What Is Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government where supreme power is vested in the people and is exercised by them either directly or through freely elected representatives. The concept of democracy includes a broad range of political institutions, including parliaments and presidential systems, in addition to constitutional monarchies such as those in Britain and Canada.
Generally speaking, it is accepted that democracies should be based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and free and fair elections. Moreover, democratic governance should be transparent and responsive to the people. Democracy should also enable citizens to hold their elected leaders accountable by means of a well functioning system of citizen participation and deliberation, as well as a vigorous press and the ability to protest.
The word democracy derives from the Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (rule). It is a way of governing which depends on the will of the people. There are many different democracies around the world and no two countries can be considered identical. Some are unitary, federal or multi-national; some use a proportional voting system while others don’t; some are republics and some are monarchies.
In the context of global development, there is a strong link between democracy and poverty reduction. In the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015, world leaders committed to advancing democracy and good governance at all levels of society.
There are a number of issues that are associated with democracy and that need to be addressed. For example, there are concerns that voter turnout is declining and this could have a negative impact on the quality of governance. However, some studies indicate that participation in other forms such as pressure groups and civic initiatives may be increasing.
It is also important that everyone has the right to participate in democracy, irrespective of where they live. This includes the right to freedom of movement and association, the right to express one’s views publicly and privately and the right to vote. It is essential that everyone is able to participate in the democratic process without fear of reprisal or intimidation, and that laws are fair and clearly written. In a democratic society, opposing ideas are tolerated and listened to, even if they don’t win the majority vote.
In order to function properly, democracy must have a sufficient number of people who are willing to participate. This is why it is crucial that young people are educated about the value of democracy and are given opportunities to participate in it from an early age. It is also necessary that people are informed about what democracy is and what it does not include. Finally, it is necessary to find ways to resolve differences and disputes peacefully. In the end, it is up to us all to make democracy work by making sure that we are actively engaged in its maintenance and improvement. Otherwise, we risk losing it. For the sake of future generations, let’s not allow that to happen.
Democracy is a system of government where supreme power is vested in the people and is exercised by them either directly or through freely elected representatives. The concept of democracy includes a broad range of political institutions, including parliaments and presidential systems, in addition to constitutional monarchies such as those in Britain and Canada. Generally speaking, it is accepted that democracies should be based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and free and fair elections. Moreover, democratic governance should be transparent and responsive to the people. Democracy should also enable citizens to hold their elected leaders accountable by means of a well functioning system of citizen participation and deliberation, as well as a vigorous press and the ability to protest. The word democracy derives from the Greek words demos (the people) and kratos (rule). It is a way of governing which depends on the will of the people. There are many different democracies around the world and no two countries can be considered identical. Some are unitary, federal or multi-national; some use a proportional voting system while others don’t; some are republics and some are monarchies. In the context of global development, there is a strong link between democracy and poverty reduction. In the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015, world leaders committed to advancing democracy and good governance at all levels of society. There are a number of issues that are associated with democracy and that need to be addressed. For example, there are concerns that voter turnout is declining and this could have a negative impact on the quality of governance. However, some studies indicate that participation in other forms such as pressure groups and civic initiatives may be increasing. It is also important that everyone has the right to participate in democracy, irrespective of where they live. This includes the right to freedom of movement and association, the right to express one’s views publicly and privately and the right to vote. It is essential that everyone is able to participate in the democratic process without fear of reprisal or intimidation, and that laws are fair and clearly written. In a democratic society, opposing ideas are tolerated and listened to, even if they don’t win the majority vote. In order to function properly, democracy must have a sufficient number of people who are willing to participate. This is why it is crucial that young people are educated about the value of democracy and are given opportunities to participate in it from an early age. It is also necessary that people are informed about what democracy is and what it does not include. Finally, it is necessary to find ways to resolve differences and disputes peacefully. In the end, it is up to us all to make democracy work by making sure that we are actively engaged in its maintenance and improvement. Otherwise, we risk losing it. For the sake of future generations, let’s not allow that to happen.