Democracies

Democracy is a system of government in which political power is derived from the people. In modern usage, democracies typically feature regular, competitive elections, universal or broad suffrage, and civil liberties that protect freedom of expression, association, and due process. Democracies may be classified as representative, in which citizens elect legislators to make policy on their behalf, or direct, where citizens vote on policy questions themselves; most modern democracies combine elements of both.

Core principles include popular sovereignty, political equality, accountability, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Institutions commonly associated with democracies include an independent judiciary, a legislature representing diverse political views, a free press, and active civil society. Elections are expected to be free, fair, and competitive, with peaceful transfers of power and checks on majorities through constitutional constraints and separation of powers.

Variations exist: liberal democracies emphasize individual rights and minority protections and institutional constraints on government. Illiberal or competitive authoritarian regimes maintain formal elections but restrict civil liberties and political competition. Hybrid regimes blur lines between democracy and autocracy.

Historically, modern democracies emerged in Europe and the Atlantic world from the 18th century onward, expanding through reform, decolonization, and constitutional development. Democracies seek legitimacy through consent and deliberation but face challenges such as populism, polarization, money in politics, disinformation, voter suppression, and threats to the rule of law. Comparative measures, such as democracy indices, attempt to quantify electoral integrity, civil liberties, and governance quality.