Modern Society : Democracy And The Modernization Theory

The word democracy has two major meanings: a government by the people who are the majority, and also it can refer to a government in which the ultimate power is given to the people who directly or indirectly exercises it via a system of representation and usually involves free and fair elections. Democracy refers to a government created through elected representatives. Democracy in the society favors equal rights and believes in the freedom of speech as well as the view of the minority groups in the society. Democracy is based on the principles of the rule of majority and rights of individuals. A democratic society is where all government levels are made accessible to the people (Jensen & Romanowski 30).

The idea of democracy is the power of the people that they have democratic rights such as the doctrine of democracy and the freedom of expression. In a complete democratic society, everyone is born equal. People not only have power in democracy but also have a responsibility to the society. In addition, democracy relates with Constitutions and election. There are a lot of democracy societies except the United States. As a democratic country, the United States and Canada have similar political and rules, but still have differences.

The definition of democracy is “a government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system” . In other words, democracy is freedom. A government set up by the people and for the people. This beautiful government was set up by an outstanding group of men that were able to come together and compromise through some of the hardest times in American history. Americans are extremely blessed to live in the country we live in and to have the type of government we have. So many countries around the world have citizens that have no control of how their country is ruled, or who it is ruled by. There are still dictatorships and

Democracy is known as a system of government when all eligible people of a state can voice their own opinions as well as elect representatives. Democracy is not once mentioned in The Declaration of Independence. Pros of a democracy are, its by the people and for the people. Democracy is meant for everybody to be eligible to vote and they are able to vote. The people are also able to participate in what they think, feel , and voice about the political, social, and economic issues that are presented to them. It's in the people's best interest not just the governments. The goal is to find solutions with decision-makers best interest. The main goal is to is find solutions that are best for the people and regulate conflicts between states and government.  A democracy imposes equality, the people's votes carry the same weight, which makes all individuals to be heard and make them feel as if their opinion is important. Other than in elections of the state a citizens

The Unites States of America and its government drilled into its citizens that they should spread the political idea of democracy for "the common good of the people". The United States government has established democracy in foreign lands, like Guam. They have encouraged countries to use democracy, like Mexico. There are still some countries though, that are not open to the idea of democracy, like Cuba for example. Some countries, like Russia and China, have been open to the idea of it and are incorporating democratic ideas into their government and economy. The biggest reason the United States spreads democracy is for economic and political gain. Money makes the

There would be no improvement in the country if there was no democracy. I think that is it very important to have one because a country cannot thrive if others opinions are not adhered. Democracy is really what you put into it

Democracy, while imperfect, is the system of ruling prevalent in vast tracks of the world. Despite this, democracy is not a uniform system with every country practicing its democracy in slightly unique ways.

Democracy came about in a very interesting fashion. It first started out as, a wealthy class of rich males in ancient Greece who had the power to vote and be citizens; while no one else was able to be a citizen and participate in democracy. This notion of democracy slowly evolved out of different revolutions and ideas. We saw great leaps forward in in the evolution of democracy during the US revolution which was exemplified by the cry of: “No taxation without representation.” In the French revolution, in which there has been so much has studied about, is another example of inequality helping democratization. In the modern era, we have seen the Arab spring rise and fall, with some countries making modest reforms and people fighting for as many reforms as they could get; among these, the idea of equality. Pure equality is the striving force that democracy will always try to reach and will never truly achieve.

Democracy is almost everywhere in the world. Europe has used its form of government for almost half a century. North and South America are now virtually a hemisphere of democracy; Africa is experiencing democratic reform; and new, democracies have taken root in Asia. Democracy may be a word familiar to most, but it is a concept still misunderstood and misused. Freedom and democracy are often used to mean the same thing, but they are not the same. People in democracy have many rights. This form of government isn’t just for the government, it helps the people. Also how democratic leaders are elected.

Does Modernization lead to Democracy or does it not? My hypothesis for this research question is that modernization does not lead to democracy even as I explore the different kinds of literature written on this subject. As part of my research design I have decided to use a single case study as a comparative method. This is because case studies offer a detailed explanation of the topic of discussion transforming “journalism into political science” (Hague & Harrop, 2013: 361). I have decided to look at Singapore to provide a well-rounded description which will therefore show how it operates in the context of modernization and democracy. One of the primary authors who decided to study the relationship between economic development and democracy was Seymour Martin Lipset in both this books titled Political Man and The Social Requisites of Democracy. (Heo & Tan, 2001) Since his literature came out more and more social scientists began to expand or critique on the words of Lipset in carrying out their own research. It is clear to see that discourses around economic progress and democracy are still debated to this day. Arguments around whether or not democracy should come first then development follows are also being discussed in other areas. However there is a general consensus across the board of most authors that the two are closely related. Many argue that they go hand in hand; it is not wise to have one without the other. In helping to answer my research question the work of

Democracy is unstable as foreshadowed by Plato in The Republic. The people in a democratic government exceed their means. Another hazard with democracy is that the voters get tired of their elected official and rebel by electing someone who is unqualified, in their feeble attempt to regain control of it government. The final downfall is the lack of checks and balance of our existing laws due to the laziness of officials and society to enforce official to act in their best interest.

When it comes to the idea of a democracy, it is important to keep in mind that it is just that, “an ideal to be continually sought after, rather than a settled system” (Hudson, 22). Everyone has different ideas of what makes a successful democracy, whether it be more involvement of the people, or a clear division between regular people and the government. After looking at the four types of democratic models that Hudson addresses, the developmental democracy most closely represents my vision of government.

Democracy is run by many different people, and a number of components have to happen for it to stay a democracy and not turn into a dictatorship. When leaders in democracy come to power they usually want four things for their reign. They are very important when it comes to staying liked by everyone. They are, keeping the elections free and fair so everyone could also be an active part in the government. When you have the elections free and fair then people will want to vote for the leader

This reduces the chances for elected representatives to abuse their power. Also, citizens have the freedom of speech to voice their opinions on topics such as education and health rights. Democracy itself has many problems that should be fixed, such as not being able to guarantee that the some of the elected representatives will not be corrupted. However, other forms of government such as a monarchy has even more problems and are much worse forms of government as it gives the ruler all the power, leaving the people with no freedom to call out their leader if they are corrupted. In short, democracy is a government for the people consisting of people whose power was given to them by the people. For this reason, democracy is deemed the best form of governance today.

Democracy varies in every country depending on the type of government or regime they have. There is the liberal democracy, which is all about giving people their rights and liberties; everything is done through fair voting and electing. The people are aware of everything that happens in their government. Illiberal democracies are basically the same as liberal, but the people in power are more secretive of their activities, and there is less civil liberty. It is essentially a partial democracy. Now Authoritarian regimes designate any political system that concentrates power in the hands of one leader or a small elite. There are no free elections and very little regard for the law. Political institutions, social structures, and the democratic rule of law all affect liberal, illiberal, and authoritarian regimes democratic quality differently.