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THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF ZANZIBAR(SUZA)

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (DDS 111)

DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

Compiled by Nahoda, A.M

DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT (9 HRS)

Definition of the conceptsPrinciples of democracy Types of democracyCivil societies and its roles in democracyPrinciples of good governance

Defining democracy

• Genesis of Democracy• Democracy has its formal in Ancient Greece in

the middle of the 5th to 4th Century Before Christ in some Greek city-states, especially Athens due to a popular uprising in 508 BC.

• This was referred as Direct democracy or Athenian democracy, and it came due to the movement of common people to demand equality and freedom.

Defining democracy

• Democracy comes from the Greek word demokratía which is a union of two words demos meaning common people and kratos which means power.

• Therefore democracy can simply be defined as the power of the common people

• There is no universally accepted definition of ‘democracy’, but equality and freedom are both identified as important characteristics of democracy since ancient times.

What is democracy

• Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people ( Abraham Lincoln

• Democracy is any form of government in which the rules of society are decided by the people who will be bound by them (Catherine Kellogg)

• Democracy is a state in which all fully qualified citizens vote at a regular intervals to chose, among alternative candidates the people who will be in charge of setting the state policies. (Shively,W.P)

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Principles of democracy :

1. Citizen Involvement2. System of Representation3. Rule of Law4. Electoral System (Free and fair election)5. Equality6. Freedom, Liberty, and Rights7. Education

Principles of democracy

• 1. Citizen Involvement• Direct Democracy: Citizens take part

personally in deliberations and vote on issues. Citizens debate and vote on all laws.

• Representative Democracy: Citizens choose (elect) other citizens to debate and pass on laws.

Principles of democracy • 2 A system of Representation• Direct democracy is difficult in modern world.

People need to be represented by other.• People are represented through different

criteria such as• Population(male/female, disabilities, privilage,

ethnicity etc.• Ideology• Region

Principles of democracy • 3 Rule of Law • Rule of Law Rule according to law; rule under law; or rule according to a

higher law.• The rule of law is an ambiguous term that can mean different things in

different contexts. In one context the term means rule according to law. No individual can be ordered by the government to pay civil damages or suffer criminal punishment except in strict accordance with well-established and clearly defined laws and procedures. In a second context the term means rule under law. No branch of government is above the law, and no public official may act arbitrarily or unilaterally outside the law. In a third context the term means rule according to a higher law. No written law may be enforced by the government unless it conforms with certain unwritten, universal principles of fairness, morality, and justice that transcend human legal systems.

Principles of democracy

• 4 The Electoral system• Electoral Process is any set of rules whereby the

votes of citizens determine the selection of executives and/or legislators.

• Electoral systems may be categorized in several ways.

• The most useful is probably a three-way division into plurality, proportional systems. Mixed approach

Principles of democracy

• 5 Equality political equality equality before the law equality of opportunity economic equality equality of respect or social equality;

Principles of democracy

• 6 Freedom, Liberty, and Rights• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)-People are

equal in the rights they have.• Freedom: ability to act without restraint; but:

“harm principle:” your freedom to swing your arm stops at my nose.

• Liberty: social and political freedom.• Right: Legally guaranteed freedom.

Principles of democracy

• Role of education:1. Ability to make informed political choices2.illiteracy undermines democracy • But: How do we educate citizens?• Do we educate for participatory or elite forms

of democracy?

Types of Democracy

• Direct democracy is a political system where the citizens participate in the decision-making personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries or representatives. The supporters of direct democracy argue that democracy is more than merely a procedural issue. Direct democracy is:

• Rule by the people• Built on the Athenian model.• Still present in small town hall meetings.

Types of Democracy

• A direct democracy gives the voting population the power to; change constitutional laws, put forth initiatives, referendums and suggestions for laws, give binding orders to elective officials, such as revoking them before the end of their elected term.

Types of Democracy

• Representative Democracy/ Indirect• Citizens elected political actors who will

represent their preferences.• Assumptions of Indirect democracy :– Voters are aware.– Voters are rational.– Voters are tolerant.– Voters are informed.

Representative Democracy

• Representative democracy involves the selection of government officials by the people being represented. If the Head of State is also democratically elected, then it is called a democratic country.

• The most common mechanisms involve election of the candidate with a majority or a plurality of the votes.

Representative Democracy

• Representatives may be elected or become diplomatic representatives by a particular district (or constituency),

• Representatives may be elected to represent the entire electorate proportionally.

• Some representative democracies also incorporate elements of direct democracy, such as referendums

Form of Representative Democracy

• Presidential :Eg United State of America, Nigeria, Brazil. These countries have an executive president nor prime minister

• Parliamentary:Eg. Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Israil,India. These countries are lead by Prime Minister

• Semi-Presidential: Eg France, Russia, Tanzania. These countries have an executive president and a Prime Minister.

Representative Democracy

Merits of democracya) Democracy is the best form of government as the

ruler are accountable to the people and have to fulfil their needs.

b) Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. This reduces the chance of hasty and irresponsible decision from being taking and improve the quality of decision-making.

c) It provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts especially in a diverse country like India. Infact democracy helps to keep our country together.

d) Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens as it is based on the principle of political equality.

Demerits of democracya) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This

led to instability.b) Democracy is all about political competition

and power play. There is no scope for morality.

c) So many people have to be consulted that it led to delays.

d) It leads to corruption as it is based on electoral competition.

civil society

• Civil society is defined as; Any organization or movement that works in the area between the household, the private sector and the state to negotiate matters of public concern.

• Civil societies include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, trade unions, academic institutions and faith-based organizations

Civil societies and its roles in democracy

• Rising awareness of right and responsibility of citizens in democracy eg educating the people during democratic process (election)

• Advocacy and lobbying for the interest of their group in policy formulation eg insisting that an agenda of their interest is taken by contesting political parties.

• Enabling effective participation of their members eg the disadvantages

Civil societies and its roles in democracy

• Ensuring transparency during and after election by monitoring the electoral process.

• Representation: voicing the interest of their member in the legislature. Eg when civil societies get special seat in the legislature

• Encouraging tolerance among groups and stability of the country in times of economic slowdown or social stress

• Watchdog of democracy and good governance

Good governance

• Good governance is the exercise of economic, political, and administrative authority to manage a country s affairs at all levels. It comprises the mechanisms, processes, and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences. UNDP (1997)

Good governance

• Good governance is a process, where rules and well-functioning institutions are applied to manage nation’s affairs in a manner that safeguards democracy, human rights, good order and human security, and economy and efficiency are followed in management of country’s resources.

Principles of good governance:

• According to the World Bank the principles of good governance are:

• 1. Voice and Accountability. Presence of orderly transfer of power, freedom of association, Press freedom, travel freedom. Human rights, democratic accountability, the role of opposition

• 2.Political stability. Lack of Military coup, insurgency, terrorism, assassination, civil unrest

• 3.Government Effectiveness. Quality of bureaucracy, budgetary process, policy consistency

• 4.Regulatory Quality. Regulation, foreign investment, govt. intervention, tax effectiveness

• 5.Rule of law. Lack of Crime, black market, presence of quality of judiciary, quality of police, property rights

• 6. Control of corruption. Incidence of Corruption, anti-corruption measures and public trust in government

Obstacles of Good governance

• a) Ignorance • b) Corruption,• c) Politicization of administration,• d) Weak democratic institutions,• e) Ineffective parliament,• f) Absence of the rule of law and• g) Absence of meritocracy etc.

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