Definition Of Democracy Essay

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

Democracy is one of the most popular concepts that have been used in the world when it comes to governance, though it is still a contested notion, not just as word but also how people attach meaning to it in different contexts. Some group of researchers have alluded to the fact that democracy is not just about managing governments, but more crucially, democracy is a way of life. It is from this concept that I start my examination of not just what democracy is, but its precise approach and meaning to the Africa context and for there purpose of this research the Ghanaian experience will be adopted. If indeed democracy is a way of life, we must place emphasis on the different societies, traditions and cultures that shape us as a whole. Out of necessity therefore, Africa’s history, culture and beliefs should shape its way of life.

2.1 Democracy

There has not been one established universally accepted definition of democracy, however equality and freedom have both been identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times, thus citizens being equal before the law and having equal access to legislative process. Democracy is therefore defined as “a political system that enables people to freely choose an

The failure of a large number of African economies in the first three decades of their independence showed that the economy is also doomed to failure if such internal and external mismanagement of the economy is not brought to an end and reformed.With the present state of economic condition of African countries, the abject poverty, illiteracy, deprivation and hunger, one cannot but wonder how democracy and economic prosperity can be built and consolidated if the larger percentage of masses are left in the present