VALUES OF DEMOCRACY

These words represent basic values of democratic political systems, including that of the United States. Rule by absolute monarchs and emperors has often brought peace and order, but at the cost of personal freedoms. Democratic values support the belief that an orderly society can exist in which freedom is preserved. But order and freedom must be balanced.

Democracy helps to prevent rule by cruel and vicious autocrats.Modern representative democracies do not fight wars with one another. countries with democratic governments tend to be more prosperous than countries with nondemocratic governments. Democracy tends to foster human development—as measured by health, education, personal income, and other indicators—more fully than other forms of government do. Other features of democracy also would be considered desirable by most people, though some would regard them as less important than features 1 through 4 above: Democracy helps people to protect their fundamental interests. Democracy guarantees its citizens fundamental rights that nondemocratic systems do not, and cannot, grant. Democracy ensures its citizens a broader range of personal freedoms than other forms of government do. Finally, there are some features of democracy that some people—the critics of democracy—would not consider desirable at all, though most people, upon reflection, would regard them as at least worthwhile: only democracy provides people with a maximum opportunity to live under laws of their own choosing. only democracy provides people with a maximum opportunity to take moral responsibility for their choices and decisions about government policies. Only in a democracy can there be a relatively high level of political equality.

Democracy is all about being able to make informed choices. For example, if there are three political parties in an election, you make a choice from the individual candidates, and/or from the programmes and positions of the parties they represent.

In order for you to make genuinely informed choices, you need to be able to:

·         engage meaningfully in open dialogue and debate

·         access relevant and objective information so that your views are informed

·         perceive that your participation in the debate and subsequent decision-making has value

·         feel safe

·         make a free decision without suffering or fearing harm to yourself or your family.

Happy Learning!

Anamika Gupta

IAAN