Month: February 2023

People’s democracy is practiced in socialist regimes called people’s republics, e.g., People’s Republic of China, People’s Republic of North Korea, etc. Based on the organisation of communist or socialist party and Lenin’s democratic centralism, people’s democracy is based on elected deputies from amongst the party leaders and workers. Generally, it does allow multi-partyism because as… Continue reading People’s Democracy

Representative democracy is mediated through parties and party-based designations are applied to democracy. There can be bi-party or multi-party democracy. Generally, multi-party democracy is considered a positive sign of democratic competition, though America has a stabilised two-party democracy. The UK though has two main parties, Conservatives and Labour, it has other parties also such as… Continue reading Party-based Democracy

A form of direct democracy associated with two dimensions of participation. Firstly, direct and unmediated participation of the people in government and legislation is considered as the basis of democracy. Athens and Plebeian Romans practiced it and Jean Jacques Rousseau in his The Social Contract advocated this form. J. S. Mill in his Considerations on Representative Government supports ‘a… Continue reading Participatory Democracy

American leader, James Madison was very concerned with protecting individuals and groups from the arbitrary power of government. He insisted on limiting government power and conduct through well-laid mechanism of checks and balances. Separation of powers of different organs of the government such as legislature, executive and judiciary with each having check on the other,… Continue reading Madisonian Democracy

Government based on a combination of democratic values (open, free and fair periodically held elections based on universal suffrage) and liberal-constitutional values (liberty and rights of individuals, checks and limitations on government). Main principles are representative government, open and free elections, adult suffrage, majority principles as decision-making criteria, checks and balances between different branches of… Continue reading Liberal Democracy

Government based on a combination of democratic values (open, free and fair periodically held elections based on universal suffrage) and liberal-constitutional values (liberty and rights of individuals, checks and limitations on government). Main principles are representative government, open and free elections, adult suffrage, majority principles as decision-making criteria, checks and balances between different branches of… Continue reading Liberal Democracy

Some thinkers and observers such as Prof. Harold Laski advocated industrial democracy, which involves worker’s participation in industry. It is application of the concept of democracy in industry.

A classical form of democracy identified with representative form, which implies indirect policy and legislation making. In this participation of the people is indirect through their representatives elected periodically based elections. Liberal democracy as it prevails in Anglo-American countries and many developing countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Turkey is known as indirect… Continue reading Indirect or Representative Democracy

As a form of government practiced in many developing countries which combines democratic means of election of representatives, reaffirmation of leadership and public offices but negates the liberal tenets of civil rights and individual liberty. They are democratically elected or nominated elite or leaders but do not allow limited and constitutionally accountable government. Fareed Zakaria in… Continue reading Illiberal Democracy

Classical form of democracy that involves direct participation and/or means of direct intervention by citizens in legislation and accountability of government such as recall, initiative and referendum. It prevailed in Athens and presently prevails partially in Switzerland and some states of USA. This form of democracy has its supporters in Pericles in Athens and Rousseau… Continue reading Direct Democracy