Liberal Democracy: Definition, Essence, Characteristics, Disadvantages

Literally, "democracy" is translated as "the power of the people". However, people, or "demos", even in ancient Greece called only free and wealthy citizens - men. There were about 90 thousand people in Athens, at the same time about 45 thousand of them were incomplete (women and poor people), as well as more than 350 (!) Thousands of slaves in the same city. Initially, liberal democracy carries a sufficient number of contradictions.

Background

In the prehistoric times our ancestors solved all important issues together. However, this situation remained relatively short-lived. Over time, some families managed to accumulate material wealth, others - no. Property inequality has been known since the beginning of the centuries.

Liberal democracy in an approximation to modern understanding first arose in Athens, the capital of ancient Greece. This event dates back to the 4th century BC.

Athens, like many settlements of that time, was a city-state. A free citizen could be only a man with a certain amount of property. The community of these men solved all the important issues for the city in the people's assembly, which was the supreme authority. All other citizens were obliged to fulfill these decisions, their opinion was not taken into account.

Today, democracy is well developed in Canada and the Scandinavian countries. So, in Scandinavia, education and health care for the people are free, and the standard of living for all is roughly the same. In these countries there is a system of counterbalances, which allows to avoid cardinal differences.

Parliament is elected on the principle of equality: the more people in a given locality, the more representatives it has.

Definition of concept

Liberal democracy in our day is a form of social order that theoretically limits the power of the majority in the interests of individual citizens or minorities. Those people who belong to the majority must be elected by the people, but absolute power is not available to them. Citizens of the country have the opportunity to create various associations expressing their demands. The representative of the association can be elected to the government.

Democracy implies the consent of the majority of the people to what the elected representatives offer it. People's deputies periodically go through the election procedure. They are personally responsible for their activities. Freedom of assembly and speech must be respected.

Such is the theory, but practice differs greatly from it.

Prerequisites for the existence of democracy

Liberal democracy implies the fulfillment of such requirements:

• Power is divided into equal branches - legislative, judicial and executive, each of which performs its functions independently.
• The government's power is limited, all the pressing issues of the country are solved with the participation of the people. The form of interaction can be a referendum or other events.
• The power allows to voice and stipulate disagreements, if necessary, a compromise decision is made.
• Information about the management of society is available to all citizens.
• Society in the country is monolithic, there are no signs of a split.
• Society is economically successful, the amount of social product is increasing.

The essence of liberal democracy

Liberal democracy is the balance between the elite of society and its other citizens. Ideally, a democratic society protects and supports each of its members. Democracy is the opposite of authoritarianism, when everyone can rely on freedom, justice and equality.

In order for democracy to be real, it is necessary to observe such principles:

• People's sovereignty. This means that the people at any time in case of disagreement with the government can change the form of government or the constitution.
• The suffrage can only be equal and secret. Everyone has one voice, and this voice is equal to the rest.
• Everyone is free in his convictions, protected from arbitrariness, hunger and poverty.
• A citizen is entitled not only to the work he has chosen and paid for, but also the fair distribution of the social product.

Disadvantages of liberal democracy

They are obvious: the power of the majority is concentrated in the hands of several people. It is difficult - almost impossible - to exercise control over them, and they make decisions independently. Therefore, in practice, the gap between the expectations of the people and the actions of the government is enormous.

Liberal antagonist is direct democracy, in which every person can influence the overall solution without an intermediate link.

The characteristic of liberal democracy is that elected representatives are gradually distancing themselves from the people, and in due course completely pass under the influence of groups that control financial flows in society.

Tools of democracy

Other names of liberal democracy are constitutional or bourgeois. Such names are associated with the historical processes by which liberal democracy developed. This definition implies that the main normative document of the society is the constitution, or the basic law.

The main tool of democracy is elections, in which (ideally) every adult person who has no problems with the law can take part.

Citizens can take part in a referendum, rally, or turn to independent mass media to express their opinion.

In practice, only those citizens who are able to pay for their services can access the media. Therefore, financial groups or some very wealthy citizens have a real chance to declare themselves. However, along with the party of power there is always an opposition that can win elections in case of government failures.

The theoretical nature of liberal democracy is magnificent, but its practical use is limited by financial or political possibilities. Also, there is often a demonstrative democracy, when behind the right words and vivid appeals are hidden quite specific interests that do not take into account the demands of the population.