Philosophy of Society

Political Philosophy (Theory of the State)

Democracy

One of the fundamental principles of state-building is democracy. Every political force seeks to demonstrate its democratic credentials, as democracy is viewed in the modern world as a hallmark of a high-quality political system. Sometimes, the attempt to prove one’s democratic nature borders on the comical: the farther a country is from the ideal of democracy, the more fervently it strives to present itself as democratic. For instance, the term "democratic" has been included in the official titles of nations that have struggled to establish democracy, such as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the German Democratic Republic. Conversely, those countries that have achieved a high standard of political and economic life have done so through democratic principles.

Democracy is a political regime in which the sole legitimate source of power is considered to be the people, who exercise this power either directly or through elected representatives. The term "democracy" is of Greek origin, arising in Ancient Greece, and it translates (δημοκρατία) to "power of the people." In the seventh century BCE, certain Greek city-states renounced the traditional authority of kings and established the power of the populace. The ancient Romans inherited the concept of democracy from the Greeks, abolishing monarchical rule in the early sixth century BCE to establish their own democratic system. However, with the emergence of the Roman Empire, in which the emperor wielded absolute power, democracy receded into the annals of history for many centuries. Its revival occurred during the French Revolution of 1789, when the populace felt empowered to influence political processes and seize authority.

The principle of democracy possesses unique characteristics in each country. Its oldest form is direct democracy, a political regime where citizens can directly influence political processes, as was the case in ancient Athens. Direct democracy is easily implemented in states with small populations. However, as democracy became the political regime of larger modern nations, the implementation of direct democracy became increasingly problematic. For example, if all citizens of Ukraine were to discuss every decision and vote on each legislative proposal in a nationwide referendum, such discussions would extend indefinitely, with the state budget being consumed solely by the costs of referenda. Today, direct democracy exists in a few countries, but there it typically refers to the opportunity for nationwide discussion only on the most significant issues. Most countries have opted for representative democracy, a regime wherein the political power of the people is expressed through their election of representatives, to whom they delegate their rights in governing the country.

Despite nearly all contemporary nations proclaiming themselves democratic, the principles of democracy have not been fully realized everywhere. Most countries remain on the path toward achieving democracy. For a country to be deemed a developed democracy, it must embody the fundamental principles of democracy:

• Elected Authorities: Elected bodies are the primary characteristic of a democratic state. In a democratic country, citizens choose their representatives, entrusting them with the governance of the nation, particularly those representatives who make significant state decisions, such as the head of state, members of parliament, and leaders of local government bodies. For democratic elections to take place, it is essential that not only the act of voting occurs, but that these elections adhere to widely accepted standards: voters must have access to candidates' programs, election results should be free from falsification, electoral commissions must be shielded from political pressure, and each candidate should have an equal opportunity to present their program and campaign for it.
• Honest Elections: Regular elections conducted transparently and free from manipulation or coercion are a defining feature of democracy.
• Accountability of Politicians: Voters choose not for individuals but for programs; hence, politicians to whom citizens have entrusted power must fulfill their promises. If politicians disregard their electoral commitments and the populace fails to react to such neglect, it becomes difficult to classify that country as democratic.
• Citizens’ Responsibility: Those in power must be accountable for the state. If a monarch holds power, then they are responsible for the country. If the people are the bearers of power and make final management decisions, they must accept responsibility for those decisions. If governing institutions cannot manage effectively, it indicates that not only is the government incompetent, but the people also chose poorly. The responsibility of the populace extends beyond mere elections; citizens must continuously oversee the authorities.
• Informed Choice and Oversight: Citizens can make informed choices and monitor governing institutions only when they possess the necessary competencies. Those lacking even a basic understanding of history, economics, politics, law, and so forth will struggle to analyze political candidates’ promises, assess proposed development programs independently, or oversee governmental institutions. The most troubling aspect is that an uninformed populace is almost invariably doomed to become a target of manipulation by unscrupulous politicians. Thus, public education is a crucial prerequisite for democracy. An uneducated populace devolves into a mob, rendering it ineffective in influencing the life and progress of its nation.
• Respect for Authority: Respect for elected officials is a vital indicator of a developed democracy. If the populace has chosen a government, they must respect it, thereby expressing their accountability for their choice. Conversely, if the people elect a government but fail to respect it, it suggests that they are incapable of making responsible decisions, and a government chosen by a careless mob is often incompetent and ineffective. Officials, too, must approach their entrusted functions with respect, as the people have entrusted them with their most precious asset—their homeland. A government that disregards the values of the state cannot effectively govern.

From these principles of democracy arise its principal challenges. The first of these is the low competency of the populace. It is impossible to be well-versed in everything—politics, law, economics, religion, culture, history, international relations, personnel planning, etc. As not all citizens can be experts in every domain, they opt to elect specialists to manage these spheres on their behalf. However, in order to choose qualified specialists, citizens must assess their expertise, which requires a degree of understanding in these matters. This illustrates the paradox of democracy: the populace elects specialists because they are not specialists themselves, yet to choose professionals, they must themselves possess a measure of expertise. The only solution to this dilemma lies in the continuous effort of society to elevate the general level of education.

The second challenge confronting democracy is the definition of citizenship. If the bearers of power in a democracy are the people, namely the citizens of the state, it is vital for the state to clearly delineate who belongs to this populace. There has never been, nor is there currently, a nation in which all inhabitants possess equal civil rights. In ancient Athens, those who could influence state decisions were exclusively free adult males. Slaves, who outnumbered the free citizens, as well as women, children, and individuals whose parents were not citizens of Athens, were excluded from citizenship. Consequently, very few individuals enjoyed civil rights. The entire history of politics is characterized by the continual expansion of the concept of the people, signifying the gradual extension of civil rights to those who previously lacked them. As economic circumstances evolved and political struggles ensued, the number of individuals granted civil rights steadily increased. This included the disenfranchised, as property qualifications were abolished, women, as gender restrictions were lifted, and representatives of racial groups not belonging to the indigenous population. The procedure for acquiring citizenship was also modified. In most ancient and medieval societies, citizenship could only be inherited from citizen parents. Neither immigrants nor their descendants could attain citizenship unless exceptions were made for extraordinary merits, such as military valor. Today, many countries have enacted laws simplifying the process of acquiring citizenship. Nevertheless, even today, there exists no country where all inhabitants possess civil rights; for example, minors and individuals with mental illnesses are typically disenfranchised.

The greatest advantage of democracy lies in its stability. Democratic nations tend to exhibit significantly greater political and economic stability than those that have not developed democratic systems. For instance, the resignation of the British Prime Minister or the election of a new American President does not fundamentally alter the political landscape of these countries. Conversely, in nations devoid of democracy, the death or overthrow of a dictator frequently precipitates civil wars, political instability, and poverty.

Democracy is intrinsically linked to freedom. In a democratic state, the bearer of power must be a free citizen. If an individual cannot make decisions freely for any reason, they cannot be regarded as a responsible citizen. The freedom of citizens is a broad concept that encompasses several dimensions. The first element of freedom is a corresponding mindset. A person raised with a slave mentality will not begin to think freely, even when external freedom is granted. For example, in countries that were formerly totalitarian, establishing democracy is exceedingly challenging, even after the totalitarian regime has been dismantled. This is a challenge Ukraine has faced: for decades, Ukrainians were educated under Soviet totalitarianism, and when Ukraine attained freedom, its citizens found themselves unprepared for free and responsible political decisions. An essential component of freedom is its economic aspect. If an individual depends on others for their primary means of survival, they cannot make free and responsible decisions. This is precisely why the development of democracy hinges on the formation of a robust middle class, comprising a broad segment of people whose economic status will not compel them to sell their votes in elections.