ipl-logo

Democracy In The 20th Century

1272 Words6 Pages

The 20th century is marked with a lot of transformation in the political, social and economic structure of the world that no one would have thought as 1800 drew to a close. The capacity for imagination was stretched so as to accommodate the ideas of a space flight, computers, nuclear energy and world wars. Aside from the immense advancement in science and technology, one of the defining ideas of the century, specifically in the political aspect, is the idea of democracy. It has become so widespread that during the 1970s and 1980s, more than 30 countries shifted from authoritarian to democratic political systems (The Economist 15). According to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s measure of democracy, [almost] one-half of the world’s population …show more content…

Awareness of the term “democracy” and a willingness to express a definition are initial indications of the depth of contemporary democratic understanding (Dalton, Shin, and Jou 146). The idea of choice within the context of a democratic society seems to be the deciding factor that even if individuals might not understand the institutional procedures of democracy, their desire for freedom and liberty may generate support for it. (Dalton, Shin, and Jou 144). It is, perhaps, a testament to the positive attraction of democracy that citizens in even the most unlikely national circumstances [third world countries] understand democracy by its political benefits (Dalton, Shin, and Jou 147). Support then for democracy [and what it implies] is more than a hollow expression on behalf of an unknown concept, because citizens of most developing nations are capable of imputing meaning to democracy in their own words (Dalton, Shin, and Jou 151).
Going back to the question of the essence of democracy and why it retains a strong universal appeal that despite setbacks and overall stagnation, surveys [still] show that most people in most places still want it (The Economist 16). What is at the core of this political idea that makes it appealing to people of different race and social

Show More
Related

  • Chapter Summary: The American Democracy Now

    764 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American Democracy Now textbook explains about the different 9 chapters, such as The Constitution, Federalism, Civil Liberties, Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Political, and etc. Within each of the 9 chapters it describes a brief history of America and how it help mold and shaped the way we live, and the way we think from a different perspective of a person opinion. Throughout the years, technology has influenced different ways people and government communicates and organizes their political campaigns such as television, computers, cell phones, and news services. Technology has challenged people to give them opportunities to respond to make a deep impact in the future of the nation.

    Read More

  • Athenian Democracy Vs Representative Democracy Dbq Essay

    1285 Words  | 6 Pages

    Democracy is a system of government based on the idea that a region’s management is controlled by the people or by elected representatives. Democracies can be direct or representative. In a direct democracy, citizens are directly chosen to fulfill tasks such as executing the laws by becoming a part of the political party. In contrast, representative democracy elects officials or administration in the political organization to stand for citizens and exemplify the change that the people want to society. Democracies should also establish a sense of liberty to everyone and many states believed to have accomplished that goal.

    Read More

  • Democratic Ideals In The 1800s

    389 Words  | 2 Pages

    In period 4, the national culture of the United States changed, and started to develop a modern democracy through new democratic ideals and changing their society to fit those ideals. There were many democratic ideals such as voting, the pursuit of happiness and justice and the colonies helped shape their society in many ways. One of the first democratic Ideal was voting. In the early 1800s, many politicians and government leader supported slavery, and they made voting rights to only men why were legally free.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Democracy In Colonial America

    278 Words  | 2 Pages

    While Democracy was being practiced in Colonial America, it has had its dark side as well. Almost to balance out the good in what is happening, everything needs a balance in life. So, what makes the Democracy in Colonial America have undemocratic features are the voting and the treatment of African Americans and Women in the colonies. The voting which happened in America, "which is stated in document 2, shows us that only Christian white males were the only ones who could vote. " This is not a democracy, if only a certain group could vote and they leave out the women, African Americans, and other ethnic groups out.

    Read More

  • The United States Is No Longer Following A Democracy Essay

    836 Words  | 4 Pages

    The United States is no Longer Following a Democracy A democracy is a form of government in which the people decide important matters and problems. Is the United States following this definition of democracy? The answer is no.

    Read More

  • Overview Of The Gilded Age

    283 Words  | 2 Pages

    social control due to banking and government regulation of investment. T.H Marshall, social democrat, shifted attention from liberal like property rights and civil liberties to political rights such as democracy rising or new social and economic rights to the interest of an independent market. Social democrats conquered the balancing of government and the market however it was accepted in the post-war era by capital and the dramatic experiences of the Great Depression. However today’s context is much greater than that, in fact it involves a weaken labor movement, a hyper mobile, and globalization within corporations creating and reassembling within bending governments to their own will.

    Read More

  • Democracy In America Summary

    1448 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1831 French sociologist and political theorist Alexis De Tocqueville and a lawyer he befriended named Gustave de Beaumont, spent nine months traveling around America studying its prisons and came back with a full report on the cultural, political and psychological life in America. While Beaumont wrote about the penitentiary system, Tocqueville focused more in the cultural and political life in America. He wrote two essays and published them in a book called Democracy in America. He discussed the possible threats to democracy and the possible dangers of democracy. He believed that religion and equality were the greatest ideas and they were the most advanced in the United States and that's why democracy worked so well in America.

    Read More

  • Essay On Australian Democracy

    1267 Words  | 6 Pages

    The term democracy is a contested concept with many classifications. A government made up of the people for the people is the easiest definition to focus on. A democracy needs have these key elements of a political system for choosing the

    Read More

  • Democracy In The Great Gatsby

    1408 Words  | 6 Pages

    Scholars from all over the Western world have analyzed and discussed the impact of democracy has had for the citizens of the United States, for over 200 years. Each new period throughout American history, has brought a new concept of being an individual in a democratic society. One flaw scholars from the late nineteenth century saw with democracy was that the majority ruled and if an individual part of the minority their voices were not heard, even if the minority was just and the majority unjust. Thus the democracy most Americans are proud to have is primarily individualistic and can be deemed corrupt because of the focus of majority rule, which might not be the wisest decision. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French writer who wrote several essays on his visit to the United States.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Chapter 1 Outline The Study Of American Government

    971 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is democracy? a) 2 definitions i) Like Aristotle’s thinking: “the rule of many.” Aka direct/participatory democracy. All/most people directly participate by holding office or creating policy ii) Representative democracy: most countries that are “democratic” are governed under a representative democracy (1) There are people in charge who fight for votes (2) also called the elitist theory of democracy (3) although it takes time, interest, experts for people to agree on policy, you can get reasonable decision making (4) participatory government can lead to bad decisions because people just follow what is popular at the time and what the popular opinion is 3. Is representative democracy best?

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Declaration Of Independence

    1884 Words  | 8 Pages

    In addition, regardless of the turmoil felt in the beginning of democratic revolutions, democracies lend way to more peaceful periods for their is a defined succession of power that is difficult to challenge. From the U.S. inauguration of 1801, this country is a paragon of something “fundamental to any healthy democracy: a peaceful transition of power”(Laskowski). Additionally, in the analysis of the economic benefits, “the top 25 richest countries in the world (as ranked by the World Bank) are also fully established democracies,” often due to free-market system of capitalism where companies and individuals can trade without government

    Read More

  • The Principles Of Democracy And Republicanism Essay

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    Established on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed rights for its citizens. The Constitution also represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism that the United States of American stands by. This means that the Constitution regards to the American citizen as something that is held to deserve meaning the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. It also means its citizens come first in order of importance. The Constitution represents the value and principles of democracy and republicanism by stressing liberty and inalienable rights as central values, making the people as a whole sovereign, rejecting inherited political power, expecting citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption.

    Read More

  • Why Is Cleisthenes Described As The Father Of Western Democracy

    791 Words  | 4 Pages

    Western Democracy Over the course of thousands of years the west has become a place of admiration, innovation and a mecca for socialization. Although, most of the world models itself after lesser civilizations, if you take a look back in time, you’ll discover a world before equal opportunity and established liberal government. Flashing back to 600 B.C, governmental systems all over the world were almost completely reliant on one leader with complete control. In this case the question becomes, where did egalitarianism originate from?

    Read More

  • Definition Essay On Democracy

    1127 Words  | 5 Pages

    “Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy,” said Benito Mussolini. By the time one enters the third grade they become aware of concept of democracy. Specifically in America, one is taught that they live in a democratic society. When asking what is democracy, the answer is never truly defiente. The answers given may be; a society where everyone votes, or by dictionary definition “a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of the state; typically through elected representation.”

    Read More

  • Essay On Democracy In Ecuador

    1159 Words  | 5 Pages

    First of all, it is important to know the definition of democracy and its aspects. According to Peter Joyce (2005), the democratic government was initiated in the Greek city state of Athens in the fifth century B.C., so as a consequence, the word ‘democracy’ derived from two Greek words, demos (meaning ‘people’) and kratos (meaning ‘power’) , which means ‘government by the people’. Secondly, Giovanni Sartori (1997), a Political Science Researcher states that ‘democracy’ is an abbreviation that means Liberal Democracy. He distinguishes three aspects: democracy as a principle of legitimacy (power not derives

    Read More

More about Democracy In The 20th Century

Open Document