What are democratic values? All modern politics, as well as international relations, literally revolve around this concept. Numerous political opponents in various states constantly accuse each other of the lack of this very democracy. The most developed World states of our time are countries with a democratic regime. At the same time, states that have different principles of governance and values become outcasts. Democratic regimes, according to the prominent thinker of modernity Francis Fukuyama, are not just the most progressive in the modern world, but also ideal forms of government. And this view today really has a lot of supporters. After all, democratic regimes in fact demonstrate the greatest productivity and efficiency.
Ancient sources of democracy
The idea of democracy is a truly European product. Its first implemented version became the policies of ancient Greece, where government bodies (Areopagus, Boulle, Councils of Archons) were elected by voting, and the most important decisions for cities were taken by the whole people. It is interesting that here even a procedure was invented, which is an actual preventive measure to protect the democratic regime of the polis state-ostracism. Many of the achievements of ancient Greek civilization were later picked up by the Romans. Including the idea of democracy here has acquired new forms. It was in the Roman Republic that the concept of citizenship, which was close to the present, was born. In addition, here for the first time in the world the idea of separation of branches of power arose and was realized, something without which such a form of government is unthinkable today.
Democratic regimes in modern times
With the fall of ancient civilization, many of its achievements, including in political thought, were lost for a long time. Again, the ideas of democratic governance began to emerge and develop by the progressive thinkers of the New Time: Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Locke and others. During this period, among other proposals of the philosophers of the era, important ideas arise about the so-called "social contract". For the first time since time immemorial, the unquestioning Claims of monarchs on absolute power began to be questioned. By the way, the formation of ideas about democracy also influenced the emergence of national communities, as we know them today. The most important moment in the formation and design of the modern world order was the Great French Revolution, which occurred in 1789. According to its results, the monarch was overthrown for the first time in Europe as such. Of course, this episode was only the beginning of a long journey, when previously untouchable kings and dynasties surrendered their positions, and in the popular consciousness of the European peoples, the confidence in their natural and civil rights was strengthened. The progress was yet to be fought with reaction during the next XIX and XX centuries. Democratic regimes one after another were established first in Europe, and then throughout the world.