Types of democracy

Democracy is a political system in which the exercise of political power is carried out by the majority of citizens who freely express their will. Aristotle viewed it as the government of indigent citizens in their own interests. Plato called the term "democracy" the following: the power of the envious poor. In ancient times, it was considered the worst form of government in the state. This was due to the fact that due to low human culture this form of government sooner or later passes into the power of the crowd.

After the Great Revolution in France, democracy began to be seen as a social order that rejects elitism and monarchy. Since that time, a huge number of theories about this social system have been formed.

In the 8th and 19th centuries, democracy was considered a regime that guaranteed a complex of political and social freedoms and rights. They included, in particular, the right of unions, assemblies, freedom of opinion, conscience, correspondence, movement, and participation in the resolution of important political issues. In addition, under this regime, a person was guaranteed natural rights to housing, security, life, work, recreation and so on. The rule of law and the emerging civil society have become the most important conditions for the development of democracy.

Western political scientists of our time do not consider democracy as the power of the people, which determines the direction of the policy pursued in the state. In their opinion, this regime is a system of government, considered with the people's will, which, in turn, is expressed in the choice of the ruling elite.

In accordance with the way citizens participate in the governance of the state, as well as how and who exactly performs the functions of government, the following types of democracy stand out: representative and direct.

Direct is called such a system of government, in which citizens are directly involved in the development, preparation, discussion, and decision-making. This form of participation was characteristic of ancient democracy. Today it is permissible only in small communities, settlements, enterprises, etc. This form is used, as a rule, for solving problems that do not require special qualification.

Representative democracy is considered the main type of people's participation in modern management systems. The essence of this form is the indirect participation of the subjects in solving certain state issues. This participation is realized by means of citizens' choice of representatives called to express the interests of the people and on their behalf to give orders and issue laws. This form is necessary in the framework of the existence of large-scale social systems, as well as with a certain level of complexity of decisions.

Researchers also highlight the types of democracy that correspond to this or that period in the history of mankind. There are five types in total.

The first is community democracy. In the tribe, elections were held for the leaders, the council of elders.

The second type is dynastic democracy. It was formed with the advent of the first Egyptian state. While the supreme rulers who at that time handed over power by inheritance, they could manage the state not only in their own, but also in the people's interests.

It should be noted that these types of democracy were the most ancient forms of realizing the will of the people.

The third type is the Greek system. Today it is more often called "western".

The fourth type is formal democracy.

These types of democracy (formal and Greek) have no external differences. However, the fourth type is characterized by the absence of a struggle for power.

The fifth type is one-party democracy. With this form, the direction of the country's development policy is not implemented in accordance with the choice of the people during direct elections, but on the basis of the struggle within one party.