Do you believe that freedom of expression is fundamental for the successful working of a democracy
Q. Do you believe that freedom of expression is fundamental for the successful working of a democracy? .
I believe that the freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of a liberal democracy. A democracy, in the well-known words of Abraham Lincoln is a way of government “of the people, for the people and by the people.” For this political system to be realized in daily life, the unhindered articulation of the will of the people is vital. The freedom of expression allows for this articulation and the consequent participation of the people in the workings of their government. Furthermore, freedom of expression is vital for the formation of an independent public opinion. It is instrumental in achieving positive social change in a society. It enriches the social fabric of the society by exposing individuals to diverse perspectives that help them grow into a more tolerant society. In addition to the merit of freedom of expression in facilitating the working of a democracy in the abovementioned ways, it is vital as a stand-alone concept too. The freedom of expression protects a person’s individual sovereignty which is a basic human right. On the other hand, however, I maintain that the excess of anything is harmful. An individual’s freedom of expression, when it hinders the rights of another person, cannot be lauded as a positive. There are certain greater goals for the achievement of which, limitations must be placed upon freedom of expression in a democracy.
The freedom of expression is vital for the successful participation of people in their government.
According to Mill, a liberal representative democracy must create maximum space for people to take part in the functioning of the government and not restrict their involvement to mere voting. He considered participation important because it develops the confidence of people in their ability to govern themselves. 1 Alexander Meiklejohn believed that freedom of speech and expression is
I believe that the freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of a liberal democracy. A democracy, in the well-known words of Abraham Lincoln is a way of government “of the people, for the people and by the people.” For this political system to be realized in daily life, the unhindered articulation of the will of the people is vital. The freedom of expression allows for this articulation and the consequent participation of the people in the workings of their government. Furthermore, freedom of expression is vital for the formation of an independent public opinion. It is instrumental in achieving positive social change in a society. It enriches the social fabric of the society by exposing individuals to diverse perspectives that help them grow into a more tolerant society. In addition to the merit of freedom of expression in facilitating the working of a democracy in the abovementioned ways, it is vital as a stand-alone concept too. The freedom of expression protects a person’s individual sovereignty which is a basic human right. On the other hand, however, I maintain that the excess of anything is harmful. An individual’s freedom of expression, when it hinders the rights of another person, cannot be lauded as a positive. There are certain greater goals for the achievement of which, limitations must be placed upon freedom of expression in a democracy.
The freedom of expression is vital for the successful participation of people in their government.
According to Mill, a liberal representative democracy must create maximum space for people to take part in the functioning of the government and not restrict their involvement to mere voting. He considered participation important because it develops the confidence of people in their ability to govern themselves. 1 Alexander Meiklejohn believed that freedom of speech and expression is