used to support this latter position, from utilitarian considerations to considerations of a more ethical nature.
Nevertheless, it is clear that the status of democracy is currently under threat and that more needs to be done to protect it. This is true not only for the sake of the well-being of individuals, but also for that of the global economy and the sustainable future of the planet. As such, it is in the self-interest of all to do what we can to strengthen democracy. This article is based on the original version published by The Loop in June 2017.
The word “democracy” combines the Greek words demos (“people”) and kratia (“rule”). It is government by the people, or in other words, a system of rule based on popular sovereignty. It is a concept that is central to the international political order and a goal of many international organisations, including the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, in recent years there have been growing concerns about the state of democracy around the world, with organisations such as Freedom House, The Economist Intelligence Unit and V-Dem documenting declines in democratic quality across different parts of the globe. The reason for these concerns is complex. Amongst other things, dissatisfaction with the economy, distrust of politicians and concern about immigration have all contributed to rising tensions in some countries. At the same time, many of the institutions that make democracy work, such as free media and independent judiciaries, have been under increasing pressure from powerful interests. Despite these challenges, it is worth remembering that, on average, people are fairly satisfied with democracy. In most nations, more than six-in-ten people say that they are at least somewhat satisfied with the way their democracy works. But satisfaction varies widely between nations. Some, such as Sweden and Hungary, have high levels of satisfaction; others, such as Italy and Greece, do not. It is also important to recall that, when people are asked whether they want their country to be a democracy, most answer yes. This is not surprising, as democracy offers a number of benefits. In particular, it allows citizens to have a say in the decisions that affect them. It means that they can challenge government policy and hold their representatives to account. It also allows citizens to form and join groups to take up issues that they are concerned about, or to protest against policies or decisions that they disagree with. This is vital if diverse views are to be taken into account in making decisions and it is an essential part of what makes democracy worthwhile. Many theorists argue that we can justify democracy along two dimensions: instrumentally, by reference to the outcomes of having it compared with alternatives; and intrinsically, because there is a moral right to democracy that goes beyond the fact that it is a practical means of political decision making. Various arguments have been used to support this latter position, from utilitarian considerations to considerations of a more ethical nature. Nevertheless, it is clear that the status of democracy is currently under threat and that more needs to be done to protect it. This is true not only for the sake of the well-being of individuals, but also for that of the global economy and the sustainable future of the planet. As such, it is in the self-interest of all to do what we can to strengthen democracy. This article is based on the original version published by The Loop in June 2017.