DEMOCRACY AND

DEMOCRATIC
PARTICIPATION IN THE
SOCIETY
 The word democracy comes from the Greek word, demokratia and
literally means “ rule by the people.” In the 19th century, democracy
came into use as a system of representative government in which
leaders are freely chosen during elections. (Birch: 2007) According to
Birch, democracy is relatively a new spreading world phenomenon. In
the United States, this state of affairs was reached in the 1820s and
1830s, as the franchise was extended state by state. In France, there
was a sudden leap to adult male suffrage in 1848, but parliamentary
government was secure from 1688 onwards, but the franchise was not
extended to the majority of male citizens until 1867.
There is a broad consensus among the world leaders and
think tanks about how to develop societies across the world.
Knight, Chigdu, and Tandon (2002) outlined three
components.

First, democracy is seen as the type of government. More

and more countries are embracing this vote-based system
since it is required to delegate some of its forces and
resources to other political bodies in the management of its
economic and political functions. In short, according to
Hague, (et al, 1998), democratic governments are
aggregate chiefs in which they go about as one partner
among many.
Second, private enterprise in the free market’s distinguished as the
essential element of financial improvement. This includes the
acknowledgment of private enterprise and measures to advance it, for
example, improving the part of remote interest in creating nations and
the deregulation of exchange.

Third, civil society is given a vital part in the development process in

many parts of the world giving birth to many non-government
organizations, cooperative and other self-empowering groups.

Democracy can be understood through four main types of approaches

constitutional, substantive, procedural, and process-oriented.

A constitutional approach concentrates on laws enacted by a regime

concerning political activity. In this way, we can look over history and
see contrasts among types of governments and their legal
arrangements.
Substantive approaches stress on the quality of life that a regime tries to
promote which include individuals freedom, human welfare, security,
social equality and good governance.

Supporters of procedural definitions single out a thin scope of

administrative practices to figure out if an administration qualifies as
democratic mainly focusing on how it conducts its elections. If the
majority of population is actively engaged, procedural presence of
democracy is present which cause significant governmental changes.

Process-oriented approaches to democracy differ significantly from

constitutional, substantive, and procedural accounts. According to
Robert Dahil (1998: 37-38) democracy can be assured based on the
following:
1.) Effective participation. Every individual must have an equal
opportunities to express their views to other members as to what the
strategy and policy should be.

2.) Voting equality. Once the choice about the approach is may,
members should have an equal chance to vote and be considered.

3.) Enlightened understanding. Within a given time frame, members

must have the opportunities to learn alternative policies and their
consequences.

4.) Control of the agenda. Members are given the opportunity to

decide on the agenda. The policies of the association are always open
to change by the members.
RESPECT FOR
CULTURE AND
HERITAGE
In a
democratic
society,
development
and progress
happen when
people and
communities
are
empowered
to express
themselves
through their
culture.
CARING AND SHARING
•A SIGNIFICANT
ELEMENT OF A
GOOD SOCIETY IS
A CLAMOR FOR
PARTICIPATION IN
GOVERNANCE OF
SOCIETY .
DEMOCRATIC
PARTICIPATION
A significant element of a good society is the clamor for
participation in the governance of society. There are two
aspects to this: (1) equal rights and justice, and (2) responsive
and inclusive governance.

1.) Equal rights and justice

a decent society maintains the standard of law and
human rights for everyone. A decent society is one that
makes laws to secure everyone – poor people, the working
class and the rich – get the same rights.

Concern for equal rights and social justice implies the right to
self – determination of the poor, women and indigenous
peoples.
2.) Responsive and inclusive governance
the second component of participation is responsive
and inclusive governance, so that citizens can participate in
the public sphere and make their own contribution towards
the common good. Responsive and inclusive governance
means being heard and consulted on a regular and
continuing basis, not merely at election time. It means more
than a vote; it means involvement in decision and policy –
making by public agencies and officials. The government
cannot do without its subjects. Responsive and inclusive
governance involves the eradication of corruption,
favoritism, nepotism, apathy, neglect, red tape, and self –
serving political leaders and public officials. It means a
democracy that works for all.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF PARTICIPATION
Many international institutions consider the idea of participatory
governance as vital to democracy. The world bank, for example,
considers participation as a means of making its development projects
function better, of helping people cope with the economic
consequences of adjustment policies, and of countering the threat to
governance posed by the rising conclusion of people policies. It also
looks to participation as an indispensable dimension of environmental
and population – control policies. The world bank is turning increasingly
to NGOs as implementors of participatory initiatives in the belief that
they are more flexible and better attuned to working with people than
government experts and leaders. World bank also believes that
accountability is vital to good governance as people are increasingly
involve in their organizations towards empowerment and self reliance.
Democratic participation is built on the popular support and full
participation of people.
Indeed, democratic participation is
the empowerment of people to
effectively involve themselves in
creating the structures, and in
designing policies and programs,
that serve the interest of all, as well
as to effectively contribute to the
development process and share
equitably in it’s benefits.