Saturday, December 21, 2019

The History and Definition of Democracy - 742 Words

According to the Oxford dictionary online democracy is defined as, A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives (Oxford, 2014). In other words the population of a nation or land participates in the government. This participation is typically done by elections. Democracy has changed throughout history. In the past the population is the government; today most often the people will appoint individuals to represent them. Each of these styles of government has an unique way of dividing up the power between the electors and the elected. The models of democracy may be different but the conditions needed to obtain democracy are the same; how those conditions are acquired is debated. Ancient Athens in the fifth century B.C. is recognized as the first democracy (Gascoigne, B., 2014, p. 1). The democracy model in Athens was different than the modern democracy in countries such as America. All free males gathered to discuss what business needed to be done; Slaves, women, and children were excluded from participating in the government. The electorate voted by either a show of hands or by casting a ballot (Hansen, M. H., 1977, p. 1). The power was held by the entire voting population not the elected officials. In this way when an official did something that went against the desires of those who elected him, he could be removed easily. Elected officials could not exercise more power than what wasShow MoreRelatedThe Concept Of American Democracy1699 Words   |  7 Pages Democracy is perhaps the most elusive concept of all times. But if there has to be something more elusive, it will surely be the concept of American democracy. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln is known to have written:  ¨As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master †¦ This expresses my idea of democracy. Whoever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. ¨ The initial understanding of American democracy takes the form of an antithesis of English colonialism and slaveryRead MoreDemocratic Peace Theory1319 Words   |  6 Pageschoose their friends and enemies. Preventing conflict between two democracies or countries that practice democracy is called Democratic Peace Theory. However, research has begun to show that Democratic Peace Theory is ineffective and needs to be brought to an end as a model for how international relations are formed or destroyed. Democratic Peace Theory needs to be abolished as a support for forming foreign policy between democracies because of the burden placed on both parties to come to an agreementRead MoreDissent And Disagreement1459 Words   |  6 Pagesmatters and not dissented. In the Decline of Radicalism, by Daniel J. 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Jefferson, as we all know, wrote the Declaration of Independence and later became the third President. Robert Coram was a young man who worked for a Republican newspaper in Delaware. He based most of his plan on the works of Noah Webster, who wasRead MoreDemocracy And Government Repression Essay. Democracy Is1620 Words   |  7 PagesDemocracy and government repression essay Democracy is a difficult concept to define, with almost every nation state in the world self-defining themselves as such, when in fact not all are. The complexity of the definition of democracy poses challenges when one is trying to analyse the causes and effects that democracy can have. Democracy occurs by degree, not in absolutes, further complicating analysis. The traditional definition of democracy prior to the revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries

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