Democracy is often implemented as a form of government in which policy is decided by the preference of the real majority (as opposed to a partial or relative majority of the demos/citizens) in a decision-making process, usually elections or referenda, open to all or most citizens. In recent decades 'democracy' was used as a synonym for (western) liberal-democratic systems in nation-states, but the existence of "illiberal democracies" is now recognised. The qualifier 'liberal' in this context refers strictly speaking to constitutional liberal ...

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Democracy, Democracy - Democratic Government, Democracy - History of democracy, Democracy - 20th century waves of democracy, Democracy - Essential elements of a democracy, Democracy - Political legitimacy and 'democratic culture', Democracy - Direct versus representative democracy or 'democracy' versus 'republic', Democracy - Liberal democracy, Democracy - Preconditions and structure, Democracy - Liberal freedoms, Democracy - Proportional versus majoritarian representation, Democracy - Social democracy, Democracy - Illiberal democracy, Democracy - Advantages and disadvantages of democracy, Democracy - Immigrants and 'the people', Democracy - Ethnic and religious conflicts, Democracy - Bureaucracy, Democracy - Short-term focus, Democracy - Electorate Intelligence, Democracy - Public choice theory, Democracy - Plutocracy, Democracy - Tyranny of the majority, Democracy - Political stability, Democracy - Effective response in wartime, Democracy - Corruption, Democracy - Poverty and famine, Democracy - The democratic peace theory, Democracy - Sources

Read more here: » Democracy: Encyclopedia II - Democracy - Democratic Government

See also:

Democracy, Democracy - Democratic Government, Democracy - History of democracy, Democracy - 20th century waves of democracy, Democracy - Essential elements of a democracy, Democracy - Four Conceptions of Democracy, Democracy - Political legitimacy and 'democratic culture', Democracy - Direct versus representative democracy or democracy versus republic, Democracy - Liberal democracy, Democracy - Preconditions and structure, Democracy - Liberal freedoms, Democracy - Proportional versus majoritarian representation, Democracy - Social democracy, Democracy - Illiberal democracy, Democracy - Advantages and disadvantages of democracy, Democracy - Ethnic and religious conflicts, Democracy - Bureaucracy, Democracy - Short-term focus, Democracy - Electorate Intelligence, Democracy - Public choice theory, Democracy - Plutocracy, Democracy - Tyranny of the majority, Democracy - Political stability, Democracy - Effective response in wartime, Democracy - Corruption, Democracy - Poverty and famine, Democracy - The democratic peace theory, Democracy - General skepticism of democracy, Democracy - Sources

Read more here: » Democracy: Encyclopedia II - Democracy - Democratic Government

All democracies (and every other form of government) have certain structural defects, which are related to the nature of democracy. Although all forms of government have defects, supporters of democracy are often reluctant to concede that it is less than perfect, which in turn may hinder its reform. Two prominent defects are related to the territory and membership of the demos itself. Democracy - Immigrants and 'the people'. Many democratic constitutions explicitly state (or imply) that power belongs to, o ...

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Democracy, Democracy - Democratic Government, Democracy - History of democracy, Democracy - 20th century waves of democracy, Democracy - Essential elements of a democracy, Democracy - Political legitimacy and 'democratic culture', Democracy - Direct versus representative democracy or 'democracy' versus 'republic', Democracy - Liberal democracy, Democracy - Preconditions and structure, Democracy - Liberal freedoms, Democracy - Proportional versus majoritarian representation, Democracy - Social democracy, Democracy - Illiberal democracy, Democracy - Advantages and disadvantages of democracy, Democracy - Immigrants and 'the people', Democracy - Ethnic and religious conflicts, Democracy - Bureaucracy, Democracy - Short-term focus, Democracy - Electorate Intelligence, Democracy - Public choice theory, Democracy - Plutocracy, Democracy - Tyranny of the majority, Democracy - Political stability, Democracy - Effective response in wartime, Democracy - Corruption, Democracy - Poverty and famine, Democracy - The democratic peace theory, Democracy - Sources

Read more here: » Democracy: Encyclopedia II - Democracy - Advantages and disadvantages of democracy

This article discusses the speculative idea of a world government. While, theoretically, such government may take several forms (such as an empire), given the enormous magnitude of resources required to rule over billions of unwilling people by force, practically only a democratic form of government appears to be feasible. Furthermore, for similar practical reasons, some hierarchical structure of government would be required (see illustration for example). This article thus concentrates more specif ...

Including:

• World government - Principles of world federalism
• World government - Historical background
• World government - History of the world government idea
• World government - Voluntary unions of polities
• World government - The current global governance system
• World government - Recognized deficiencies
• World government - The case for FWG
• World government - No more wars no more oppression
• World government - More effective handling of global issues
• World government - Common critiques
• World government - FWG is not desirable
• World government - FWG is not a realistic goal
• World government - Approaches to effecting a FWG
• World government - Regional integration
• World government - Incremental reform
• World government - Integration of democracies first
• World government - Direct creation of FWG by the people
• World government - Resources
• World government - Published Works
• World government - Organizations
• World government - Websites
• World government - More links

Read more here: » World government: Encyclopedia - World government

The Athenian democracy (sometimes called classical democracy) was the democratic system developed in the Greek city-state of Athens (comprising the physical city of Athens and its surrounding territory Attica). Athens was the very first known democracy, and the most important in ancient times. Other Greek cities set up democracies, most but not all following an Athenian model, but none were as powerful or as stable (or, relatively speaking, as well-documented) as that of Athens. It remains a unique and intriguing experiment in ...

Including:

• Athenian democracy - Overview
• Athenian democracy - Assembly
• Athenian democracy - Officeholders
• Athenian democracy - Council of 500
• Athenian democracy - Courts
• Athenian democracy - Shifting balance between Assembly and Courts
• Athenian democracy - Citizen-initiator
• Athenian democracy - Participation and exclusion
• Athenian democracy - Size and make-up of the Athenian population
• Athenian democracy - Citizenship in Athens
• Athenian democracy - Main bodies of governance
• Athenian democracy - Council of 500
• Athenian democracy - Assembly
• Athenian democracy - Athenian Courts
• Athenian democracy - Officeholders
• Athenian democracy - Selection by lot Allotment
• Athenian democracy - Elected
• Athenian democracy - Individualism in Athenian democracy
• Athenian democracy - Criticism of the democracy

Read more here: » Athenian democracy: Encyclopedia - Athenian democracy

Politics Politics Portal Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Ideology History of democracy Direct democracy Representative democracy Participatory democracy Soviet democracy Liberal democracy Referendum Representation Voting Voting systems Elections by country Elections by date Parties by country Parties by name Parties by i ...

Including:

• Voting - Types of votes
• Voting - Issues

Read more here: » Voting: Encyclopedia - Voting

Anticipatory democracy is a theory of civics relying on democratic decision making that takes into account predictions of future events that have some credibility with the electorate. It closely resembles the civic ideal of technocracy. To do this anticipation, prediction markets and other risk management techniques may be embedded into bureaucracies and agencies to overcome the groupthink inherent in such bodies, which makes it quite difficult for them to anticipate uncomfortable future events. The FutureMAP program of the Information Awareness Office program of the United States government proposed a ...

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Socialism Part of the Politics series History of socialism Democratic socialism Christian socialism Communism Libertarian socialism Social democracy Egalitarianism Democracy Equality of outcome Class struggle Proletarian revolution Marxism Anarchism Trade unionism Internationalism Utilitarianism Mixed economy Socialist economics Social ...

Including:

• Marxism - The Hegelian roots of Marxism
• Marxism - The political-economy roots of Marxism
• Marxism - The liberal challenge
• Marxism - Class analysis
• Marxism - Marxist revolutions and governments
• Marxism - Marx's views on the structure of communist society
• Marxism - The October Revolution
• Marxism - Criticisms
• Marxism - Other articles about Marxism

Read more here: » Marxism: Encyclopedia - Marxism

A politician is an individual involved in politics to the extent of holding or running for public office. In Western democracies, the term is generally restricted to those officials who attain their position through election campaigns, rather than all members of the state bureaucracy. Such a distinction is less clear in non-democratic forms of government. In a state, individual politicians compose the executive branch of government and the office of Head of State (unless the head of state is a non-political figure, such ...

Including:

• Politician - External link

Read more here: » Politician: Encyclopedia - Politician

Social Democratic Party Estonia - Social democracy in Estonia during 1917-1940. Social democracy in Estonia was born at the beginning of the 20th century. Estonian social democracy was influnced by West-European ideas of social democracy and Russian ideals too. During 1905 revolution social democratic ideas spread. Social democrats formed their party in 1917. Their name was in the beginning Estonian Social Democratic Association. Their views were patriotic and they fought for Estonian independence and social just ...

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Social Democratic Party Estonia, Social Democratic Party Estonia - History, Social Democratic Party Estonia - Social democracy in Estonia during 1917-1940, Social Democratic Party Estonia - 1989-today, Social Democratic Party Estonia - Leaders of ESDP, Social Democratic Party Estonia - Riigikogu election results, Social Democratic Party Estonia - The periods in Government, Social Democratic Party Estonia - Members of Estonian Parliament Riigikogu, Social Democratic Party Estonia - Members of European Parliament

Read more here: » Social Democratic Party Estonia: Encyclopedia II - Social Democratic Party Estonia - History

Hungary's transition to a Western-style democracy was the first and the smoothest among the former Soviet bloc. By 1987, activists within the party and bureaucracy and Budapest-based intellectuals were increasing pressure for change. Some of these became reform socialists, while others began movements which were to develop into parties. Young liberals formed the Federation of Young Democrats (Fidesz); a core from the so-called Democratic Opposition formed the Association of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), and the national opposition established the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF). Civic activ ...

See also:

History of Hungary, History of Hungary - Origins of the Hungarian state, History of Hungary - The Kingdom of Hungary, History of Hungary - High and Late Middle Ages 1000 - 1526, History of Hungary - Early modern times 1526 - 1718, History of Hungary - 18th century 1718 - 1780, History of Hungary - Enlightenment 1780 - 1848, History of Hungary - The 1848 Revolution 1848 - 1849, History of Hungary - After the revolution 1849 - 1867, History of Hungary - Austria - Hungary 1867 - 1918, History of Hungary - Reds and Whites 1918-1919, History of Hungary - The Regency 1920 - 1944, History of Hungary - World War II, History of Hungary - Hungary's second communist government 1944-1956, History of Hungary - 1956 Revolution, History of Hungary - Changes under Kádár, History of Hungary - Transition to democracy, History of Hungary - Free Elections and a Democratic Hungary

Read more here: » History of Hungary: Encyclopedia II - History of Hungary - Transition to democracy

Indirect democracy is a broad term describing a means of governance by the people through elected representatives. The most common system found in today's democratic states is the representative democracy. The people elect government officials who then make decisions on their behalf. Essentially, a representative democracy is a form of indirect democracy in which representatives are democratically selected, and usually difficult to recall. A doctrine often known as Edmund Burke's Principle states that representatives should act ...

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Democracy varieties, Democracy varieties - Pure democracy, Democracy varieties - Direct democracy, Democracy varieties - Scaling to global democracy, Democracy varieties - Referenda and semi-direct democracy, Democracy varieties - Indirect democracy, Democracy varieties - Alternative models of democracy, Democracy varieties - World democracy

Read more here: » Democracy varieties: Encyclopedia II - Democracy varieties - Indirect democracy

World democracy simultaneously comprises two approaches, both mutually reinforcing: Extending democracy to all countries. Introducing democracy in international organizations, via bypassing the screen of nation-states, particularly attempting reforms in the United Nations (see world presidentialism, democratic globalization and world government). There has been a great deal of research about global trends of democracy. For example, over the last century, the percent of world population living in democracy ...

See also:

Democracy varieties, Democracy varieties - Pure democracy, Democracy varieties - Direct democracy, Democracy varieties - Scaling to global democracy, Democracy varieties - Referenda and semi-direct democracy, Democracy varieties - Indirect democracy, Democracy varieties - Alternative models of democracy, Democracy varieties - World democracy

Read more here: » Democracy varieties: Encyclopedia II - Democracy varieties - World democracy

The first free parliamentary election, held in May 1990, was a plebiscite of sorts on the communist past. The revitalized and reformed communists performed poorly despite having more than the usual advantages of an "incumbent" party. Populist, center-right, and liberal parties fared best, with the Democratic Forum (MDF) winning 43% of the vote and the Free Democrats (SZDSZ) capturing 24%. Under Prime Minister József Antall, the MDF formed a center-right coalition government with the Independent Smallholders' Party (FKGP) and the Christian D ...

See also:

History of Hungary, History of Hungary - Origins of the Hungarian state, History of Hungary - The Kingdom of Hungary, History of Hungary - High and Late Middle Ages 1000 - 1526, History of Hungary - Early modern times 1526 - 1718, History of Hungary - 18th century 1718 - 1780, History of Hungary - Enlightenment 1780 - 1848, History of Hungary - The 1848 Revolution 1848 - 1849, History of Hungary - After the revolution 1849 - 1867, History of Hungary - Austria - Hungary 1867 - 1918, History of Hungary - Reds and Whites 1918-1919, History of Hungary - The Regency 1920 - 1944, History of Hungary - World War II, History of Hungary - Hungary's second communist government 1944-1956, History of Hungary - 1956 Revolution, History of Hungary - Changes under Kádár, History of Hungary - Transition to democracy, History of Hungary - Free Elections and a Democratic Hungary

Read more here: » History of Hungary: Encyclopedia II - History of Hungary - Free Elections and a Democratic Hungary

It was founded on October 14, 1966 as D'66 by 44 people, 25 of whom had been active in other parties. The initiators were Hans van Mierlo, a journalist of the Algemeen Handelsblad who became the party leader, and Hans Gruijters. In the Tweede Kamer elections of 1967 the party obtained 7 seats. In the 1971 elections it obtained 11 seats. In the 1972 elections it was reduced to 6 seats, but in 1973 be ...

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Democrats 66, Democrats 66 - Short history, Democrats 66 - Leadership, Democrats 66 - Identity: radical democratic and social liberal, Democrats 66 - International affiliations, Democrats 66 - Government participation

Read more here: » Democrats 66: Encyclopedia II - Democrats 66 - Short history

The Democratic Socialist Party was established in 1960 by a breakaway group (led by Suehiro Nishio) of the Japan Socialist Party. It was made up of many members of the former Rightist Socialist Party of Japan, a more moderate social-democratic faction that existed between 1948 and 1955, though Japan Socialist Party reunified afterward. DSP claimed democratic socialism and was a member of the Socialist International. The party advocated construction of a welfare state, opposed to totalitarianism (mainly communism), and strongly supported the Japan-US alliance. It derived much of its financial and organizationa ...

See also:

Democratic Socialist Party Japan, Democratic Socialist Party Japan - History, Democratic Socialist Party Japan - External links

Read more here: » Democratic Socialist Party Japan: Encyclopedia II - Democratic Socialist Party Japan - History

The following list indicates those countries which are members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and are either generally considered to be democratic or have substantial democratic elements in their system of government. For example, Iran has popular elections, but the candidates are selected by the Council of Guardians and the Assembly of Experts. Furthermore, the political climate in some of these countries has varied greatly in recent years, while i ...

See also:

Islamic democracy, Islamic democracy - The compatibility of Islam and democracy, Islamic democracy - Sunni and Shia traditions, Islamic democracy - Other issues, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in Turkey, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the Middle East, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the former Soviet Union, Islamic democracy - Examples of Muslim democracies, Islamic democracy - Bibliography

Read more here: » Islamic democracy: Encyclopedia II - Islamic democracy - Examples of Muslim democracies

History of democracy - Prehistoric democracies. The earliest forms of democracy may have originated in the bands and tribes of prehistoric times. These groups of people, related by blood and marriage, often assigned the most senior man in each group to be its leader. As groups became larger, a method of selecting a ruler from among the elders of various family lines had to be developed. This process began to take on more of a religious nature and could become either more or less democratic. Larger societies tende ...

See also:

History of democracy, History of democracy - Origins, History of democracy - Prehistoric democracies, History of democracy - Ancient Greece, History of democracy - Local popular institutions, History of democracy - Rise of democracy in modern national governments, History of democracy - Pre-Eighteenth century milestones, History of democracy - Eighteenth and nineteenth century milestones, History of democracy - The secret ballot, History of democracy - 20th century waves of democracy, History of democracy - Main competitors to democracy, History of democracy - Contemporary trends, History of democracy - Ideas, History of democracy - Documents, History of democracy - People, History of democracy - Events

Read more here: » History of democracy: Encyclopedia II - History of democracy - Origins

Most Islamic democracies fall under the first definition, leading many analysts to dismiss the compatibility of Islam with democracy. The arguments for this position include: Islam and secularism are opposite forces; theocracy is incompatible with democracy; and Muslim culture lacks the liberal social attitudes of democratic societies. For example, Ausuf Ali, a former professor of business at the University of Karachi writing on Beliefnet, argues that in the case of Pakistan (where democratically elected governments have been regularly overt ...

See also:

Islamic democracy, Islamic democracy - The compatibility of Islam and democracy, Islamic democracy - Sunni and Shia traditions, Islamic democracy - Other issues, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in Turkey, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the Middle East, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the former Soviet Union, Islamic democracy - Examples of Muslim democracies, Islamic democracy - Bibliography

Read more here: » Islamic democracy: Encyclopedia II - Islamic democracy - The compatibility of Islam and democracy

Islamic democratic systems have the same human rights issues as other democracies, but some matters which may cause friction include appeasing anti-democratic Islamists, non-Muslim religious minorities, the role of Islam in state education (especially with regard to Sunni and Shia traditions), women's rights (See: Islamic feminist movement). In addition, while some Islamic democracies ban alcohol outright, as it is against the religion, other governments allow the individual to choose whether to trangress Islam themselves. In these instances, while the act will be considered wrong by strict Muslims, the pe ...

See also:

Islamic democracy, Islamic democracy - The compatibility of Islam and democracy, Islamic democracy - Sunni and Shia traditions, Islamic democracy - Other issues, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in Turkey, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the Middle East, Islamic democracy - Islamic democracy in the former Soviet Union, Islamic democracy - Examples of Muslim democracies, Islamic democracy - Bibliography

Read more here: » Islamic democracy: Encyclopedia II - Islamic democracy - Other issues