What is Democracy?
Democracy is a system of government in which the power to govern is vested in the hands of the people. It is a form of government where the citizens have the right to participate in decision-making processes, either directly or through elected representatives.
Features of Democracy
- Free and Fair Elections
- Rule of Law
- Political Pluralism
- Respect for Human Rights
Types of Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Representative Democracy
- Parliamentary Democracy
- Presidential Democracy
Examples of Democracy
Several countries around the world practice democracy, with varying degrees of success. The United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Canada are some of the prominent democratic nations.
Case Study: United States
In the United States, democracy is enshrined in the Constitution, which guarantees the rights and freedoms of its citizens. The country holds regular elections at the federal, state, and local levels, allowing people to choose their representatives.
Statistics on Democracy
According to the Democracy Index 2019, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden are the top-ranked countries in terms of democracy. The index measures the state of democracy in 167 countries based on electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
