Global Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Democracy

Amanda McLauren

Democracy could also be a word familiar to most, but it's an idea still misunderstood and misused at a time when dictators, single-party regimes, and military coup leaders alike assert popular support by claiming the mantle of democracy. Yet the facility of the democratic idea has prevailed through an extended and turbulent history, and democratic government, despite continuing challenges, continues to evolve and flourish throughout the planet. Democracy, which derives from the Greek word demos, or people, is defined, basically, as a government during which the supreme power is vested within the people. In some forms, democracy is often exercised directly by the people; in large societies, it's by the people through their elected agents. Or, within the memorable phrase of President Lincoln, democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the 2 aren't synonymous. Democracy is indeed a group of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of practices and procedures that are molded through an extended, often tortuous history. Democracy is that the institutionalization of freedom. within the end, people living during a democratic society must function the last word guardians of their own freedom and must forge their own path toward the ideals set forth within the preamble to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is that the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace within the world. Democracy is quite just a group of specific government institutions; it rests upon a well-understood group of values, attitudes, and practices - all of which can take different forms and expressions among cultures and societies around the world. Democracies rest upon fundamental principles, not uniform practices Democracies fall under two basic categories, direct and representative. during a direct democracy, citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials, can participate in making public decisions. Such a system is clearly most practical with relatively small numbers of individuals - during a community organization, tribal council, or the local unit of a union, for instance - where members can meet during a single room to debate issues and reach decisions by consensus or majority vote. during a democracy, the government is merely one thread within the social fabric of the many and varied public and personal institutions, legal forums, political parties, organizations, and associations. This diversity is named pluralism, and it assumes that the various organized groups and institutions during a democratic society don't depend on the government for his or her existence, legitimacy, or authority. Most democratic societies have thousands of personal organizations, some local, some national. Many of them serve a mediating role between individuals and society s complex social and governmental institutions, filling roles not given to the govt and offering individuals opportunities to become a part of their society without being government In an authoritarian society, virtually all such organizations would be controlled, licensed, watched, or otherwise accountable to the govt. during a democracy, the powers of the govt are, by law, clearly defined and sharply limited. As a result, private organizations are largely freed from government control. during this busy private realm of a democratic society, citizens can explore the chances of peaceful self-fulfillment and therefore the responsibilities of belonging to a community - freed from the doubtless heavy hand of the state or the demand that they adhere to views held by those with influence or power, or by the bulk.

Published Date: 2021-05-28;