Chapter 3

Democracy
3.1. Definition and Essence of Democracy
The term democracy is a combination of two Greek
Words “Demos” (people) and “Kratia” (rule) or
authority. Thus, the Greek word “Democratia” means
the rule of the people (government of the people).
 Cont.

 Prickles define democracy as “government in which

people are powerful”.

 Aristotle defined it as “the rule of the many”.
 Abraham Lincoln defined it as “the government of
the people, by the people and for the people”.
Therefore, democracy is a system of government in
which the supreme political power resides in the
people.
 Cont.

 The essence of democracy is that, people govern

themselves (self-government).
 That is to say, democracy involves the idea that a
government that holds and exercises state power
and authority must represent the interests of the
people.
 Cont.

 In a democratic system, people are not subjects but

are citizens of the state and enjoy full rights of
participation with corresponding responsibilities and
duties.
 In a political system in which one of the primary
purposes of government is the protection of
individual rights.
Example: freedom of speech, press, assembly and
petition, freedom of association and right to vote ,etc.
 3.2. Historical Origin and Development of Democracy

 The historical origin of democracy can be traced back to

classical civilizations.
 First originated in Athens in the 5th century B.C.
 Societies of ancient Greek and Rome were founders of
classical civilization.
 In Athens and Rome, during the classical period, citizens
exercised their authority to make decisions and to control
over public officials.
 Cont.

 However, in practice, the direct democracy of the

Greek city-states was discriminatory because it
excluded women, the plebeians and the slaves who
were considered as non- citizens.
 Democracy is now the most popular form of
government.
3.3. Types of Democracy
Based on the types of popular participation, democracy
has got two forms.
1. Direct (pure) Democracy
2. Indirect (representative) Democracy
1. A direct (pure) Democracy - exists where the will of
the people is translated in to public policy (law) direct
by the people themselves at mass meetings.
 Cont.
 Direct democracy is an ideal form of democracy
because it anticipates high degree of participation by
every citizen in governance.
 In a direct democracy, the people or citizens
themselves gather in an assembly and make decisions
directly.
 This system operates only in very small communities
where the problems of government are few and simple.
 Cont.

2. Indirect (representative) Democracy

 The citizens represent officials through election to
make decisions on behalf of themselves.
 The modern form of democracy is representative
democracy in which people participate in decision-
making through their representatives.
 Indirect democracy is the most common form of
democracy that excites today in the western world.
 3.4. Forms of Democracy
 Based on who control the executive power and the
role of peoples representatives,
 Parliamentary
 Presidential Democracy;
 Based on the emphasis they provide to individuals or
group’s rights and freedoms,
 Liberal Democracy
 Revolutionary Democracy.
 Cont.

3.4.1. Parliamentary and Presidential Democracy

 Parliamentary Democracy
 In this form of government the parliament has a
central role;
 the executive is headed by a prime minister or a
cabinet leader and is dependent on the confidence
of the parliament;
 The head of state usually has little or no executive
powers but only a representative function.
 Presidential democracy :
 The executive is headed by the head of state
him/herself,
 Directly elected by the people and does not depend
on the parliament’s confidence.
3.4.2. Liberal and Revolutionary Democracy
 Liberal Democracy
 western democracy
 It is a tradition of political thought centered
on the value of individual liberty.
 Cont.
 Place a strong emphasis upon individual rights
and liberties, free elections and representative
government;
 Does not allow the government to have an
influence in the economic activities;
 Tries to maintain political equality among
citizens;
 It allows the people to be equal before the law;
 Cont.
 There are two essential prerequisites for maintaining
that a system is liberal in nature:
• Government is based on the free consent of the people,
• Government is responsible to the people

 Revolutionary Democracy
since the beginning of the 20th Century-popularly known as
Revolutionary Democracy.
 Cont.
 This idea of Revolutionary Democracy that was
sparked in early 20th century.
 Democracy for the West is firmly established on the
recognition and protection of Individual Liberates.
 Freedom of the individual is considered as the
foundation and guarantee of liberty of society.
 Accordingly, without individual freedom, there is no
freedom of society.
 Eastern democracy as a form Revolutionary
democracy, however, took freedom of society at large,
including all groups within it, as the foundation for real
freedom.

 The 21th Century seems to have resolved the

dichotomy between and Individual vs. Group Rights.
 3.5. Major Principles of Democracy
There are some basic principles, which govern (regulate)
any government considered as democrat.
 Popular Sovereignty - The principle of popular
sovereignty is fundamental to any constitutional
democracy.
 The only legitimate source of government authority
is the consent of the governed.
 Thus, popular sovereignty as a democratic principle shows that the
ultimate power resides on the people at large.

 The FDRE constitution in its article eight, make it explicit that :

“all sovereign power resides in the Nation, Nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia”.
Supremacy of the Constitution - The principle of
supremacy of the constitution states that the constitution is
the highest law.
 All laws, acts, organs of the state are below the
constitution.
Article 9 of the FDRE constitution asserts the supremacy of the constitution.
It states:
1. The constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any law, customary
practice or a decision of an organ of state or a public official, which
contravenes this constitution, shall be of no effect.
2. All citizens, of the state, political organizations, other associations as well
as their officials have the duty to ensure observance of the constitution and
to obey it.
Equality before the law - The right to equality before the
law or equal protection of the law is fundamental to any
just and democratic society.
 Article 25 of the FDER constitution asserts :
“all persons re equal before the law and are entitled
without any discrimination to the equal protection of the
law”.
 Cont.
 The Rule of Law - Democracy is characterized by the
rule of law.
 The principle of rule of law related to the application
of the law on the lawmakers and the people equally.
 The principle of rule of law is important in the sense
that it avoids arbitrariness, inequality and unequal
treatment citizen.
 Thus, the principle of rule of law is one mechanism to
limit the power of the government.
 Cont.
 Accountability and Transparency
Accountability- means holding individuals and
organizations responsible for their performance.
- It refers to the idea that elected public officials to be
responsible to the people for their decisions and actions.
- It stands on three integral parts, financial, political
and administrative.
 Cont.

Transparency – is the decisions and actions of the

government and its officials should be clearly known to the
people.
 The people should know most important policy
decisions of the government and how and why they are
made.
 In a democracy, the people and the mass media have
the to obtain information about what decisions have
been made and who made them except military and
national security secrets.
 Cont.
 The absence of accountability and transparency results
misuse or misallocation of resources and lead to in
efficiency, wastage, and corruption.
 The Presence of Pluralism - Citizens should respect the
right of others to differ about ideas, ways of life,
customs, and beliefs.
 Peace - full Transition Political Power - periodical
elections ensure peaceful transition of political power
and avoids the evil effects of taking political power by
force.
. Cont.
 The Democratic Culture - The democratic culture refers
of democratic ethics – a set of values and attitudes that
is necessary for self-government.
For example:
• Tolerance
• Civility
• Rational Empiricism
• Shared Responsibility in Decision Making
• Discussion and Consent
• Agreement on Fundamentals
Cont.

• Discussion and Change

• Popular participation
• Majority Rule and Minority Right
• Separation of Powers
• Separation of State and Religion

• Constitutional Limit on the Government

• Respect of Human and Democratic Rights
• Independence of the Judiciary
• Multi-Party System
• Free, Fair and Periodic Election
 3.6. Aspects of Democracy
Democracy has three aspects: Social, economic and
political. Democracy remains incomplete unless all these
three aspects are present in a society.

 Social aspect – this refers to removal of discrimination

on the basis of class, caste (social order), creed
(faith), color and sex. All men and women, rich or poor,
regardless of any class or caste prejudices are socially
equal, and should be treated as such
 Cont.

 Economic aspect- refers to the equitable distribution of

wealth in society and abolition of glaring disparities on the
basis of wealth. Economic democracy recognizes the right
to work, leisure, and fair wages and unrestricted right to
the enjoyment of life.
 Political aspects – refers to the provision of political
rights
Eg. the right to vote and the right to contest elections.
3.7. Democracy in Africa and Ethiopia
3.7. 1. Democracy in Africa
 Industrialization in Europe was followed by the need for
the
 Western capitalist to get raw materials and cheap labor.
 European countries turned their face to Africa
 Africa was, a whole, leading a primitive backward life.
 Portugal, Italy, France, Spain, England, and other
European countries invaded the African countries.
 The people of Africa were enslaved, beaten.
 Millions of its peoples were exported to Europe as slaves.
 Cont.
 In the 1960’s however, after long years of struggle for
freedom and democracy, most of the African states
become independent.
 The governments of African states were established.
 But these states were repressive leaders which did
not maintain the rights of peoples and nationalities.
 Due to this, liberation movements and parties stared
to crop up in the late 1970’s.
 Cont.

 South Africa had been suffering from apartheid

rule for many centuries.
 But in the 1990’s the fight of the people for their
rights gained momentum. Thus, the South African
government decided to release Mandela and hold an
election across the nation.
 Black South African party became the winner and
started ruling the nation.
 Cont.

 The peace agreements signed in Sudan, Angola,

and Mozambique, the attempt to establish civilian
governments in Nigeria, the amendments, in the
constitution of Kenya and Niger for multi-party
political system are considered as signs for the
growth of democracy in Africa.
 Cont.

 Africa is far away from the exercise of full democracy.

 The conflicts and civil wars that took place in various
parts of Africa are frustrating.
 Genocide in Rwanda between the Tutsi and Hutu.
 The conflicts in Liberia, Sudan are results of loss of
tolerance between religious and ethnic groups in
Africa.
 Cont.

 The various resistance coupled with famine of

the country made the Ethiopian military
overthrow the imperial rule in 1974 and
established the Derg regime.
 Derg regime violated human rights and killed
thousands of students, teachers, workers and
intellectuals.
 Cont.

 In spite of this, the movements continued to

struggle against the military rule and EPRDF
defeated the Derg regime in May 1991.
 Following this, a new constitution was drafted and
came in to force. This constitution protects human
and democratic rights of the people.
 It guarantees the rights of nations and nationalities
through self-determination.
 3.8. Human and Democratic Rights
 Rights are liberties a citizen enjoys.
 Rights enable citizens to act in an acceptable
way.

3.8.1. Human Rights

Human beings are born equal in dignity and rights.
 Cont.
Examples of human Right

 Right to Equality
 The right to life
 The Right of the Security of Person
 Right to Liberty
 Prohibition against Inhuman Treatment
 Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion
 Right of Persons Arrested
3.8.1.1. Characteristics of Human Right
¨ Dynamic
¨ Inalienable
¨ essential and necessary
¨ In connection with human dignity
¨ Irrevocable
¨ Necessary for the fulfillment of purpose of life
¨ Universal
 3.8.1.2. Generations of Human Rights

¨ First Generation (Civil and Political Rights)

 18th Century.
 Right to vote, assemble, free speech, freedom from
torture, and abuse’ protection of the law.
 Cont.
¨ Second Generation (Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights)
 19th Century
 Right to education, social security, housing,
health, and an adequate income
 Cont.

¨ Third Generation (Collective Rights)

 20th century
 Right to economic development,
 prosperity,
 to benefit from economic growth,
 social harmony,
 a healthy environment, clean air and water, etc.
3.8.2. Democratic Rights

 Democratic Rights are political and civil rights,

 Their aim is to ensure that every person is free to
take part in his/her community’s political life,
without fear of unwarranted punishment.
 Cont.
Examples of Democratic Right

 Freedom of Association
 Right of Thought, Opinion and Expression
 The Right of Assembly, Demonstration and
Petition
 The Right to Vote and to be elected
End of Chapter 3

Thank you!