The Importance of Democracy
Democracy is a political system in which the people govern themselves. The word “democracy” comes from the Greek word demos (“people”). Democracy is a form of government that allows citizens to have a direct role in decision making and to hold those in power accountable. Democracy is the basis for human rights, freedoms and the rule of law. It is a unique, publicly egalitarian way to make collective decisions when there is substantial disagreement among persons about how to shape the society they share. It is the only method for overcoming such disagreements while still treating persons as equal in their capacity to be biased and fallible.
There are different ways to define democracy, but a key element is that the citizens have the right to participate in deciding how they want to be governed. This is known as “people’s power.” Democracy also involves transparency in government, giving the public access to information about how their taxes are spent and what is being done on their behalf. Democracy also means that men and women have equal rights, and citizens can vote to choose their representatives or senators.
In many places around the world, democracy is under threat. Some are claiming that it is unworkable and that it is no longer a “good thing.” In the United States, for example, traditional notions of civic and political participation have been weakened by money politics, identity politics, social division and polarization, and a growing sense of alienation.
While some are questioning whether or not democracy is working, there are others who believe that it is vital for human life and that it has provided the best path to freedom, prosperity and security. Those who believe in the importance of democracy must work to ensure that it continues to function and to improve its ability to respond to technological, economic and cultural change.
One major problem is that in some countries, democracy has been distorted by forces like corruption, money politics and the rise of populism. These challenges are exacerbated by the fact that the internet has enabled global networks of fake news to spread quickly, making it difficult for citizens to evaluate claims about what is true or false. In addition, media monopolies often limit people’s access to unbiased and diversified information, depriving them of the ability to understand what is happening in their own societies.
Fortunately, democratic institutions can almost always be made more inclusive, more reflective of people’s preferences and more responsive to their influence. In addition, many philosophers have argued that democracy has intrinsic value, independent of its outcomes in specific political decisions.
Democracy is a political system in which the people govern themselves. The word “democracy” comes from the Greek word demos (“people”). Democracy is a form of government that allows citizens to have a direct role in decision making and to hold those in power accountable. Democracy is the basis for human rights, freedoms and the rule of law. It is a unique, publicly egalitarian way to make collective decisions when there is substantial disagreement among persons about how to shape the society they share. It is the only method for overcoming such disagreements while still treating persons as equal in their capacity to be biased and fallible. There are different ways to define democracy, but a key element is that the citizens have the right to participate in deciding how they want to be governed. This is known as “people’s power.” Democracy also involves transparency in government, giving the public access to information about how their taxes are spent and what is being done on their behalf. Democracy also means that men and women have equal rights, and citizens can vote to choose their representatives or senators. In many places around the world, democracy is under threat. Some are claiming that it is unworkable and that it is no longer a “good thing.” In the United States, for example, traditional notions of civic and political participation have been weakened by money politics, identity politics, social division and polarization, and a growing sense of alienation. While some are questioning whether or not democracy is working, there are others who believe that it is vital for human life and that it has provided the best path to freedom, prosperity and security. Those who believe in the importance of democracy must work to ensure that it continues to function and to improve its ability to respond to technological, economic and cultural change. One major problem is that in some countries, democracy has been distorted by forces like corruption, money politics and the rise of populism. These challenges are exacerbated by the fact that the internet has enabled global networks of fake news to spread quickly, making it difficult for citizens to evaluate claims about what is true or false. In addition, media monopolies often limit people’s access to unbiased and diversified information, depriving them of the ability to understand what is happening in their own societies. Fortunately, democratic institutions can almost always be made more inclusive, more reflective of people’s preferences and more responsive to their influence. In addition, many philosophers have argued that democracy has intrinsic value, independent of its outcomes in specific political decisions.