.org iities of Abya Yala: The Principles of Democracy of Citizens (ATTAC): Ii pftaa. org/ he word democracy comes from two Greek words: demos = people and kratos = rule. Therefore. the word means "rule by the people," sometimes called "popular sovereigny." and can refer to direct, participatory. and representative forms ofrule bp the people. Today the word has a positive meaning throughout most of the world-so much so that. to connect themselves with t h s positive image, even some political systems with little or n o rule by the people are called democratic. T h e following analysis uses a simple model of the key elements of democracy as it exists today: T I. Citizen involvement in decision malung 2. A system of representation 3. The rule of law 4. -4n electoral system-majorir) rule 5. Some degree of equality among citizens 6. Some degree of libern; o r freedom granted to or retained by citizens 7 . Education 60 PARTIII DEMOCRACY The classic response to elitist theories is to argue that (1) efficiency is not as important as the positive influence of participation o n the citizen and (2) the average citizen is probably capable of understanding most issues. T h e elitist theorists say, in efi-ecc, that classicalrepresentative democracy does not-even cannot-work in the modern world. Their opponents argue that a truly informed citizenry is even more important than in the past and that representative democracy can work even though new problems make it more difficul ...
Purchase document to see full attachment