What is Democracy?

Mpaka Kieleweke

Mpaka Kieleweke

JF-Expert Member
Feb 27, 2007
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1,571
What Is Democracy about?

Is it about;

a) Democracy is about minority rights as well as majority rule.



b) People should be free to do as they wish provided they do not harm others


c) Equality of income conflicts with equality before the law.
 
Democracy is a system of government by which political sovereignty is retained by the people and exercised directly by citizens.
There are two principles that any definition of democracy include. The first principle is that all members of the society have equal access to power and the second that all members enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.
The "majority rule" is often described as a characteristic feature of democracy, but without responsible government it is possible for the rights of a minority to be abused by the "tyranny of the majority". like CCM.
Democracy includes political pluralism, equality before the law, the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances, due process, civil liberties, human rights, and elements of civil society outside the government.
 
Forms of democracy

Representative democracy involves the selection of government officials by the people being represented. The most common mechanisms involve election of the candidate with a majority or a plurality of the votes.

Representatives may be elected or become diplomatic representatives by a particular district (or constituency), or represent the entire electorate proportionally proportional systems, with some using a combination of the two. Some representative democracies also incorporate elements of direct democracy, such as referendums. A characteristic of representative democracy is that while the representatives are elected by the people to act in their interest, they retain the freedom to exercise their own judgment as how best to do so.


Parliamentary democracy
Parliamentary democracy where government is appointed by parliamentary representatives as opposed to a 'presidential rule' by decree dictatorship. Under a parliamentary democracy, government is exercised by delegation to an executive ministry and subject to ongoing review, checks and balances by the legislative parliament elected by the people.


Liberal democracy
A Liberal democracy is a representative democracy in which the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and usually moderated by a constitution that emphasizes the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, and which places constraints on the leaders and on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised against the rights of minorities.


Direct Democracy
Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue (i.e., voting).Most direct democracies to date have been weak forms, relatively small communities, usually city-states. However, some see the extensive use of referendums, as in California, as akin to direct democracy in a very large polity with more than 20 million in California, 1898-1998 (2000). In Switzerland, five million voters decide on national referendums and initiatives two to four times a year; direct democratic instruments are also well established at the cantonal and communal level. Vermont towns have been known for their yearly town meetings, held every March to decide on local issues.

Socialist Democracy
Socialist thought has several different views on democracy. Social democracy, democratic socialism, and the dictatorship of the proletariat (usually exercised through Soviet democracy) are some examples. Many democratic socialists and social democrats believe in a form of participatory democracy and workplace democracy combined with a representative democracy.

Within Marxist orthodoxy there is a hostility to what is commonly called "liberal democracy", which they simply refer to as parliamentary democracy because of its often centralized nature. Because of their desire to eliminate the political elitism they see in capitalism, Marxists, Leninists and Trotskyists believe in direct democracy implemented though a system of communes (which are sometimes called soviets). This system ultimately manifests itself as council democracy and begins with workplace democracy. (See Democracy in Marxism)


Anarchist Democracy
The only form of democracy considered acceptable to many anarchists is direct democracy. Some anarchists oppose direct democracy while others favour it. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that the only acceptable form of direct democracy is one in which it is recognized that majority decisions are not binding on the minority, even when unanimous.However, anarcho-communist Murray Bookchin criticized individualist anarchists for opposing democracy, and says "majority rule" is consistent with anarchism.Some anarcho-communists oppose the majoritarian nature of direct democracy, feeling that it can impede individual liberty and opt in favour of a non-majoritarian form of consensus democracy, similar to Proudhon's position on direct democracy.


Iroquois Democracy

Iroquois society had a form of participatory democracy and representative democracy.Iroquois government and law was discussed by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Because of this, some scholars regard it to have influenced the formation of American representative democracy. However scholars who reject multiculturalism disagree that the influence existed or was of any great importance.


Sortition
Sometimes called "democracy without elections", sortition is the process of choosing decision makers via a random process. The intention is that those chosen will be representative of the opinions and interests of the people at large, and be more fair and impartial than an elected official. The technique was in widespread use in Athenian Democracy and is still used in modern jury selection. It is not universally agreed that sortition should be considered "democracy" due to the lack of actual elections[citation needed].


Consensus democracy
Consensus democracy requires varying degrees of consensus rather than just a mere democratic majority. It typically attempts to protect minority rights from domination by majority rule.


Interactive Democracy
Interactive Democracy seeks to utilise information technology to involve voters in law making. It provides a system for proposing new laws, prioritising proposals, clarifying them through parliament and validating them through referendum
 
Kevo said:
Forms of democracy

Representative democracy involves the selection of government officials by the people being represented. The most common mechanisms involve election of the candidate with a majority or a plurality of the votes.

Representatives may be elected or become diplomatic representatives by a particular district (or constituency), or represent the entire electorate proportionally proportional systems, with some using a combination of the two. Some representative democracies also incorporate elements of direct democracy, such as referendums. A characteristic of representative democracy is that while the representatives are elected by the people to act in their interest, they retain the freedom to exercise their own judgment as how best to do so.


Parliamentary democracy
Parliamentary democracy where government is appointed by parliamentary representatives as opposed to a 'presidential rule' by decree dictatorship. Under a parliamentary democracy, government is exercised by delegation to an executive ministry and subject to ongoing review, checks and balances by the legislative parliament elected by the people.


Liberal democracy
A Liberal democracy is a representative democracy in which the ability of the elected representatives to exercise decision-making power is subject to the rule of law, and usually moderated by a constitution that emphasizes the protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals, and which places constraints on the leaders and on the extent to which the will of the majority can be exercised against the rights of minorities.


Direct Democracy
Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue (i.e., voting).Most direct democracies to date have been weak forms, relatively small communities, usually city-states. However, some see the extensive use of referendums, as in California, as akin to direct democracy in a very large polity with more than 20 million in California, 1898-1998 (2000). In Switzerland, five million voters decide on national referendums and initiatives two to four times a year; direct democratic instruments are also well established at the cantonal and communal level. Vermont towns have been known for their yearly town meetings, held every March to decide on local issues.

Socialist Democracy
Socialist thought has several different views on democracy. Social democracy, democratic socialism, and the dictatorship of the proletariat (usually exercised through Soviet democracy) are some examples. Many democratic socialists and social democrats believe in a form of participatory democracy and workplace democracy combined with a representative democracy.

Within Marxist orthodoxy there is a hostility to what is commonly called "liberal democracy", which they simply refer to as parliamentary democracy because of its often centralized nature. Because of their desire to eliminate the political elitism they see in capitalism, Marxists, Leninists and Trotskyists believe in direct democracy implemented though a system of communes (which are sometimes called soviets). This system ultimately manifests itself as council democracy and begins with workplace democracy. (See Democracy in Marxism)


Anarchist Democracy
The only form of democracy considered acceptable to many anarchists is direct democracy. Some anarchists oppose direct democracy while others favour it. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that the only acceptable form of direct democracy is one in which it is recognized that majority decisions are not binding on the minority, even when unanimous.However, anarcho-communist Murray Bookchin criticized individualist anarchists for opposing democracy, and says "majority rule" is consistent with anarchism.Some anarcho-communists oppose the majoritarian nature of direct democracy, feeling that it can impede individual liberty and opt in favour of a non-majoritarian form of consensus democracy, similar to Proudhon's position on direct democracy.


Iroquois Democracy

Iroquois society had a form of participatory democracy and representative democracy.Iroquois government and law was discussed by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Because of this, some scholars regard it to have influenced the formation of American representative democracy. However scholars who reject multiculturalism disagree that the influence existed or was of any great importance.


Sortition
Sometimes called "democracy without elections", sortition is the process of choosing decision makers via a random process. The intention is that those chosen will be representative of the opinions and interests of the people at large, and be more fair and impartial than an elected official. The technique was in widespread use in Athenian Democracy and is still used in modern jury selection. It is not universally agreed that sortition should be considered "democracy" due to the lack of actual elections[citation needed].


Consensus democracy
Consensus democracy requires varying degrees of consensus rather than just a mere democratic majority. It typically attempts to protect minority rights from domination by majority rule.


Interactive Democracy
Interactive Democracy seeks to utilise information technology to involve voters in law making. It provides a system for proposing new laws, prioritising proposals, clarifying them through parliament and validating them through referendum
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In Africa do we real need to practice any of the above forms of Democracy?
 
Kevo said:
The Oppressed,The Humiliated,The Free,The Patriots,The Haves,The Haves -Not,The Masters and The Servants.
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Is there one defining characteristic of "the people"? The above amalgamation is neither exhaustive nor definitive.

Are the oppressors not the people? are the humiliators not the people? Are the bonded not the people? Are the Non-Patriots not the people? Are the "neither-Have-nor-Have-Not" not the people? Are the "neither-Master-nor-Slave" not the people?
 
democracy is what any given people determine to be a form of government that suits them. Katika upana wake basi demokrasia ni mfumo ambao jamii ya watu katika Taifa au jumuiya fulani wameamua kuwa unawafaa kujitawala, kujiongoza, na kujiwabisha. Hivyo msingi wa demokrasia kama neno lenyewe lilivyo ni watu.

Hivyo demokrasia haitoki mbinguni au kwenye vitabu vya dini. Demo-watu na Kratia (utawala). Hivyo demokrasia kimsingi kabisa ni utawala wa watu na tukitumia maneno ya Lincoln pale Gettysburg ni kuwa ni "serikali ya watu, kutoka kwa watu, na kwa ajili ya watu". Huwezi kuwa na demokrasia pasipo watu kushirikishwa. Na hapa ina maana siyo kikundi cha watu wachache tu bali watawala na watawaliwa.

Lakini kimsingi hakuna demokrasia ya kweli ukiondoa nchi chache ambazo zimejaribu kujenga what is known as "pure democracy" nchi kama Libya! Lakini ukija kwenye swali la "Western Democracy" basi unazungumzia something very specific ambacho kimeendelea katika miaka hii 400 iliyopita.
 
In Africa Democracy is not abt voting rather counting and announcing of the results of votes
 
mpaka kieleweke said:
In Africa do we real need to practice any of the above forms of Democracy?
Click to expand...

We need only to practice thiose aimed at helping the people by creating fairness,openess, and accountability and among other things that I have stated in my above comments.
 
mpaka kieleweke said:
People should be free to do as they wish provided they do not harm others.
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Very funny!! [I think I need some tylenol]. And which planet will exactly that be? Jupiter or Neptune?

I'd disagree with your assertion.

And as inhabitant of this planet earth, I guess I'll have to go with Henry Louis Mencken on this: "Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven."
 
Gustanza_The said:
Very funny!! [I think I need some tylenol]. And which planet will exactly that be? Jupiter or Neptune?

I'd disagree with your assertion.

And as inhabitant of this planet earth, I guess I'll have to go with Henry Louis Mencken on this: "Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven."
Click to expand...

Gus,

They haven't defined "the people", much less democracy!
 
Democracy is a system of government by which political sovereignty is retained by the people and exercised directly by citizens.
Imetokana na wagreek......Miaka hiyoooo zaidi soma link hyo hapo chini

hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy
 
Democracy, like any other social construct, is a living idea practiced differently depending on the society. Many of our problems arise from the fact that we have largely abdicated responsibility for our political system. engineering a form of democracy that will suit us is our job- leaving it up to a group of power hungry 'leaders' invariably gets 'the people' into trouble. "We, the people" must define our polity, the limits thereof, and its structure in service of our needs- not vice versa. All the those definitions, the philosophy- those are the tools we can employ to guide our efforts. As for who the people are: it comes with time. The Greeks only accepted 'free men' as citizens. African Americans had to fight for the vote, as did women. We, former colonies, just adopted with minor adjustment the structures of the West so now we are struggling to make it fit.
 
Tanzania kuna demokrasia?

Kwani sidhani kama iliwahi kutokea kwa watanzania kujiwekea mfumo wao wenyewe wa kujitawala ,kwani hawajawahi kuandika katiba yao na kuweka muongozo wa jinsi ya kujitawala.
 
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