How did the democratic thought originate in human society

The world has recently seen a resurgence of democracy in many countries. It started in South America and then traveled to Eastern Europe. Presently many African countries are following the footsteps and are converting their systems to democracies. At present about 117 of the world’s 191 countries have democratic form of system in one shape or the other. If we compare this number with about ten years back we see a marked difference.

The advent of constitutional forms of governments over the past two centuries has been closely associated with political stability, peace and economic development. A comparative analysis will show that the countries having democracy are better placed for peaceful coexistence with their neighbors. These governments lay more emphasis on education, human resource development and planning for the betterment for social and economic conditions of their people.

However despite of all the social and economic development associated with the democratic forms of government is has been difficult to establish a correlation between the two; democracy and the social development. It is also an observation that many democratic government tent to convert into the dictatorships. The relationship between the advancement of democratic organs and the socio-economic development will provide a better understanding of the efficacy of democracy.

If we ask a definition of democracy, almost all the countries will come out with a different version. Even the totalitarian states would claim their systems to be absolutely ‘democratic’. A single formula therefore cannot be devised that would satisfy all the criteria of democracy. However, the acid test is that a democratic country must have full regard for the public opinion, should ensure participation of masses in decision making process and must safeguard the fundamental human rights of citizens. The democratic governments are those in which the ruling elite does not hold sway over the will of the people.

The democratic forms of governments have resulted due to a revolutionary change in society’s attitude in giving importance to the opinion of the people , both as an individual and as a whole. This created an effective balance between the rights and interests of the individual and the collective rights and interests of the state. This new shift in the relationship or the ‘social contract’ gave big impetus to the development in various spheres of human knowledge like philosophy, science, religion, economics, politics, education and social culture. From intellectual point of view we saw the rise of renaissance and the enlightenment, the reformation was introduced in religion and capitalism took its roots in the social economy. Another step forward was of course, the rise of democracy.

Before the thoughts of democracy took their roots, the human society was mostly being dominated by a troika; military, religion and aristocracy. Ironically even today’s societies and the countries that do not have meaningful democratic institutions, seem to be dominated by the same classes. The social development was made possible only when a change in thinking in Western Europe took place and more balanced relationship of political power was created between the ruling elite and the individuals. An all encompassing development of the citizens have been the hallmark of societies that embraced the democratic form of governments.

The democracy did not rise as a direct confrontation between the autocratic rulers and the subordinate people. It developed slowly, transforming the elite-oriented society into a people-oriented one. A union of military, religion, aristocracy and feudalism gradually scum med to the traders. The democracy progressed through stages. Initial parliamentarians were the feudal lords themselves. Thereafter the rich traders went into the assemblies. The concept of human rights and civil liberties which we are familiar with today were initially carved to obtain the powers for the commercial class. This was much later that these were applied to common citizens. The thought process on redistribution of power is still going on in countries and the societies are struggling to have an ideal form of democracy.