We talk about democracy a lot and yet don’t often stop to think about what we are talking about. So, let’s do that now and examine what democracy is, and why it is important.
Democracy means that ultimately, the people hold power. It is they who elect their legislatures and, either directly or indirectly, their governments and replace them if they are unhappy with their performance. They can also participate at other levels: regionally and locally, by electing councils, and even sometimes internationally, for example in the European Union. All of this is what is meant by representative democracies, the people are represented by those they elect. Though there is a qualification to this, for those representatives, both in the legislature and the government, may deem it appropriate to represent the people’s best interests as they see them to be, not necessarily as the people see them. But then they will have to face the electorate at the next election.
There are other fundamental characteristics to democracies. One is equality, so that everyone has the vote, every vote has an equal weighting, and everyone is equal before the law. Political freedom is another fundamental characteristic. The freedom to form, join and vote for whichever party one wishes; the freedom to join other associations, for example trade unions or pressure groups such as environmental groups; freedom of assembly, i.e. to meet, even as an opposition group; a free press; and freedom of speech. All within the law, that is. For example, sexism and racism is not tolerated wither in the written word or in speeches. Other fundamental characteristics include the peaceful transfer of power following elections and that majority-decision-making is always accepted. There is the right to oppose, but within the laws of the land. So that campaigns, protest marches, rallies, strikes, are all features of a healthy democracy (as well as one that is in trouble).
All of this puts a rosy sheen on democracy, of course. British and American elections, such are the way their electoral systems work, can produce a government or a president on a minority vote. We can also argue that it takes an awful lot of money to fight an election, the media can be biased, particularly as again, it takes a wealth person to own a newspaper or a television company. So, democracy is not perfect. And most controversially, we can sometimes question the motives behind people’s votes: voting purely for the good of themselves (as they see it) or for the good of society as a whole? But that’s democracy, people have the power. Would you want to take that away? I leave that with you.