Democracy is the best form of goverment for all the world inhabitants - Essay Example

Pallavi Bichali Academia Research 3 April 2009 “Democracy is the best form of government for all the world inhabitants.” Democracy, as a form of government, is desired by almost all countries in the world. Though, the name is one, it is exercised in various different forms according to the needs of the nation and its people, communities and organizations, workers’ cooperatives, and various other factors. Whatever be the form of democracy that is adopted, the common feature is the need to make decision on certain matters that affect all members, and desire to make these decisions in such a way that every member has an opportunity to participate in the decision making (Catt, H; 4).

In the previous centuries, democracy was not the most opted form of government; however, it became the most favorable forms of government from the twentieth century onwards.Democracy is said to have gained momentum in the American and French Revolutions during which ideas of individual rights, autonomy, and equality formed the central theme of democracy.Researchers have noted that forms of government have been undergoing changes since the beginning of civilization, and that almost every form of government has been tried in almost every country.. Democracy provides ample time for the people to choose their leaders, and the leaders stand accountable for the growth and prosperity of the nation.

The national government is bestowed with many powers and the powers of each state ultimately link to the national government in some form or the other. Democratic principles are formed which contain a body of tested and recognized laws for organizing and conducting human governments, under which the people constitute controlling power, and act by the elected leaders or agents. These laws are meant to safeguard peoples’ liberty, character, property, and pushing them towards prosperity when they are not involved in any form of criminal activity.

These principles can be widely found in the American and European democracies. They have been modified and adopted by many other countries all over the world (Gillet H, R; 1-4). Over a period of time, democratic form has been proved as the best form, though not free from defects. The democratic form of government has more fragmentation, less control, and the risked exclusion. Thus, increasing complexity due to globalization of economy and society has contracted both the reach and degree of control (Kjaer M, A; 201).

Another fact that cannot be overlooked is that democracy, theoretically, gives rise to virtuous principles and people. However, in practice, democracy actually nurtures all kinds of people like lovers of honor, property and even tyranny. Interests of people cannot be influenced much by democracy, though they get aligned to a common goal (Frank H, D, 182; Mansbridge, J. 3). Economic growth and literacy have been found to be very weak in the reign of democracy in many countries such as Latin America (Bowman, K; 66).

Another area where democracy has least effect is in controlling the impossibly high expectations from democracy, which creates political cynicism and pessimism. Also, the time taken to formulate plans in democratic form of government is too long and the feel walked upon by the rule of majority parties. And, in countries with large population and high illiteracy, like in India, democracy kind of loses its actual meaning because most of the people are unaware of the benefits it brings to them. In such situations, we find leaders taken undue advantage of democratic form.

Thus, in conclusion, it can be said that democratic form of government is, indeed, the best form of government for all the world inhabitants. The limitations democracy brings with it do not seem to be impossible to tackle; hence, it is the duty of each and every citizen of the nation to take complete advantage of democratic form of government. A certain percentage of this duty rests with the government also, and should ensure democracy retains its original meaning and purpose, as elaborated by Abraham Lincoln, for the people, by the people and of the people.

Works citedBowman, Kirk S. Part II. Bullets versus Ballots. In Militarization, Democracy, and Development: The Perils of Praetorianism in Latin America. Published by Penn State Press, 2002http://books.google.co.in/books?id=OPdemXAcJ-cC&pg=PA65&dq=impact+of+democracy+on+economic+growth#PPA66,M1Catt, Helena. Ch.1. What do we mean by democracy? In Democracy in practice. Published by Routledge, 1999http://books.google.co.in/books?id=nUrlK0aYe5gC&pg=PA1&dq=Original+definition+of+democracy+of+the+people+by+the+people+and+for+the+people#PPA4,M1Gillet Hooker, Ransom.

Democracy in the United States: What it Has Done, what it is Doing, and what it Will Do. Published by D. Appleton and Company, 1868. Original from the University of Michigan. Digitized 24 May 2006http://books.google.co.in/books?id=hzNuxN7oOJ0C&pg=PA1&dq=democracy+best+form+of+government&lr=#PPA2,M1Frank H, Daniel. Part II. The Attitude toward democracy in medieval Jewish philosophy. In Commandment and community: new essays in Jewish legal and political philosophy. Published by SUNY Press, 1995.

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Ytr-mhPD5R0C&pg=PA182&dq=negative+implications+of+democracy&lr=Kjaer Mette, Anne. Ch. 8. Conclusion. In Governance. Published by Wiley-Blackwell, 2004http://books.google.co.in/books?id=AY5SIsf1nI4C&pg=PA201&dq=negative+implications+of+democracy&lr=#PPA201,M1Mansbridge, Jane J. Ch.1. Introduction. In.Beyond adversary democracy. Published by University of Chicago Press, 1983.http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KRKeBXSmKMMC&pg=PA3&dq=interests+of+people+in+democracy&lr=