Democracy
Democracy is a frequently used word but its meaning is rarely fully understood. A democratic political system is one in which the ultimate political authority is vested in the people. The word democracy comes from the Greek words "demos" which means the people and "kratos" which means authority.
Democracy may be direct, or indirect and representative. In the modern pluralistic democratic state, power typically is exercised in groups or institutions in a complex system of interactions that involves compromises and bargaining in the decision process. The democratic creed includes the following four concepts:
Individualism; which holds that the primary task of government is to enable each individual to achieve the highest potential of development.
Liberty; which allows each individual the greatest amount of freedom consistent with order.
Equality; which maintains that all persons are created equal and have equal rights and opportunities.
Fraternity; which postulates that individuals will not misuse their freedom but will co-operate in creating a wholesome society.
As a political system, democracy starts with the assumption of popular sovereignty, vesting ultimate power in the people. It presupposes that people can control their destiny and that they can make moral judgements and practical decisions in their day lives. In implies a continuing search for truth in the sense of humanity’s pursuit of improved ways of building social institutions and ordering human relations. Democracy requires a decision-making system based on majority rule, with minority rights protected.
Effective guarantees of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition, and of equality before the law are indispensable to a democratic system of government. Politics, parties and politicians are the catalytic agents that make democracy workable.
For a number of centuries democracy was regarded as a dangerous and unworkable doctrine. It took a hold in the western world during the C19 and C20 and was attacked by both extreme left and right wing political groups. There are those who condemn it as mob rule that vulgarises society and as a belief that tolerates mediocrity and incompetence. It has also been criticised as a sham - a belief that can’t work as it goes against human nature. i.e. a government will claim to be democratic in name but in practice it will decide what it will do for the people as an election victory has given it the public mandate to do this but it will rarely - if at all - use referendums to fully find out what the public think about potential legislation during the life time of that government.
Plano and Greenberg believe that for democracy to work in its purest form it needs to have certain pre-requisites. Society has to be EDUCATED AND RESPONSIBLE. The state must have a degree of economic stability. Social cohesion and social consensus must exist. Above all, it requires the acceptance of the democratic "rules of the game" :
that there should be frequent and fair elections.
that the losers must accept the verdict of the public and allow the majority to govern.
that the majority will respect the right of the minority to provide the government with opposition
if the minority wins a future election, it will be permitted to take over the reins of government.
Can democracy ever be created in its most perfect form? It is argued that if governments try to move in the direction of democracy then they have the right to be labelled democratic. Democracy found in Western Europe was given a huge boost in the 1980s and 1990s when many communist governments gave way to what were termed democratic ones. It is this same boost that the Europe has been fruitlessly trying to induce in Africa. It is further undermining the hold of authoritarian regimes but giving a further boost to western style democracy.
The Biggest question is, should African Democracy necessarily take European forms? Let’s hear your comments
Democracy may be direct, or indirect and representative. In the modern pluralistic democratic state, power typically is exercised in groups or institutions in a complex system of interactions that involves compromises and bargaining in the decision process. The democratic creed includes the following four concepts:
Individualism; which holds that the primary task of government is to enable each individual to achieve the highest potential of development.
Liberty; which allows each individual the greatest amount of freedom consistent with order.
Equality; which maintains that all persons are created equal and have equal rights and opportunities.
Fraternity; which postulates that individuals will not misuse their freedom but will co-operate in creating a wholesome society.
As a political system, democracy starts with the assumption of popular sovereignty, vesting ultimate power in the people. It presupposes that people can control their destiny and that they can make moral judgements and practical decisions in their day lives. In implies a continuing search for truth in the sense of humanity’s pursuit of improved ways of building social institutions and ordering human relations. Democracy requires a decision-making system based on majority rule, with minority rights protected.
Effective guarantees of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, petition, and of equality before the law are indispensable to a democratic system of government. Politics, parties and politicians are the catalytic agents that make democracy workable.
For a number of centuries democracy was regarded as a dangerous and unworkable doctrine. It took a hold in the western world during the C19 and C20 and was attacked by both extreme left and right wing political groups. There are those who condemn it as mob rule that vulgarises society and as a belief that tolerates mediocrity and incompetence. It has also been criticised as a sham - a belief that can’t work as it goes against human nature. i.e. a government will claim to be democratic in name but in practice it will decide what it will do for the people as an election victory has given it the public mandate to do this but it will rarely - if at all - use referendums to fully find out what the public think about potential legislation during the life time of that government.
Plano and Greenberg believe that for democracy to work in its purest form it needs to have certain pre-requisites. Society has to be EDUCATED AND RESPONSIBLE. The state must have a degree of economic stability. Social cohesion and social consensus must exist. Above all, it requires the acceptance of the democratic "rules of the game" :
that there should be frequent and fair elections.
that the losers must accept the verdict of the public and allow the majority to govern.
that the majority will respect the right of the minority to provide the government with opposition
if the minority wins a future election, it will be permitted to take over the reins of government.
Can democracy ever be created in its most perfect form? It is argued that if governments try to move in the direction of democracy then they have the right to be labelled democratic. Democracy found in Western Europe was given a huge boost in the 1980s and 1990s when many communist governments gave way to what were termed democratic ones. It is this same boost that the Europe has been fruitlessly trying to induce in Africa. It is further undermining the hold of authoritarian regimes but giving a further boost to western style democracy.
The Biggest question is, should African Democracy necessarily take European forms? Let’s hear your comments
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