Democracy means “rule by the people.” It is a system in which decisions are made by the majority and everyone is equal before the law. It also involves open competition in elections and respect for the results of those elections. It includes freedom of expression and association, and a commitment to the peaceful transfer of power. It is also based on the principle of the separation of powers and checks and balances, with an aversion to unfettered concentrations of power that may threaten human rights. It includes independent media and citizen groups that work for transparency and accountability. In the long run, it is the best way to ensure that governments are responsive and accountable to their citizens.
Defending democracy does not only mean fighting back against violations of its principles, but it also requires people to participate as much as possible. There are many ways to do this, from demonstrating in favour of an issue to lobbying governments to participating in civic initiatives or consultative bodies. If people only vote once every four or five years — and do not do anything in between — then government cannot really be “by the people.”
The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (people) and kratia (rule). It was first used in the 5th century BC in some of the ancient Greek city-states, notably in Classical Athens, to describe a political system involving the free election of leaders by popular suffrage.
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