Democracy is a political system based on people’s involvement in government. This involves the direct or indirect participation of citizens in forming decisions and formulating development plans. As such, it is a system whereby every citizen is considered equal. The minor chance of clash and dissatisfaction are eliminated in such a system since decisions are made based on the majority view of all the people. This also instills a feeling of obligation in representatives towards the people that they represent. In addition, people feel a sense of responsibility to conduct themselves well and be a good citizen.
Moreover, democracy allows everyone to have freedom of speech and expression (UDHR, Article 19). This is important because it allows citizens to share their views with others, or even publicly display their opposition to the views of other citizens in order to ensure that all opinions are heard and taken into consideration. In this way, democracy can function and work at its best.
The concept of democracy is based on the idea that every person has an equal right to participate in government, either directly or through freely chosen representatives. This concept is widely used in the world today and is one of the basic principles underlying many human rights treaties.
However, there are many criticisms of democracy. Some are political, while others are more social or ethical. For example, it is sometimes said that democracy is not suitable for other areas of the world, such as in poorer countries where poverty and unemployment are high. Another concern is that democracies may be ruled by economic interests rather than the public interest. For example, capitalists may use their wealth to influence election campaigns and have a great influence on policies.
Other criticisms of democracy are that it can lead to corruption and inefficiency. There is also the argument that democracies are more unstable than other forms of government, with the result being that there is a greater risk of regime change and civil war.
One of the most common arguments in support of democracy is that it enables people to live up to their full potential and achieve more than they could under other forms of rule. This is because democracy encourages people to think carefully and rationally, and it requires them to listen to the opinions of other people.
In addition, it has been argued that democratic systems are better equipped to tackle the complex issues facing modern societies because they take into account the diversity of opinions and perspectives of all citizens. This has been seen to be particularly beneficial in achieving successful policies on issues such as economic growth, education, and health. This is because these policies require the cooperation and input of a wide range of stakeholders, from business leaders to community activists. The success of these policies therefore depends on the extent to which they have been negotiated and agreed upon. In fact, the most effective policy outcomes are achieved when all stakeholders are involved in the process from the beginning.