Democracy Is the Worst Form of Government
This essay will critically state how democracy is the worst type of government, but before we do this let us be familiar with the whole process of democracy. Looking at the history of democracy or example “In Ancient Anthens in the fifth and fourth centuries before Christ, this gave us the word democracy (rule by the common people) the people in this case did not include women and slaves, both were believed to be naturally inferior to male citizens” (Mayo 1960: 36) but since thence then democracy has developed and seems to accommodate all the citizens whether they are males or females. What we have to understand now is what democracy is in nowadays? What it means? The forms of democracy and what democracy involves. Democracy is difficult to define as it is a contested concept because it means different things to different people depending on how they understand democracy. The reason democracy is contested is that “It has many different facets to democracy in practice and people are isolating one element and treating it as if it were whole. Another reason is that because we are all in favour o democracy that it has become emptied o all content: democracy is whatever we choose it to mean” (Beetham 2005: 1).
Firstly what do we understand about democracy? Democracy is whatever we choose it to mean but for the purposes of understanding it in this essay we go with Jack Lively’s definition “Democracy is the form of government in which the ‘demos’ the people, rule: in which political power is held by the many rather than by one or the few” (Lively 1975: 8).the activities done by government are not directly performed by citizens but citizens elect the representative of their choice on a free and regular basis to act on behalf of them. As Lively says the majority principle defines the principle of democracy (1975: 9).
Democracy promotes equal treatment of people but it said to be very difficult to sustain.” It can result from and only from a federation of democratic states
Firstly what do we understand about democracy? Democracy is whatever we choose it to mean but for the purposes of understanding it in this essay we go with Jack Lively’s definition “Democracy is the form of government in which the ‘demos’ the people, rule: in which political power is held by the many rather than by one or the few” (Lively 1975: 8).the activities done by government are not directly performed by citizens but citizens elect the representative of their choice on a free and regular basis to act on behalf of them. As Lively says the majority principle defines the principle of democracy (1975: 9).
Democracy promotes equal treatment of people but it said to be very difficult to sustain.” It can result from and only from a federation of democratic states
References: Beetham, D.2005.Democracy: A beginner’s guide.Oneword Publications.1-16. Dahl, R.1998.On Democracy. New Haven and London. Yale University Press, 37-167. Held, D.1992.Prospects for Democracy. Blackwell Publishers, 12-16. Lansford, T.2007. Democracy. Marshall Cavendish.9-10. Lijphart, A .1989. Democracies, Patterns of majoritarian and consensus government in the 21 countries. Yale University, 4-6. Lively, J .1975.Democracy.Basil Blackwell: Oxford, 8-49. Mayo, H.B.1960.An introduction to Democratic theory. New York: Oxford University Press.33-36. Wolf, A and Rawcliffe, J.M.2005.Democracy.Evans Brothers, 25-26.