Literally, “democracy” is translated as “people power”. However, people, or “demos”, in Ancient Greece called the only free and wealthy of citizens-men. Those in Athens was about 90 thousand people, with, in the same city lived about 45 thousand unequal (women and poor) and more than 350(!) thousands of slaves. Initially a liberal democracy carries a sufficient number of contradictions.
Our ancestors in prehistoric times decide all important issues together. However, this situation prevailed for a relatively short time. Over time some families were able to accumulate wealth, others – no. Income inequality is known from the beginning of the century.
Liberal democracy in the approximate modern sense first appeared in Athens, the capital of Ancient Greece. This event belongs to the 4th century BC.
Athens, like many settlements at that time, was a city-state. A free citizen could only be a man possessing a certain amount of property. The community of these men have decided all important questions at a public meeting, which was the highest authority. All other citizens were required to carry out these decisions, and their opinion was not taken into account.
Today, well-developed democracy in Canada and the Nordic countries. So, in Scandinavia education and health care for the people free, and the standard of living all about the same. In these countries there is a system of balances, to avoid drastic differences.
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The Parliament is elected according to the principle of equality: the larger the population in a given area, the more representatives it has.
Liberal democracy in our day – it is a form of social organization, which theoretically limits the power of the majority in the interests of individuals or minorities. Those people who belong to the majority should be elected by the people, but absolute power is available to them. Citizens have the opportunity to create various associations expressing their demands. The representative of the Association may be elected to the government.
Democracy means consent of the majority of the people that offer him elected representatives. The MPs periodically undergo the election procedure. They are responsible for their activities. Must necessarily comply with the freedom of Assembly and expression.
That was the theory, but the practice is strongly at odds with it.
Liberal democracy presupposes the fulfilment of such requirements:
Liberal democracy – the balance between the elite society and other citizens. Ideally, a democratic society protects and supports each of its members. Democracy is the opposite of authoritarianism, when everyone can count on freedom, justice and equality.
In order For democracy to be real, you need to follow these principles:
They are obvious: the power of the majority is concentrated in the hands of a few people. Over them is difficult-almost impossible - to control, and the decisions they make on their own. Therefore, in practice, the gap between the expectations of the people and the government is enormous.
Antagonist liberal advocates direct democracy, in which every person can contribute to overall solution without intermediate.
Feature of liberal democracy is that elected representatives gradually distanciruemsa from the people, and completely under the influence of the groups controlling financial flows in the society.
Other names of liberal democracy-constitutional or bourgeois. These names are related to historical processes which developed liberal democracy. This definitionimplies that the main regulatory document of the company - Constitution, or basic law.
The Main instrument of democracy-elections, in which (ideally) can take part in each person of majority age who do not have problems with the law.
Citizens for expressing their opinions can take part in the referendum, meeting or contact the independent media.
In practice, access to media can only get those citizens who are able to pay for their services. So to Express themselves have a real chance of only financial or very wealthy citizens. However, along with the party in power always has opposition that can win elections in case of failures.
The Theoretical essence of liberal democracy is great, but its practical use is limited by financial or political power. Also often ostentatious democracy, when the right words and bright calls are hidden quite specific interests, not taking into account the needs of the population.
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Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."
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