Democracy and Democratization

Democracy and Democratization

Introduction

Democracy as a form of government has been recognized one with the most advantages. It enables the public to have a say in the affairs of the government. A government which is made by the people and for the people, still has some problems. We, the human beings, are a complex species. Any new idea presents us with a challenge and then as a collectivity we have teething problems. Nevertheless, the experience of the world has shown it to be viable, and the thing that appeals to the people is the fact that a regime can b e replaced should it fail to meet the expectations of the people.

As a form of government, democracy can trace its earliest roots in the Greek City States. The hallmark of the democratic model practiced in Greece was a degree of accountability. The Greek Philosophers took great pains to explain different forms of government and the logic that went behind them. With a legacy over a thousand years old, there is no one definition for the form of government that is considered the viable (Kekic, L 2007).

Democratization on the other hand, is the long road to achieving the democratic ideal. How well a nation responds to the challenges of democratization depends on its people. It also depends on the would-be rulers of the countries. They face challenges of being accountable to their voters and they also have to face the world community in general in order to justify their positions. Democratization is more to do with the democratic spirit, and the method with which it is achieved is not relevant. Nations are being democratized as the paper is being written. They are crossing the hurdles posed by the existing orders in those countries, and the experience is unique for every country. It is unique for us in the U.S, and it is unique for the Iranians and Indians. Let us now take a look at some of the definitions available from a vast pool.

Discussion

Definitions

As mentioned democracy does not have one common definition as we see in the case of monarchy for example., Monarchy is where the power of the state rests completely with a King who wins this right through hereditary means. A combination of two factors “civil liberties” and “political rights” is the basis for the definition provided by Freedom House (freedomhouse.org). The expert on Democracy Michael Mandelbaum focuses more on the “who” and “how” of governance. The Economist Magazine has also put forth a definition which states that democracy is “a system of government which is based on the principle of majority rule and the willingness on the part of the people, fair and free elections, the protection of minorities, regard for human rights, (presupposing) equality before the law, due process, and political pluralism” (economist.com 2007). Larry Diamond defines a democratic regime in terms of sovereignty of the voter and accountability of the rulers and of course the essential link of freedom and rule of ...