What is democracy?
The term “democracy” originates from the Greek words “demos,” denoting people, and “kratos,” representing power. Therefore, democracy may be referred to as the “power of the people,” a form of government that is based on the consent of the governed. Given the many different types of democratic governments that exist across the world, it might be useful to understand democracy by taking into account what it expressly excludes. Democracy is not the same as autocracy or dictatorship, in which a single person has power, or oligarchy, in which a small group holds power. Ideally, democracy shouldn’t be minimized to only “majority rule” if doing so implies utterly disregarding the interests of minorities. In its purest form, democracy is a system of government that upholds the expressed will of the whole public and represents and serves that population (Annan, 2012).
Why do we need democracy?
The rising global threats to democracy have sparked a surge in questions about its value. Skepticism arises when the popular vote leads to seismic shifts like Brexit or the election of demagogues who pose a challenge to liberal values. In the face of technological, demographic, and cultural changes, even the historically admired American system, recognized for its democratic freedoms, looks to be bitterly split and in danger of losing its efficacy. Contrarily, during the past several decades, the European Union (EU) has seen the growth of a more technocratic and uniform style of politics, which might have the effect of decreasing responsiveness to citizens and creating a sense of exclusion among sizable segments of the population. The capacity of non-democratic authoritarian regimes, like China, to control the COVID-19 epidemic by enforcing behavioral norms on residents without regard for individual liberty or media criticism has recently drawn praise. These observations cast doubt on the necessity of democracy. However, most authoritarian systems face inherent weaknesses: large, marginalized minority groups foster feelings of injustice; reliance on dominant leadership figures increases the potential for violent power transfers; and vested interests remain shielded from popular demands for change (Wallace, Kundnani, and Donnelly, 2021).
Is it important to live in a democracy?
Above all, democracies play a vital role in promoting equality by granting individuals who are typically excluded from the political sphere the opportunity to vote for policies and representatives aligned with their beliefs. Through the exercise of voting rights, marginalized groups gain a stronger voice and are more likely to support politicians committed to dismantling oppressive systems prevalent worldwide. While it is acknowledged that democracy alone may not fully address the challenge of achieving equality, it is essential to consider the available alternatives. Comparatively, systems such as autocracies, theocracies, and monarchies are even less conducive to achieving equality as they concentrate decision-making power in the hands of a single person or a select group. Only democracy provides an inclusive platform for individuals of all races, genders, identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and sexual orientations to actively participate in the political process (Mork, 2019).
Why is democracy important for development?
Amartya Sen and other philosophers assert that democratic values and affluent growth are directly related, citing the absence of devastating famines in independent democratic countries with mostly unlimited press freedom as proof. India is used as an example since the most recent famine struck there in 1943, while it was still a British territory. Throughout the last century, as communism gained and then lost popularity and as the East surpassed the West in terms of economic power, the notion that democracy and growth are associated has experienced adjustments. During the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, communism appeared to be able to end poverty, foster industrial development, win wars, and progress science. However, as the Cold War drew to a close, the Soviet Union stagnated, and communism seemed destined to stifle innovation and hinder economic progress. China’s authoritarian capitalist system, known as the “Beijing consensus,” has managed to achieve both military and economic superpower status while imposing restrictions on individual freedoms within its borders, casting doubt on the notion that democracy and economic prosperity are inherently linked. Given that China was engulfed in a near-civil war during the Cultural Revolution just 50 years ago, the future course of its history is still undetermined. The key question at this point is whether other countries’ democratic institutions will get stronger or weaker in reaction to these changes (Wallace, Kundnani, and Donnelly, 2021).
Reference
Annan, K. (2012). Democracy. [online] Council of Europe. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/democracy [Accessed 24 May 2023]
Mork, A. (2019). Why Democracy is the Best We’ve Got. [online] www.carnegiecouncil.org. Available at: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/article/why-democracy-is-the-best-weve-got [Accessed 24 May 2023]
Wallace, J., Kundnani, H. and Donnelly, E. (2021). The importance of democracy. [online] Chatham House. Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/04/importance-democracy [Accessed 24 May 2023]
