Democracies encourage rational thinking and participation in decision-making, and are beneficial to human character. Participation in democracy requires the willingness to listen to others’ views and justify one’s own. The process also fosters the growth of active citizens. The benefits of democracy go beyond a society’s political system. Among the many benefits of democracy are:
Democracy has a long history. In ancient Greece, direct democracy was practiced. There were few citizens, however, and a large number of slaves. Eventually, democracy disappeared in the Greeks, but reappeared as a representative system in the late eighteenth century. In modern times, democracy has been a trend towards greater democracy. Some scholars describe the rise of democracy as happening in three waves: the French, American, and Haitian revolutions; the gradual rise of democracy in Britain; the rise of communism in South America; and the dissolution of empires after World War I.
Democracy, however, does not guarantee equality. The existence of persistent minorities can violate this principle. It is possible for a minority to consistently lose votes and be treated unfairly. Such violations weaken the authority of democratic assemblies and undermine democracy. To prevent this problem, certain institutions must be in place in a democracy. For example, the rights of minority groups to be treated equally and their fundamental interests to be respected are crucial.
As long as the citizens are informed about politics, democracy is an excellent form of government. However, the political leaders need to be careful not to make decisions based on emotions. This creates a climate that encourages divisive and emotionally charged issues. This makes it difficult to make policies that benefit the majority of citizens.
Another type of democracy is group representation. In this form, citizens are split into non-geographic groups, such as ethnic groups, linguistic groups, and functional groups. Representatives from each group are elected to the legislature. This process is advantageous to the stability of the government. However, there are also disadvantages to group representation.
In a democracy, citizens are expected to obey the democratic process. This is a prerequisite to a functioning democracy. It contributes to collective justice and maintains equal decision-making power among citizens. People must be educated about the various benefits of democracy and should be aware of their rights and responsibilities. These rights must be protected.
One major advantage of democracy is its ability to improve knowledge. In a democracy, decision-making is more informed about the interests and causal mechanisms of citizens. Aristotle also suggested that a democracy allows for multiple perspectives on proposed laws. In short, a democracy is a better way to make decisions. It’s more likely to result in correct and reliable decisions.
However, there are some limits to democratic authority. These limits are known as internal and external. When one of them is violated, democratic authority is undermined.