Is Democracy Really Possible?
Democracy is the most common form of government in the world. However, the concept of democracy is being challenged by various forces that are questioning its value and whether it can continue to be a legitimate form of political life. Democracy is a term that is often misunderstood and misapplied in an age when totalitarian regimes claim popular legitimacy, and when demagogues use fear to gain power. Some even wonder if democracy is possible given the fact that many citizens seem to be so ill-informed and apathetic about politics, making it easy for special interests to manipulate politicians to serve their own narrow interests.
Democracy, from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (power or authority), is a method of governing that depends on the people’s will and consent. It is also a term that has been described as “a system of government by the majority of a state’s population, through elected representatives.”
The history of democracy shows that it is an idea whose time to come has never really been determined. The development of democracy has been influenced by different historical contexts and societies’ different needs, but it is always a result of the struggle to create a political system that will protect individual freedoms.
It is important to define what democracy is in order to understand its benefits and drawbacks. A democratic society is a social structure that allows individuals to pursue their dreams within a set of structures that support them and provide them with the opportunity to fight for the things they believe in. The structures that make up a democratic society are designed to promote equality, provide access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities and ensure that all communities have the resources they need to survive.
In addition, democracy encourages the idea of shared responsibility between citizens. It has been argued that when citizens participate in democracy they are obligated to think about the effects of their decisions on others and this can improve their moral qualities. Democracies also tend to get better decision-making because they force elected officials to balance the demands of the entire community and not just their own narrow interests.
Few theorists deny that some forms of democracy are more morally desirable than others. There are two kinds of moral justifications for democratic institutions: instrumentally, in terms of the outcomes they produce compared with other methods of political decision-making; and intrinsically, by reference to values that are inherent in the method itself. A variety of different approaches have been used to show that democracy has this kind of intrinsic value.
Democracy is the most common form of government in the world. However, the concept of democracy is being challenged by various forces that are questioning its value and whether it can continue to be a legitimate form of political life. Democracy is a term that is often misunderstood and misapplied in an age when totalitarian regimes claim popular legitimacy, and when demagogues use fear to gain power. Some even wonder if democracy is possible given the fact that many citizens seem to be so ill-informed and apathetic about politics, making it easy for special interests to manipulate politicians to serve their own narrow interests. Democracy, from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (power or authority), is a method of governing that depends on the people’s will and consent. It is also a term that has been described as “a system of government by the majority of a state’s population, through elected representatives.” The history of democracy shows that it is an idea whose time to come has never really been determined. The development of democracy has been influenced by different historical contexts and societies’ different needs, but it is always a result of the struggle to create a political system that will protect individual freedoms. It is important to define what democracy is in order to understand its benefits and drawbacks. A democratic society is a social structure that allows individuals to pursue their dreams within a set of structures that support them and provide them with the opportunity to fight for the things they believe in. The structures that make up a democratic society are designed to promote equality, provide access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities and ensure that all communities have the resources they need to survive. In addition, democracy encourages the idea of shared responsibility between citizens. It has been argued that when citizens participate in democracy they are obligated to think about the effects of their decisions on others and this can improve their moral qualities. Democracies also tend to get better decision-making because they force elected officials to balance the demands of the entire community and not just their own narrow interests. Few theorists deny that some forms of democracy are more morally desirable than others. There are two kinds of moral justifications for democratic institutions: instrumentally, in terms of the outcomes they produce compared with other methods of political decision-making; and intrinsically, by reference to values that are inherent in the method itself. A variety of different approaches have been used to show that democracy has this kind of intrinsic value.