Unit 9: The Politics of a Democracy

Unit 9: The Politics of a Democracy

Democracy has directly originated from the French democratic, but its real origin is Greek. In Greek there are two words—demos and kratos. The former means people while the latter rule and what we mean by democracy in English is rule of the people.

David Held, a renowned authority on the concept, defines the term as “Democracy means a form of government in which, in contradistinction monarchies and aristocracies, the people rule. Democracy entails a political community in which there is some form of political equality among the people”. Precisely stated, democracy is the rule by the people. Of all the definitions of democracy perhaps the best and most popular definition is the following: It is called “the government of the people, by the people and for the people”.

The former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is the author of this definition. Lincoln uttered this definition in his Gettysburg Address delivered in 1864. The sixties of the nineteenth century witnessed the height of the American Civil War between the Northern and Southern states. Even today Lincoln’s definition is treated by many as a classical one and any discussion of democracy cannot skip this.

Explanation of the Definition:

1. We have stated only two definitions because all the definitions sketch the same thing so it is not necessary.
2. Democracy is a form of government in which people’s participation is of primary importance.
3. People may participate either directly or indirectly.
4. It is a form of government in which people have equal opportunity and this type of government is based on individual merit and no place of hereditary privilege is to be found in democracy.
5. Distribution of opportunities is adopted for reduction or removal of inequalities.
6. Democracy recognises that all the sections of the community will receive their due shares.
7. Interests of the minorities will be duly protected and state makes arrangements for that.
8. All the public offices and opportunities are opened to everyone and to fill the posts public examinations are held. There is also open competition on in which every eligible citizen has the right to participate.
9. It is a system of government which does not make any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion, sex, birth etc.

This unit emphasizes the relationship between the American political system and the American way of life (social, economic, and religious ideals).

Unit Focus

• Two major political parties and their traditional values and beliefs
• Description of a political platform
• Impact of third parties in American politics
• Description of the election process
• Definition of electoral college