concept of Democracy (Ints 215)

Introduction

Democracy is one of the most important concepts in political science and remains the most widely accepted system of government in the modern world. It is associated with popular participation, political equality, and the consent of the governed. The idea of democracy developed from ancient political practices and has evolved over time into different models to suit modern complex societies. Understanding democracy helps to explain how political authority is acquired, exercised, and controlled in a state.

Meaning and Origin of Democracy

The term democracy means rule by the people. It originated from the city-state of Athens in ancient Greece. The word democracy is derived from two Greek words:

Demos – meaning the people

Kratein (or Kratos) – meaning rule or power

Thus, democracy refers to a system in which power belongs to the people. In ancient Athens, democracy was practiced directly, as all adult male citizens were free to attend the assembly and participate in decision-making.

In essence, democracy may be defined as a system under which the people periodically exercise supreme authority over the choice of leaders and policy decisions through a popular and regularly conducted electoral process.

Abraham Lincoln 

In simple terms, Abraham Lincoln, a former President of the United States, defined democracy as:

“Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Hence, democracy can be seen as government by the consent of the people. Under a democratic system, adult citizens enjoy the right to choose their leaders and influence government policies through elected representatives.

A state is regarded as democratic if it provides institutions and processes that promote the supremacy of the popular will in leadership selection and policy direction.

Models of Democracy

According to David Held (1993), a major issue in democracy is whether democracy should involve direct participation of citizens in governance or whether it should involve electing representatives to govern on behalf of the people. This debate has given rise to three major models of democracy.

1. Direct or Participatory Democracy

This is a system of government in which citizens participate directly in decision-making rather than electing representatives.

In this form of democracy:

• Citizens propose laws and policies
• Citizens debate public issues
• Citizens vote directly on decisions

This model was practiced in ancient Athens.

However, it is difficult to practice in modern states due to large population size, territorial expansion, and complexity of governance.

2. Liberal or Representative Democracy

A banner depicting liberalism in German 

This is the most common form of democracy in the modern world.

It refers to a system in which:

• Citizens elect representatives
• Representatives govern on behalf of the people
• Governance operates within the framework of the rule of law

This model provides citizens the opportunity to elect their leaders through free and fair elections.

Representative democracy thrives where:

• Elections are free and fair
• Voters register is updated periodically
• Constituencies are properly delimited
• There are multiple political parties and candidates
• Citizens are politically informed
• Fundamental human rights are protected

Because modern states have large populations, representative democracy has become the dominant form of democracy.

3. Marxist or People’s Democracy

This model is associated with the ideas of Karl Marx and Marxist political theory.

According to this model, democracy should not only exist in politics but also in economic and social life.

It seeks to promote equality in:

Economic Sphere

This is achieved through:

• Public ownership of means of production
• Nationalization of major industries
• Reduction of economic inequality

Social Sphere

This includes provision of:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Employment
• Pension
• Maternal and child care
• Social welfare

The aim is to ensure both political and economic equality.

Dominance of Representative Democracy

Due to population growth, territorial size, and complexity of modern states, direct participation of all citizens in daily governance has become practically impossible.

As a result, liberal or representative democracy has become the dominant and most practical form of democracy in modern nation-states.

Conclusion

In conclusion, democracy is a system of government based on the rule and consent of the people. It originated in ancient Greece and has evolved into different forms over time. Democracy allows citizens to participate in governance either directly or indirectly through elected representatives. While direct democracy was suitable for small societies like Athens, representative democracy has become the most practical system in modern large states. Ultimately, democracy promotes popular participation, political equality, accountability, and legitimacy of government, making it the most preferred system of governance in the contemporary world.