DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT: DEFINITION, CHARACTERISTICS AND TYPES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

A democratic government is one that is composed of a form of state organization and social coexistence based on equality and freedom of all the inhabitants of a given territory.

This type of company establishes its social relations based on contractual agreements, the custody of which is the responsibility of the entire company. As its etymology says; democracy is the government (demos, in ancient Greek) of the people (krátos) and power corresponds to the whole of citizenship.

The ways of popular participation in democracy can be in two ways: direct, as was the case in ancient Greek assemblies; or indirect, in which citizens confer legitimacy on their representatives, mostly through suffrage.

The bases of democracy or its principles are similar to some systems of government such as the republic, although there are differences between the two.

Characteristics of democratic governments

The main characteristics of democratic governments are associated with the idea of ​​equality, freedom, participation, sovereignty, justice and inclusion.

In a democratic society, all citizens are equal and enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities, so no type of exclusion or possible discrimination is contemplated.

Likewise, the authorities are freely elected by all the inhabitants, with an equitable mechanism and for a determined period of time, in which they are granted no type of particular benefit but only the governing responsibility.

For their part, all citizens in a democratic society have the right to express their opinions without any kind of restriction, freely and must be respected.

Without freedom of expression, there could be no talk of democracy or government of the people. To himself all the inhabitants can decide which topics are important to the group.

This way of participation was designed to be able to reach and understand all the problems that people may suffer in their lives and to contain the inconveniences of social coexistence.

Another of the characteristics of democratic governments is the respect and defense of social plurality, through its three powers: executive, legislative and judicial, all legitimized by the people.

In this line, the executive branch is responsible for the general actions of the State, the legislative branch for the preparation, approval and supervision of laws, and the judicial branch controls, judges and sanctions the compliance with the laws.

Finally, a democratic government must ensure the inclusion of all inhabitants and guarantee equal opportunities and benefits for all of them, without exception.

If you are interested in knowing more about the characteristics of this form of government, you can consult the following link.

History of democracy and governments

Its origins are believed to date back to around 500 BC. C. in Ancient Greece although there is no exact record of the first form of democratic social organization in the history of mankind

The first experiments in this way of governing society were made in small civilizations. However, as a curiosity, these did not include all citizens, but there were still benefited strata.

Slowly, with the extension of freedom and equality for all inhabitants, the model spread across the globe until it reached the entire world.

It was during the Middle Ages, around the year 900, that this way of organization had its peak in the main commercial cities of Europe. While in America 800 more years passed before a form of government of the people began to take place.

Currently there are believed to be 167 democratic countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are members of the United Nations. In contrast, there are still 38 nations that have imposed governments.

Despite being the system of social organization of the favorite state of humanity, only 26 cases enjoy full democracy, 51 have an imperfect democratic situation, 37 have a hybrid democratic trial and in 51 there are authoritarian regimes.

On the other hand, authoritarian governments occur in a smaller number of nations, mostly spread over the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Arab countries. In many cases these are countries that are not recognized by the United Nations Organization.

Types of democracy

There are currently four possible types of democracy in the modern world, which were accentuated from the second half of the 20th century with the end of the Second World War.

Indirect democracy

One of these forms is indirect or representative democracy, which is one in which the people themselves establish the limits to their representatives. Here citizens have a duty to deliberate and decide the best conditions for all.

Semi-direct democracy

Another type is semi-direct or participatory democracy, in which citizens exercise their power of expression in certain circumstances through various mechanisms, which are: plebiscite, referendum, initiative and popular dismissal. All are exercised by the whole of society under equal conditions.

Direct democracy

Another form is direct democracy characterized by the purest application of this organizational system and which is only put into practice in a few countries in the world. It stands out because all decisions are made sovereignly by the people as a whole.

These forms of participation are carried out through popular assemblies, in which there are no representatives but only carriers of the voice of a specific group. This idea of ​​democracy is more modern than that of the origins of the system.

Liquid democracy

Finally, liquid democracy is one in which citizens have the possibility to vote on all legislative decisions. Those who do not want to participate can give up their decision. This form of organization also has application in very few societies today.

References

1. Liberalism and democracy, Norberto Bobbio, Fondo de Cultura Económica. Mexico, 1985.
2. On democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville, 1840.
3. The social contract Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762.
4. On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, 1859.