Meaning of democracy (what is it, concept and definition)

What is democracy:

Democracy is a form of state government where power is exercised by the people, through legitimate mechanisms of participation in political decision-making.

Etymologically, the word comes from the Greek δημοκρατία (democracy), which is made up of the terms δῆμος (démos), which means 'people', and κράτος (krátos), which means 'power'. Thus, democracy is the government of the people.

The term democracy is extended to communities or organized groups where all individuals participate in decision-making in a participatory and horizontal manner.

The fundamental mechanism of citizen participation is the suffrage universal, free and secret, through which elected leaders or representatives for a certain period. Elections are held by majority, proportional representation, or a combination of both.

However, the existence of elections is not a sufficient indicator to affirm that a government or regime is democratic. It is necessary that other characteristics are combined. Let's review some of them.

Characteristics of democracy

Democracy can be understood as a political doctrine and a form of social organization. Among many of its characteristics, we can mention the following:

• Respect for the human rights enshrined by the United Nations Organization; Individual freedom; Freedom for association and political belligerence; Presence of multiple political parties; Distribution of power in different social actors; Universal, free and secret suffrage; Representativeness; Alternation in power; Freedom of the press and opinion; Equality before the law; Limitation of the power of rulers; Attachment to the rule of law enshrined in a Constitution, Constitution or Supreme Law. It can be adapted to different forms of government organization. For example:
  • republican system: in which the leadership falls on a president. parliamentary monarchies: in which there is the figure of the prime minister, with powers similar to those of the president.

See also:

• 7 fundamental values ​​in a democracy. Unipartism.

Types of democracy

Below are the types of democracy that exist.

Representative or indirect democracy

Representative democracy, also called indirect, is one where citizens exercise political power through their representatives, elected by vote, in free and periodic elections.

Thus, the exercise of state powers and decision-making must express the political will that citizens have placed on their leaders.

Representative democracy is the most practiced system in the world, as in Mexico, for example. The liberal democracies like the United States, tend to operate within the representative system.

Direct democracy

Direct democracy is the original model of democracy, practiced by the Athenians in antiquity. It is said that a direct or pure democracy exists when they are the citizens themselves, without the intermediation of representatives, who participate directly in political decision-making.

Said participation is exercised through direct vote, plebiscite, referendum and popular initiative, among others. Today, this type of democracy is not viable as a national system due to the massification of society.

However, this model inspires the operation of small community organizations as part of a local and specific reality. For example, neighborhood or citizen assemblies.

Participatory democracy

Participatory democracy is a model of political organization that aims to give citizens a greater, more active and more direct capacity to intervene and influence public decision-making through mechanisms other than voting.

At least theoretically, participatory democracy, considered a variant of direct democracy, actively incorporates the citizen in the surveillance and control of the application of public policies, tries to ensure that citizens are organized and prepared to propose initiatives and to express themselves in favor or against a measure.

See also:

• Participatory democracy Populism.