Have you ever heard the phrase, “With great power comes great responsibility?” Well, it’s the
famous line from the Spiderman film but it can also be an effective way of describing what democracy really is. You see, a lot of people are talking about it and how it should be applied in the government but in reality, only few really know what it is about. This article then would give you a clearer understanding of what democracy is by providing you with five most important principles that govern it.
Freedom of Speech, Debate and Enquiry
One of the most important principle that you need to be able to understand regarding democracy is the people’s freedom of speech, debate and enquiry. It is essential for people to know how to exercise open debate and voice out their grievances to be able to maintain a vibrant political culture. Most people do not understand that this democracy principle should be observed because this acts as a balance and check to prevent the abuse of political power in a particular country.
Popular Democracy
Another principle that you need to know is what we call as popular democracy. This principle states that the people as a whole is what comprises the government and thus they have authority over it. Because of that, it is only necessary for us to understand that the political figures who are working in a country’s government is the servant of the people and should not be treated as if they are the masters. In fact, we should be able to realize that policies and laws are made for the people and should not be implemented against the welfare of the majority.
Open, Accountable and Diverse Mass Media
The third principle that revolves around democracy is the openness, accountability and diversity of mass media. We must realize that mass media plays a crucial role in the national democratic process. This is because media shapes and validates most people’s perception of what is real and what is not. Thus it is only important for the media to be transparent for us to truly know their agenda. They must also be accountable to the public to achieve a balance and avoid abusing the right to the “freedom of the press”. And media should also be diverse, meaning, media monopolies should be discouraged.
Economic Democracy
Economic democracy is also one of the guiding principles of democracy. In economic democracy, economic power is to be well distributed to empower smaller units and achieve economic growth.
Equality Before the Law
Lastly, equality before the law is another important guiding principle of democracy that you should understand. This principle means that each citizen has the right to seek and receive justice. Whether you are the victim or the accused you get to undergo due process and you won’t be judged outrightly without undergoing a trial first. In the equality before the law principle, everybody gets to have free access to the law. This means that whether you are rich or poor, influential or an ordinary citizen, you’d be able to freely exercise your rights.
A clearer understanding of the principles of democracy can greatly help us in understanding what democracy is all about. The freedom of speech serves as a reminder that people in authority should not abuse their power. Popular democracy further emphasizes that the government is created for the people and by the people. We must keep in mind that there should be a balance of everything as was stated in the principle of a transparent media. And economic democracy and equality before the law clearly state that fairness and justice should be the guiding principle of every democratic country. If we try to understand and put these principles into practice, the world will definitely be a better place.