International Day of Democracy

democracy

Observed on 15 September, International Day of Democracy gives an opportunity to take stock of the state of democracy in the world. The word democracy comes from the Greek words kratos (meaning power) and polis (people). The word has its roots in ancient Greek civilization. The word first appeared in Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. Originally referring to the rule of the aristocracy, democracy was later extended to all adult citizens.

The ideal of democracy is that everyone is able to participate in a democratic society. This can be achieved through the use of voting, consultations, and other forms of participation. While voting is an important part of a democratic society, other forms of participation are just as important.

There are many forms of democracy, and no two systems are the same. Some are more inclusive than others, but the fundamentals are the same. These include a free and fair election process, the free exercise of voting, a free press, and civil liberties protected against encroachment by powerful forces.

Another important part of democracy is the freedom of speech. People have the right to express their opinions, and they can hold decision makers accountable if their views are abused. They can also make use of alternative sources of information. They can also participate in groups working on issues that interest them.

Freedom of peaceful assembly is also a part of democracy. This allows for the discussion of ideas, formation of interest groups, and protests against decisions. It is also an important part of the UDHR.

The “wisdom of the crowd” theory states that if a lot of people are involved in a decision, the result will be more favorable than if a smaller number of people make a decision. This is because each individual decision maker has a better than chance chance of making the right decision. In the US, the Constitution guarantees this right.

The “magic number” in the “wisdom of the crowd” theory is a subset of the adult population. Ideally, this subset includes everyone from toddlers to retirees. In practice, however, a smaller subset of the population is used for most decisions.

Another important part of a democracy is the freedom of association. This includes the freedom to form interest groups, independent political parties, and other organizations. These groups have the right to participate in government and vote in elections. In the US, the majority of adults have the right to vote in elections. However, this does not mean that every adult has the right to form an interest group.

The UDHR states that the will of the people is the basis of government authority. This means that the government is able to act only according to what the people think is best. This can be achieved through a series of checks and balances in a democratic society. The most important of these checks and balances is the freedom of the press.

Other examples of the “wisdom of the crowd” are the right to participate in political discussions, the right to form independent interest groups, and the right to form independent political parties. There are also legal measures to protect the rights of citizens.