Democracy

Democracy [dɪˈmɒkrəsi] (‘rule of the people’) refers to political systems and forms of government in which state power is held by the people. Democracies are characterised among other things by respect for human rights, the separation of powers, accountability of government, independence of the judiciary, the principle of legality of the administration, a multi-party system, and free and fair elections conducted by secret ballot.

Wanted and threatened

People around the globe yearn for democracy – at least when it offers more than elections. Stefano Palestini explains why the Chilean example is a case in point.

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How do things stand?

Opinions, feelings and hypotheses about the state of democracy abound. A look at the world of facts and figures helps to put things in perspective.

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‘It’s a matter of equality’

In democracies, towns and local authorities should be given more powers, says social scientist Shandana Khan Mohmand from the University of Sussex.

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