THE 8 MOST IMPORTANT (CURRENT) OBSTACLES TO DEMOCRACY - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the obstacles to democracy can be found the differences between social classes and ethnic groups that lead to the division of beliefs within the same nation, as well as authoritarianism or abuse of power to take place.

Some of the factors that most seriously affect the normal discourse of democracy are illegality and impunity. In this way, many groups on the fringes of the law have the possibility of limiting the decision-making power of the people by threatening, bribing and violating their members with the aim of modifying their political opinion.

Ignorance, linked to the illiteracy of the people, is another of the most important factors that hinder the regular course of democracy.

These factors are strongly linked to poverty and the lack of social development and generally have a place in civil society in developing countries located mainly in Africa and America.

Another factor that can affect the free exercise of democracy and its stability within a territory is religion.

It has generally radical positions and exerts considerable influence on the opinion and political position of the people. In this way, democracy can be displaced by a theocratic power.

Main obstacles to democracy

1- Ethnic differences and conflicts

Differences between ethnic groups (groups of people who share traditions and values ​​based on a common language, religion and territory) can create civil instability.

Some people may believe that an authoritarian and dictatorial government can be better than a democratic one, causing societies to divide opinion and represent an obstacle to democracy.

When there are differences between the ethnic groups of a country, it is easy to see how democracy weakens. This situation is frequently observable in countries like Canada, where culture is segmented between those with a French culture and those with an Anglo-Saxon perspective.

In this way, each cultural group tries to build its own form of democracy and government within the same territory (Trudeau, 1958).

2- Difference between social classes

Syrian children

Some people believe that the social gap between the richest and the poorest individuals represents an obstacle to democracy. In this way, the middle class is necessary to make democracy work.

People with less money are very busy with jobs that allow them to earn enough income to survive.

For this reason, wealthy people may be more likely to choose the type of government that suits them best and not necessarily the one that is best for the majority of the people. This situation is very common in developing countries.

3- Lack of education

Generally, those people who cannot read or do not have a complete school education do not get involved in political issues. In this way, this phenomenon represents an obstacle to democracy mainly in illiterate populations (Quizlet, 2017).

The lack of education is a factor that has allowed many politicians to manipulate the masses with populist campaigns without many guarantees for the people.

In some African countries, politicians use discourses based on the power of ethnic groups in order to influence the free opinion of those less educated. This type of phenomenon is strongly linked to poverty (Reden, 2016).

4- The religious positions

In Ancient Egypt, theocracy was already practiced

Democracy linked to religion is, for many, the main problem facing many countries. The best way to describe this phenomenon is to say that there are theocratic governments (Stepan, 2000).

When people vote based on religious lines and positions, it is very likely that they do not have many options and democratic exercise is limited, since there will not be complete freedom of thought.

Democratic governments must be secular, in this way all individuals of a nation are included in the exercise of the vote regardless of their religious position (Roy, 2022).

5- Criminal organizations

Organized crime functions as a power structure outside of legality. This structure is made up of citizens who can affect the free course of democracy by exerting pressure on the most powerful instances of the people, in order to be favored by politics.

Crime represents an obstacle to democracy since it involves the threat of political candidates, murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and the trafficking of individuals for political purposes.

6- Illegality and injustice

Corruption is a serious problem in many countries around the world

These two phenomena are common obstacles to democracy as they threaten the common welfare by violating the laws or failing to ensure compliance with them.

The essential values ​​linked to democracy are truth, respect, freedom and ethics. Within the margin of illegality and injustice, these values ​​have no place, for this reason the exercise of democracy is violated.

These two phenomena lead to a third that also affects the course of democracy: social repression.

When the law is violated and there is impunity, it is possible that certain groups limit and control the power of the people with the threat of affecting their individual well-being (Gastil, 1993).

7- Economic power

Democracy is threatened by the concentration of economic power in a minority with high economic power.

The growth of large firms, the increase in the presence of transnationals in different territories of the world and the permanent search for control of resources and means of production, hinders the development of democracy.

This is because organizations with a lot of economic power have the possibility of influencing the media and the decision of the people.

On some occasions, these large companies seek the disappearance or control of democracy in order to benefit the production and consumption of the goods and services they offer (Cowling, 1985).

8- Media manipulation

When a minority controls economic power, it is possible for them to control the media, in this way, it tends to influence the information provided by them, affecting the flow of information that reaches the people and potentially influencing their decision-making on political issues..

References

1. Cowling, K. (1985). Economy and Democracy. Obtained from Economic Obstacles to Democracy: link.springer.com.
2. Gastil, J. (1993). Small Group Research. Retrieved from Identifying obstacles to small group democracy: sgr.sagepub.com.
3. (2017). Quizlet Inc. Retrieved from Elements & Obstacles to Democracy: quizlet.com
4. Reden, T. (2016). Fresh Angle News. Obtained from Obstacles to Democracy in Nigeria: freshangleng.com.
5. Roy, S. (May 27, 2022). The Telegraph. Retrieved from Obstacles to democracy: telegraph.co.uk.
6. Stepan, A. (2000). Journal of democracy. Retrieved from Religion, democracy, and the »Twin Tolerations»: muse.jhu.edu.
7. Trudeau, PE (August 1958). Canadial Journal of Economics. Retrieved from Some Obstacles to Democracy in Quebec: cambridge.org.