what makes a Nation a democracy?

[The Fool]

Much is made of the need to advance democracy or bring democracy to populations that do not have it.

It is my view that among some other minimum requirements no citizens should be discriminated against by law on the basis of their race, religion, ethnic group, or gender.

Is is generally agreed that this is required for a nation to be called a democracy?

What are the minimum requirements a nation should meet to call itself a democracy?

 

[Ryokan]

Democracy is a system of government in which either the actual governing is carried out by the people governed (direct democracy), or the power to do so is granted by them (as in representative democracy).

This is not neccesarily a good thing. Some people think that if just the people are given the right to vote for their leaders, that that country will become a Paragon of Human Rights like the Western countries did.

But even we had a very long road to walk until we got things right. What people has to realize is that it's not democracy that is good. A gang rape is democracy in action. What people should want is a liberal democracy, where the right to vote is right there together with freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other individual rights.

 

[The Fool]

Democracy is a system of government in which either the actual governing is carried out by the people governed (direct democracy), or the power to do so is granted by them (as in representative democracy).

This is not neccesarily a good thing. Some people think that if just the people are given the right to vote for their leaders, that that country will become a Paragon of Human Rights like the Western countries did.

But even we had a very long road to walk until we got things right. What people has to realize is that it's not democracy that is good. A gang rape is democracy in action. What people should want is a liberal democracy, where the right to vote is right there together with freedom of speech, freedom of religion and other individual rights.

I agree that its more than free and fair elections which I lump into a category I like to simply call "equality", in this case...one citizen one vote (or one value) in the election of the executive. The other main structural thing I look for is separation of power, checks and balances. where power is separated between executive legislative and judicial branches. In Australia the distinction between executive and legislative is not as defined as some democracies because our executive is spawned from our legislative who get together and decide who is in the executive after the election is over. We do, however, place great emphasis on an independent judiciary. Equality of citizens under the law is one of the things that we leave to them to enforce.

 

[INRM]

A democracy or representative democracy with a constitution to protect the people from the abuses of the government, and to prevent the majority from trampling all over the rights of the minority

 

[Shadowdweller]

Democracy = rule by demagogues / demagoguery

 

[JJM 777]

Much is made of the need to advance democracy or bring democracy to populations that do not have it.

If you mean that USA makes much of it... USA has been a generous supporter of monarchies, military dictators and rival candidate discriminators, as long as these have been Capitalist and US-friendly enough.

 

[Darth Rotor]

what makes a Nation a democracy?

The habits of its people and government collectively, in those cases where the government is accountable to the people.

 

[Darth Rotor]

If you mean that USA makes much of it... USA has been a generous supporter of monarchies, military dictators and rival candidate discriminators, as long as these have been Capitalist and US-friendly enough.

You forgot to add "generous supporters of democracies," thanks to your usual myopia.

Thanks for playing, Marshall Plan forgetting person.

Are you aware that Johnny One Note is a lousy song?

DR

 

[Clare Swinney]

A mainstream media that informs people is essential for a properly functioning democracy. It is no good getting people to vote for candidates/on issues who have been completely misinformed.

Here is an apt quote from Danny Schecter, former producer for ABC and CNN: “We falsely think of our country as a democracy when it has evolved into a mediacracy – where a media that is supposed to check political abuse is part of the political abuse.”

Schecter's media experience in the major U.S. corporate media is considerable. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Schechter

 

[drkitten]

What are the minimum requirements a nation should meet to call itself a democracy?

Giving a substantial fraction of the citizenship a meaningful say in governance.

That's it.

With many of the countries that are currently being reviled as not being "democratic" enough, that would be a substantial step forward.

The rest is really just icing on the cake -- and most political theorists accept that "the rest" or something close will happen in time given that initial stance.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Giving a substantial fraction of the citizenship a meaningful say in governance.

That's it.

With many of the countries that are currently being reviled as not being "democratic" enough, that would be a substantial step forward.

The rest is really just icing on the cake -- and most political theorists accept that "the rest" or something close will happen in time given that initial stance.

The pendulum can swing back the other way, of course, with "the rest" never coming to fruition.

DR

 

[drkitten]

The pendulum can swing back the other way, of course, with "the rest" never coming to fruition.

It can, of course. But it's very rare that it happens without a revolution as an enabling act, a revolution that typically eliminates all effective practice of "democracy" in the first place.

How many "democratic" countries, for example, initially excluded large groups of people from voting. Almost all of the pre-20th century democracies, as far as I can tell (Start with the entire British Commonwealth, as well as the USA). How many of those have preserved "democracy" while limiting the voting franchise in significant numbers?

Is there any country on record that has eliminated female suffrage? Is there any country on record that has raised the voting age, or increased the property requirement?

 

[Darth Rotor]

Is there any country on record that has eliminated female suffrage? Is there any country on record that has raised the voting age, or increased the property requirement?

Didn't the Taliban in Afghanistan do that when they took over?

As to the last two, no, I don't think so.

On a cynical note: The more poor and huddled masses one can get to vote for one's self, the more dependent clients one can add to one's party's slate. Voting is a form of power, but it is still bound by practical limitations.

DR

 

[drkitten]

Didn't the Taliban in Afghanistan do that when they took over?

Actually, that strengthens my point. The Taliban coup is a very good example of a `a revolution as an enabling act, a revolution that typically eliminates all effective practice of "democracy" in the first place.'

 

[Skeptic]

Edited by Darat: 

Breach of Rule 12 removed.

What if a nation is established by colonists who were mostly deported criminals, butchered all the local inhabitants they could find, and established a system of segregation which has been in place for a century or more favoring white Europeans?

You wouldn't want to call a national like that a democracy, now would you?

 

[Darth Rotor]

What if a nation is established by colonists who were mostly deported criminals, butchered all the local inhabitants they could find, and established a system of segregation which has been in place for a century or more favoring white Europeans?

You wouldn't want to call a national like that a democracy, now would you?

Will you stop dissing the State of Georgia, sir?

Oh, wait, you said nation.

NVM

DR

 

[JJM 777]

So, is USA a democratic country?

 

[Darth Rotor]

So, is USA a democratic country?

You could say it was the first such on the planet Earth, why do you ask?

My British friends will object, even though they STILL have a monarch ...

DR

 

[Gaetan]

There is no democracy without independant media, so when media are owned by a bunch of rich capitalist who never want to pay their fair amount of income tax and do not care of others but themself, you'll find out that peoples will be stuffed head of republican right wing propaganda.

Gaétan

 

[Skeptic]

There is no democracy without independant media, so when media are owned by a bunch of rich capitalist who never want to pay their fair amount of income tax and do not care of others but themself, you'll find out that peoples will be stuffed head of republican right wing propaganda.

Yes, media is so much freer when it's owned by the state...