Democracy is a dynamic process of strong commitment and hard work from both the ruler and the ruled. It is not a far-fetched ideology, nor an abstract concept. It is founded on pragmatism, and its goal is national and global stability and prosperity.
Key elements of democracy are:
1. Liberty/Freedom: freedom of speech; freedom of the press; freedom of association, and assembly (movements, peaceful protests); freedom of beliefs and religious practice; and freedom of (language, cultural and identity) expressions.
2. Equality and the Rule of Law: No citizen is above the law. Government power is limited. The court must be independent from the executive branch. No official may violate legal and constitutional limits.
All citizens are treated equally before the law. There must be no discrimination based on race, class, gender, religious beliefs, sex orientation, etc.
3. Accountability
Horizontal accountability:There must be independent institutions to monitor, check, and control corruption and abuse of power. The three branches of the government (legislature, judiciary, and executive) have limited power, and must be scrutinized by the independent institutions (counter-corruption commission, public-complaint commission, parliamentary investigative committees, supreme audit agency...).
Vertical accountability:The people vote/elect officials through regular, meaningful, free and fair elections, and hold the elected officials accountable to the people. Officials who do not perform well, and who display vulgar and self-seeking behaviors, or who lack interest in public welfare and services must be removed from their positions.
Members in the society must be vigilant, resourceful, and sufficiently mobilized through their NGOs, public interest protection and appeal or advocacy groups.
4.Civilian control of the military and police:
Armed forces, police and intelligence agencies are directed by civilian officials and their appointees. Their budgets must be approved by civilian executive and legislative authorities.
5. Competitiveness and civic pluralism: There must be at least two parties with significant representation in the parliament. Barriers to new political parties should be low. Numerous NGOs, independent institutions, and think tanks represent a broad range of interests and values in society, and help monitor political process.
6. Mass media and the control of sources of information: The public should have access to many sources of information. Mass media must be sufficiently independent and professional. They must represent multiple views, and government ownership and regulation of the mass media must be limited .
7. Participation: Citizens take an active role in politics, and in the making of public policies. Voting rate turn out must be high. Civil society organizations should have high membership rates, and actively get involved in the making of public policies.
8. Government responsiveness and effectiveness: The State has legitimate authority and administrative capacity. It has the right to maintain order, enforce laws, extract and distribute resources for the public well being.The government must respond to citizens' questions and demands.Citizens' interests and preferences must be heard by legislative and executive bodies.
9. Civic culture: Competing groups and parties must be tolerant of opposing views, and willing to compromise. All must respect the Constitution, abide by the law, and know their rights and obligations as citizens. All must respect authority and the results of elections. Citizens must be unwilling to coalition with anti-system actors, condemn acts of violations of constitutional norms.
Source:
Larry Diamond (Stanford University)
The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World
