Democracy is a system of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them through a process usually involving periodic free elections. In contrast to other forms of rule, it is based on the principle that everyone has an equal right to participate in public affairs and to hold the leaders responsible for decisions that affect them. It is therefore popularly regarded as a ‘government of, by and for the people’.
There are a wide variety of different democratic systems around the world, reflecting each nation’s unique political and social life. Some are presidential, others parliamentary, some are federal or unitary, some use a proportional voting system and some a majoritarian system, etc. No two are identical and no one should be viewed as an ideal model. The point is that democracy is the method for making collective political decisions and a minimum condition of its survival is that a majority of both the demos and the leadership believes it is better than any other practical alternative.
In addition, democracy requires a political system that respects human rights, that guarantees equality before the law and that ensures that all citizens are treated fairly. These are the fundamental principles that have to be present in any state claiming to be a democracy. It is for this reason that there is such a strong link between democracy and human rights, as espoused in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The idea of democracy has been around for many centuries, but it was the ancient Greeks who developed the first real examples. Their democracy emerged in the 5th century BC, during a period when the usual form of government was oligarchies or tyranny.
One of the most important features of modern democracy is that it guarantees individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of expression and assembly and the freedom to move within society without interference from the state. This has become particularly clear in recent years as the world’s democracies have struggled to cope with a growing range of threats, including war, environmental degradation and economic crises.
Other important elements of democracy are the emergence of a pluralist media and increasing diversity in politics. This makes it easier for groups that might not have been able to get their views heard in a monarchy or aristocracy to achieve some influence in democracy. It also allows a more balanced debate to take place and provides an opportunity for minorities and other groups to find ways of resolving differences peacefully, without having their rights infringed.
A final element is the democratisation of decision-making, which is now widespread in most countries. This is partly a result of reducing the size of governments and removing power from a few élites. It is also a result of new technologies, such as computer modelling and simulations, which enable the design of algorithms to generate the best solutions automatically.
It is difficult to imagine a future world without the institutions of democracy, but its survival depends on the continuing participation of ordinary people. The most obvious way that they can do this is to vote, but the health of a democracy depends on their using all of the other ways that they can engage with government and politics, not just in the ballot box but also by joining environmental or other protest groups, organising community activities or campaigning for the causes they believe in. The most effective way of doing this is at the local level, where they are more likely to be aware of what issues matter in their own communities.
