demokratia

Demokratia is a system of government in which political power is exercised by the people, either directly or through elected representatives. The term derives from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (power or rule).

The concept has roots in ancient Greece, notably Athens, where citizens gathered to debate and decide policy in assemblies. Participation was limited to a minority and excluded women, slaves, and resident foreigners. Over centuries, democratic ideas resurfaced and evolved through medieval and early modern thought, leading to modern representative and constitutional democracies that broadened suffrage and civil liberties.

Core features include popular sovereignty, the rule of law, regular competitive elections, political pluralism, accountability of government, protection of civil liberties, and the separation of powers. Democratic systems typically rely on institutions such as elected legislatures, an independent judiciary, free media, and robust civil society organizations to mediate between citizens and power.

Diversity within demokratia includes direct democracy, where citizens vote on policy directly, and representative or liberal democracies, which elect representatives and place constitutional limits on government power. Some regimes identify as democracies but exhibit illiberal elements, such as restricted rights or weakened checks on power. Ongoing challenges include polarization, misinformation, unequal influence, and threats to electoral integrity.

In contemporary discourse, demokratia is used as an ideal and as a descriptive category in comparisons of political systems. Assessments describe democracies along a spectrum from full democracies to flawed democracies and autocracies, depending on factors such as electoral integrity, rule of law, and respect for rights.