This section has been prepared as an example of a civic education standard message document
that could be made available to educators and to those preparing materials. It is a general
introduction to democracy and can be supplemented by readings from the bibliography (see Voter Education Bibliography).
Democracy is an exciting concept, and the increase in the number of states ascribing to democratic practice has signaled a different life for many who now live free from political oppression or authoritarian rule. For many, especially those in newer democracies, it is a complex term and coming to grips with its practical meaning takes a long time. A lot of information exists about democracy, and the duty of educators is to make clear the value of democracy to the individual--to themselves, their families, and their communities.
It is particularly the case that in civic education, the manner in which it is taught influences the understanding people have of the concept of democracy. It needs to be done in a democratic way, valuing interaction, participation and individual contributions to debate and discovery of meaning.
There is some basic information that provides a good foundation for developing an understanding and appreciation of democracy.
Defining Democracy
There is no clear-cut, universal definition of democracy. Most definitions of democracy focus on qualities, procedures and institutions. There are many types of democracies and their varied practices produce similarly varied effects. The learner's own understanding, experience and beliefs, and the history that their particular country has passed through, should be incorporated to create a definition that is meaningful and practical for their everyday life.
Democracy does not consist of a single, unique set of institutions that are universally applicable. The specific form that democracy takes in a country is largely determined by prevailing political, social, and economic circumstances and it is greatly influenced by historical, traditional, and cultural factors.
Most readings in democracy begin with identifying where the word came from and where the first, recorded and formalised practice of democracy started. They also provide definitions of democracy that have been used over time. Following are a number of definitions, from very simple to more complex. These definitions could be used to inform the definitions that learners have themselves formulated in discussion.
'Democracy comes from the Greek words demos meaning 'people' and kratos meaning 'authority' or 'power'.' 37
'...government which is conducted with the freely given consent of the people.'38
'...a system of government in which supreme authority lies with the people.'39
'Rule by the people in a country directly or by representation.'40
'The form of government in which political control is exercised by all the people, either directly or through their elected representatives.'41
'The word 'democracy' itself means 'rule by the people.' A democracy is a system where people can change their rulers in a peaceful manner and the government is given the right to rule because the people say it may.'42
Democracy's Beginnings
The word democracy was coined by the ancient Greeks who established a direct form of government in Athens. All adult males would gather to discuss issues and they would vote by a show of hands. Slaves and women did not have the right to vote. This mode of government is time-consuming and it is impossible for large populations to meet every time a decision has to be made.
Therefore, the step from direct democracy (in which people vote directly on issues) to representative democracy (in which the people vote for representatives or politicians who make decisions on their behalf) was inevitable as larger and more diverse societies established democracies.43 Today there are forms of direct democracy such as referenda,
petitions, plebiscites, and propositions, but these appear most often in the older and more technologically resourced democracies.
Democracy Today
Democracy exists to provide a way for people to live and be together in a way that is beneficial to all. Although many of today's democracies may not have existed before the Second World War, there are precedents in most traditional societies for a form of governance where the ideals in which most people believed guide rulers and communities in the way decisions and rules were made, and in the way members of the society were treated and lived together.
It has been claimed that democracy is a concept alien to Africa, a claim that rests
on the confusion between the principles of democracy and their institutional manifestations.
The principles of democracy include widespread participation, consent of the governed, and
public accountability of those in power--principles that permeated traditional African political
systems.44
The political transition to a democratic state as well as the restructuring needed such as voting and elections, the constitution, and an independent judiciary may be overwhelming for new citizens. For this reason, focusing on people's own experience will be a useful means to getting people to have a practical and common understanding of democracy.
Educators who teach citizens about democracy should encourage people to express their views on the values that already exist in the way people interact with each other in communities in their everyday lives. From this collection of values the educator will be able to come up with a 'custom-made' set of aspirations for and values underpinning democracy. This will form a usable basis from which to explore the form of governance that exists in their country and the extent to which it can be defined as democratic.
Representative Democracy
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority
of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections that shall be held by
universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or the equivalent free voting
procedures.
Voting is one of the mechanisms that guides a democratic state and keeps its leaders on track, and it serves to let the leadership know how they have performed. During elections, citizens vote for the candidate of their choice. The elected candidates or representatives become the government of the country. Elected leaders represent 'the people' and govern for a set period of office. Representatives are chosen through elections based on the constituency or proportional representation systems, or on a combination of the two (see How votes become seats).
Civic educators in a particular country would decide to emphasise and illustrate in more depth the type of representative democracy that has been chosen. In addition, they will want to explain it and also explain the differences between possible systems, their benefits and costs.
Constitutional Democracies
Most, but not all, democracies are based on a written constitution or a supreme law that serves to guide legislators and the laws they make. Written constitutions serve as a guarantee to citizens that the government is required to act in a certain way and uphold certain rights.
The strength of a real democracy depends on certain fundamental rights and freedoms. These rights and freedoms must be protected to make sure that a democracy will succeed. In many countries these rights are found in and protected by a constitution. The constitution also sets out the structures and functions of the government. It provides the guidelines for the making of other laws. It is normally protected from amendment by the whim of a particular government by having a special majority required before any clause can be changed or through submitting any changes to voters through a referendum.
Minimum Requirements for a Country to be Defined as a Democracy
With an upsurge in the number of democracies holding free and fair elections and declaring themselves democratic states, a set of minimum requirements has been developed by some theorists. Elections on their own do not make a country democratic. The following list of minimum requirements has been extracted by a study of democracies and by reading various theories of democracy. It provides both a good overview of what democracy means and a standard against which to test whether or not a country is democratic.
- control over government decisions about policy constitutionally vested in elected
representatives
- elected representatives chosen in frequent and fair elections
- elected representatives exercise their constitutional powers without facing overriding
opposition from unelected officials
- all adults have the right to vote in elections
- all adults have the right to run for public office
- citizens have the right to express themselves on political matters, defined broadly, without
the risk of state punishment
- citizens have the right to seek out alternative sources of information, such as the news
media, and such sources are protected by law
- citizens have the right to form independent associations and organisations, including
independent political parties and interest groups
- government is autonomous and able to act independently from outside constraints (such as
those imposed by alliances and blocs)
If any of these conditions is not present, experts argue that the country is not truly a democracy.
Criticism of Government
Educating citizens about the democracy in which they live means that educators will provide them with some of the tools to analyse their circumstances. In some instances this may provoke a strong critique of the government, the powers it has, the way it functions, and whether or not it appears to be fulfilling promises made at election time. Educators will want to prepare
themselves for dealing with this critique in a constructive manner so that learners also learn how to deal with their criticisms in a democratic and peaceful way.
Democracy is About Doing
Democracy is about doing and educators should impress upon citizens the need to be proactive. Citizens should realise that to expect perfect democracy is not realistic. Based on their experience and a reflection of the minimum requirements of a democracy, citizens could be asked to identify threats to their democracy as they perceive them. Having generated this
information, citizens should be asked to think of the challenges these threats present and how they, at community level can deal with them. It is important to give citizens the opportunity to reflect on their personal tasks as agents of change with the goal of continually improving their democracy.
