Summary
Summary PLC3702 - Democracy and other forms of regime Democracy
- Institution
- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Summary of 3 pages for the course PLC3702 - Democracy and other forms of regime at Unisa (Essay on Democracy)
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DEMOCRACYIntroduction:
The word democracy originated in ancient Greece, it comes from the words “demos” (the
poor masses) and “kratos” (meaning to rule). Democracy can be defined as a regime where
sovereignty is vested in the people. Democracy was associated with assemblies where all
citizens gathered to debate and make decisions on issues that concerned the polis (city
state). Democracy is a value-laden concept, meaning that it is defined in terms of what it
should be, instead of what it is.
Characteristics:
Advantages:
> People are sovereign
> Political rule is either exercised by the people themselves, or on behalf of the people
> The rulers are accountable to the people
> Democracy implies effective involvement in political affairs – to guarantee effective
involvement requires a number of rights and freedoms
Disadvantages:
> One of the main problems defining democracy is that it is the dominant regime found in the
West – it implies that democracy is embedded in the culture, society and economy of the
West
> Democracy can be institutionalised in many ways, therefore making it difficult to identify
the essence and characteristics of democracy
Jaggers and Gurr (1995:471) identify three essential and interdependent elements of
democracy within the Western philosophy:
1. The presence of institutions and procedures through which citizens can express effective
preferences concerning political leaders and public policy – this creates regular and
meaningful competition among individuals and organised groups, inclusive political
participation and the freedoms to make it possible
2. The existence of institutionalised constraints on the exercise of executive power
3. The guarantee of civil liberties to all citizens in their daily lives and in political participation
– these civil liberties is basically the same as what is included in human rights
Elements of Western democracy that correspond to the European democracy:
> Extension of civil and political liberties (rights)
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