(C) Freedom House
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What Is Democracy, and Why Does Defending It Matter? [1]
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Date: 2024-12
Freedom House has been a source of expertise on the state of global freedom and democratic trends since the Second World War. We have been tracking freedom around the world for more than 50 years, identifying emergent threats and, for the last 18 years, documenting the trend of ongoing decline in people’s access to political rights and civil liberties. In 2024, we’ve been paying close attention to this unusually active “year of global elections” and how democracy is faring.
But amid all the talk about what is at stake for democracies across the globe, it struck us as worthwhile to step back and share a few words about what democracy is and why it’s so important—especially because authoritarian leaders so often seek to legitimize their regimes by falsely claiming that they are in fact democracies, or at least that they offer a variant form of democratic governance.
Of course, scholars have written entire books about this topic, and there is hearty debate about what should and should not be included. For the purposes of this brief explainer, we’ll try to stick to the basics, emphasizing the key benefits of democracy and why we think it must be defended.
What is democracy?
At the most basic level, democracy means government by the people. Democracies have existed in every part of the world, with unique characteristics in every instance. Each democracy has its own rules and laws to guide it, and no two are the same. What democracies have in common are shared values and commitments to fundamental principles, as well as institutions that protect basic rights.
The core features that bind democratic societies together include:
Free and fair elections, and a commitment to peaceful transfers of power: A hallmark of democracy is the idea that leaders are elected by the people in accordance with the law. Governments facilitate peaceful transfers of power, upholding the people’s choice. Equal access to the vote, open competition among parties and candidates running for office, and adherence to the results of a free and fair election are all essential elements of democracy, because they demonstrate respect for the will of the people and reflect the ideal of a representative government.
The rule of law, an independent judiciary, and due process protections for all: The rule of law is the idea that people are governed primarily by a clear set of laws, enacted by duly elected representatives and applying equally to everyone. Respect for the rule of law and an independent judiciary to uphold it are core features of democracy. Democratic states strive to empower competent and independent judges who will interpret the law consistently. If individual judges or other officials err in their duties, there are appeals processes, civil society organizations, and other independent institutions to help address injustices. The rule of law and the protection of people’s legal rights also require that those accused of crimes be afforded due process—including the presumption of innocence, access to counsel, and the opportunity to present a defense. In an ideal democratic system, no one is above the law, and no one can be excluded from the protection of the law.
The separation of powers, with checks and balances: Democratic societies build the separation of powers into their systems so that one branch of government can check any overreach by another. Some democracies divide power among more governing institutions than others, but they all share an aversion to unfettered concentrations of power that may threaten people’s liberties. Checks on power also come from outside the government, including from independent media and citizen groups that work for transparency and accountability. In authoritarian systems by contrast, power is deliberately centralized, civil society is restricted, and there are few if any safe ways to curb abuses by a repressive regime.
A commitment to, and protections for, free and independent media: Although few government officials enjoy public criticism of their policies, democratic leaders recognize and protect the role that independent media play in a free society. Journalists hold powerful figures in government, business, academia, and elsewhere to account for their performance, and they provide information that people—particularly voters—need to make their own decisions. Leaders and governments that suppress free media often do so to prevent the exposure of their own failures and to engage in corruption, abuses, and power grabs without accountability.
The protection of fundamental human rights: Critically, democracies uphold the principle that all human beings are entitled to fundamental rights, including but not limited to the right to free expression, the right to associate and organize, the right to practice one’s religious faith or nonbelief, and the right to privacy, to name just a few. Citizens in a democracy also have the right to participate in the election and administration of their own government. But no democratic government, however freely elected, has the authority to violate fundamental human rights, to which both citizens and noncitizens are entitled.
Why is defending democracy so important?
Democracy is the only system of government that holds leaders accountable to the people and protects their rights. While not perfect, it is the form of government that best enables people to live freely and with dignity, and that creates the strongest incentives for leaders to serve the people’s interests rather than the reverse. Unlike authoritarian systems, which concentrate power in the hands of a few or a single ruler, democracy prioritizes the dispersal of power, encourages deliberation and compromise, and requires competing interests to resolve their differences without resorting to violence. And in contrast to the secrecy and oppression of dictatorships, democracies promise both transparency and justice.
Another important characteristic of democracies is their ability to self-correct. No democracy is without flaws, and none have lived up entirely to their ideals. Some have seriously violated their basic tenets. However, democratic systems provide institutions and processes that people inside and outside of government can use to challenge and reverse undemocratic behavior. When one part of the system falters, the others can be employed as tools to repair it, and to build more fair and equitable institutions for the future.
Upholding and defending democracy is not easy. It requires daily vigilance by all members of society, as well as the active participation of the governed. Democracy can be damaged or even lost when citizens and leaders fail to uphold its basic principles, are willing to undermine its institutions for personal or partisan gain, or refuse to extend its rights and protections to all people. But our long experience has shown that no matter how far a society may be from the highest ideals of democracy, people’s desire for the freedom it offers cannot be extinguished, and there will always be fresh opportunities for progress and renewal.
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