What is democracy?Around this definition revolves modern politics and international relations.Numerous opposition parties routinely accuse each other of lack of democracy.World states with other management principles are marginalized.The climax of all this triumph of democracy in the late XX century was the concept of well-known American political philosopher Francis Fukuyama about the end of time.According to the influential thinkers of our time, after the collapse of the advanced countries of the socialist camp and departure from orthodox Maoist China's position has become evident that liberal values (namely, they are usually identified with democracy) is the highest point of human civilization.Democracy in Modern Russia, which replaced the old command-administrative system, is, in his opinion, the best proof of that.Alternative legal capacity it could not offer any monarchist or fascist regimes, much less attempt to Eastern religious leaders in the establishment of Islamic rule.
What is democracy.Origins
birth of this phenomenon is attributed to the political structure of the Greek city-policies, governments were elected by secret ballot among the citizens of this city.The authorities (for example, the Areopagus, boule, tips Archons and others) are often elected for a limited period capable of the recognized members of the community.It was in ancient Greece and interesting procedures designed to prevent the usurpation of power.When someone from the wealthy citizens or just high-ranking officials was becoming too powerful and threatening the democratic principles of government, the procedure was carried out so-called stigma - "cherepkovaniya" when by secret ballot using shards of a potential tyrant could cast out of the city for ten years.With the decline of the ancient Greek civilization, many Latins taken up its achievements, create a powerful Roman state.They developed the concept of democracy.It was there that was born close to the modern concept of citizenship, as well as in the period of the republic, the separation of powers.And, of course, the election.
What is democracy.New time
With the fall of Rome and the approval of the barbarian peoples in Europe many achievements, including of a political nature, have been lost for thousands of years.The cult of the military forces of the oldest and among the barbarians governor was replaced by hereditary privilege of royal dynasties and noble families who were descended from one of the military elite.Again humanity recalled that a democracy only since the Renaissance and thinkers of modern times by Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and many others.One of the key moments in the development of the modern world was the great French Revolution of 1789 when the first was driven previously untouchable in any country of the king, and the people proclaimed himself the supreme power resides.Of course, no one began to live happily ever right after that.Progress still had to deal with reaction around the world, but the following century, the nineteenth and twentieth, was a time of constant allegations of human and civil rights and freedoms.
Democracy: the pros and cons
principle of the rule of law and the inviolability of the human person finally confirmed in the contemporary political and social thought.However, apart from the enormous achievements, democracy still has many critics, rightly highlights a number of its shortcomings.The main drawback of this device follows already from the advantages.The universal right to choose the government, of course, is in theory a guarantee that people can choose their own path of development.However, it should be recognized that not all of the country's population still in its education and awareness on a political movements in general, the economic situation in the country, international relations and so on.In such a situation, it may mean a wrong choice from a large number of citizens.
