What is Democracy?
Democracy is one of the most powerful concepts to have emerged from humankind’s long journey towards freedom. It is both a political system and a set of values, embodied in the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, respect for human rights and equality before the law. It is also a complex idea that takes many forms, from the direct democracy of ancient Athens to modern day referendums and parliamentary democracies. It is a term that brings to mind the inspiring speeches of figures like Pericles, Vaclav Havel and Martin Luther King. But simple definitions of democracy fall short of capturing its true meaning and potential: it is an ongoing conversation – one that requires everyone’s voice to work, whether through voting, protesting or running for office.
The word ‘democracy’ derives from the Greek words
While democracy is a concept that varies widely around the world, it is commonly understood to be based on free and fair elections, and the principle that decisions are made by those who are affected most directly by them. Its practical elements include a broad range of rights, including the right to freedom of speech and expression, assembly and association, personal property, free and independent press, a robust and independent judiciary and the protection of minorities. It also includes a system of checks and balances that ensures the power of the government is not misused or unduly exerted, and that there are appropriate mechanisms for people to appeal decisions that affect them.
Nevertheless, democracy is challenging to realise in practice. Amongst other things, the question of who should be included in a political community is never settled: those with legal citizenship status are only part of the majority if they are represented by their elected representatives; those who cannot take part in elections or are unable to make their own decisions, such as people with intellectual disabilities or children under 18 are not directly consulted; and decisions of democratic governments have impacts that go well beyond their borders and generations, for example carbon emissions and patterns of inequality.
As the global debate about the state of democracy continues, the need for measures of its health is clear. In the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030, governments committed to ensuring ‘responsive, inclusive and participatory decision-making at all levels of society’. These are essential if democracy is to be more than an empty slogan, and if it is to achieve its full potential of providing a platform for the protection and realisation of human rights.
The OECD has developed a methodology for measuring democracy that is based on a survey of attitudes to various dimensions of democracy. This approach allows for the comparison of results across countries and sub-national groups, as well as the exploration of the way in which those dimensions cluster together. The analysis is also intended to help inform the design of democratic reforms.
Democracy is one of the most powerful concepts to have emerged from humankind’s long journey towards freedom. It is both a political system and a set of values, embodied in the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, respect for human rights and equality before the law. It is also a complex idea that takes many forms, from the direct democracy of ancient Athens to modern day referendums and parliamentary democracies. It is a term that brings to mind the inspiring speeches of figures like Pericles, Vaclav Havel and Martin Luther King. But simple definitions of democracy fall short of capturing its true meaning and potential: it is an ongoing conversation – one that requires everyone’s voice to work, whether through voting, protesting or running for office. The word ‘democracy’ derives from the Greek words (demo), which means people, and (krati), which refers to power or rule. It was first used to describe a form of government in which the citizens are able to participate in decision-making, and the power to govern is exercised by popular consensus. While democracy is a concept that varies widely around the world, it is commonly understood to be based on free and fair elections, and the principle that decisions are made by those who are affected most directly by them. Its practical elements include a broad range of rights, including the right to freedom of speech and expression, assembly and association, personal property, free and independent press, a robust and independent judiciary and the protection of minorities. It also includes a system of checks and balances that ensures the power of the government is not misused or unduly exerted, and that there are appropriate mechanisms for people to appeal decisions that affect them. Nevertheless, democracy is challenging to realise in practice. Amongst other things, the question of who should be included in a political community is never settled: those with legal citizenship status are only part of the majority if they are represented by their elected representatives; those who cannot take part in elections or are unable to make their own decisions, such as people with intellectual disabilities or children under 18 are not directly consulted; and decisions of democratic governments have impacts that go well beyond their borders and generations, for example carbon emissions and patterns of inequality. As the global debate about the state of democracy continues, the need for measures of its health is clear. In the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030, governments committed to ensuring ‘responsive, inclusive and participatory decision-making at all levels of society’. These are essential if democracy is to be more than an empty slogan, and if it is to achieve its full potential of providing a platform for the protection and realisation of human rights. The OECD has developed a methodology for measuring democracy that is based on a survey of attitudes to various dimensions of democracy. This approach allows for the comparison of results across countries and sub-national groups, as well as the exploration of the way in which those dimensions cluster together. The analysis is also intended to help inform the design of democratic reforms.