![]() Britain’s franchise was gradually extended from 1830 and it was only in 1918 that women were given the right to vote. Countries such as the UK and the US were not true democracies until relatively recently. John Deweyīut democracy is a process, not a state. The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy. Liberal democracy, in theory at least, provides a mechanism for some form of rule by proportionate representation, with citizens empowered to bring about change through participation and persuade the powerful to act for the greater good. Why democracy is the best form of government But most authoritarian systems are hampered by structural weaknesses: large, disenfranchised minority groups foster a sense of injustice reliance on ‘strongmen’ figures makes the transfer of power potentially violent and vested interests are protected from popular demands for change. ![]() More recently, non-democratic, authoritarian governments such as China have been praised for enduring the COVID-19 pandemic better than democracies, because they are better able to compel specific behaviour from citizens without concern for individual liberties, or dissent from a free press.Īll this may question the need for democracy. Meanwhile, over the last 30-50 years, a more technocratic, uniform form of politics has taken hold in the European Union (EU), where democracy is arguably less responsive to citizens and large elements of the population feel excluded from the process of government. Some question the value of the popular vote when it leads to seismic shifts such as Brexit, and the election of demagogues who threaten liberal values.Įven the American system, for a long time the exemplar of democratic freedoms, seems so polarized that it is in danger of becoming impotent, its ability to endure technological, demographic, and cultural change in doubt. This question is being asked a lot more as democracy is threatened by various forces around the world. Henry Kissinger on t he future of liberal democraciesĪrguably the importance of liberal democracy is two-fold: no other system of government guarantees the right to free expression of political preference and no other system promotes progress through peaceful competition between different interests and ideas. The guarantees of liberal democracy are intended to ensure no ethnic, geographic, class, or business interest dominates or exploits others to an unreasonable degree, and that there is fair and universal consent gained for government policies. Certain nations today have illiberal democracies where voting continues but liberal characteristics, such as an independent judiciary and free press, have been compromised.ĭefenders of liberal democracy say this actually makes these societies inherently undemocratic, as stripping away liberal guarantees leads to intimidation and coercion by the state, undermining elections. ![]() In fact, democracy does not necessarily have to be liberal. ![]() Crucially these essential freedoms are not subject to a democratic vote. In Europe and the English-speaking world it is often assumed democracy naturally takes the form of liberal democracy – popular sovereignty but limited by a constitution which guarantees individual freedoms (such as speech) and rights (such as to a fair trial). Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. ![]()
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