Democracy and Its Model

Baikunth Gupta
2015-3034

Democracy:-
The origin of the word democracy was in Ancient Greece. The Terminology was derived from Greek Word Kratos which means power or rule and from “demos” means people, which is collectively known as rule by the people.

There are various models of democracy:

1. Classical Democracy

The classical democracy was direct democracy and Athens was the habitat of such a democracy. Athens was most prominent and powerful. Direct democracy in Athens developed in between 800-500 BCE. The Athenians were really proud of the type of direct democracy that worked in their city-state.

The basis of classical democracy was equality in respect of rights and privileges.

2. Protective Democracy

The protective democracy highlights a very distinctive viewpoint. According to Andrew Heywood “democracy was seen less as a mechanism through which public could participate in political life , and more as a device through which citizens could protect themselves from the encroachments of government, hence protective democracy[1]”.

Here democracy has been seen as the methods of the transfer of people which they can use to shield their rights and freedoms.
When does Democracy become Protective?
If the state administration and structure are re-arranged and re-modelled properly and successfully, it is believed democracy will ultimately become protective in nature.

3. Development Democracy
According to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, ‘No citizen shall be rich enough to buy another and none as poor to be forced to sell him/herself’. Essentially, Rousseau needs the Economic Equality among the citizens.

4. People Democracy

It’s term which is derived from the orthodox communist regime.

Karl Marx trusted the push out of capitalism would prompt the thriving of genuine democracy. He predicted that class antagonisms would be dissolved and the capitalist state would ‘wither away’. There would only be one class.

5. Liberal Democracy

Liberal Democracy is accepted as the worldwide practices of politics. Its key constructs are:

·         Indirect or representative form of democracy in which political office is gained by success in regular elections

·         It is based on competition and electoral choice.

·         There is a clear distinction between the state and civil society.

---

[1] Heywood, Andrew (2007),Politics, P: 95-96