Democracy is a system of government that gives people power over decisions about their lives and communities. It’s the way we choose how to live together and share resources, with everyone being treated fairly and equally, and protected from unwarranted governmental deprivation of their rights. Democracy includes freedom of movement and association, freedom of speech and religion, and equal protection under the law.
Democracies also give citizens a chance to be informed about issues that affect them and who should make decisions for them. Through channels like independent peer-reviewed research and investigative journalism, or debates that take place in election campaigns, people are able to recognize problems, and hold politicians to account. This is one of the reasons that democratic systems tend to do better overall than those which are less transparent, such as dictatorships or military juntas.
While democracies do not necessarily protect us from every bad thing, most studies, including a 2022 meta-analysis by Gerring and colleagues, find that, in general, they perform much better than their authoritarian counterparts. This is especially true when it comes to human rights, public spending, and reducing poverty.
But how can we sustain and improve our democracy? The most important step, says Brady, is for young people to begin their engagement with politics at the local level. This will help them become more aware of the specific challenges facing their own community and be more able to make a difference. They can also participate in environmental groups, or other protest groups such as against war and corporate exploitation.
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