Is Liberalism compatible with democracy?

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Is Liberalism compatible with democracy?

Liberalism is a political view that seeks to foster the development and well-being of the individual. Liberals regard the individual as a rational creature who can use his or her intelligence to overcome human and natural obstacles to a good life for all without resorting to violence against the established order. Liberalism is more concerned with process, with the method of solving problems, than with a specific programme.

In the 18th and 19th Centuries, Liberalism emphasised the full development of the individual, free from the restraints of government. In the 20th Century, Liberalism has seen a change of direction in that it looks to government as a means of correcting the abuses and shortcomings of society through the use of positive programmes of action. Today’s Liberals would see the government as a positive force in issues involving, for example, civil rights when the government can use its authority and power to change society for the good so that individuals can experience a positive benefit to their lives brought about by government action. In this sense, modern Liberals do not see the government necessarily as a major threat to individual freedom.

Democracy as a term comes from the Greek. ‘Demos’ meaning the people and ‘Kratos’ meaning authority or rule. A democracy is a system of government in which ultimate political power rests with a nation’s population at large, either directly or through elected representatives. In a democracy, citizens have the right to participate in political decision-making. Democracy is not an ideology, but rather an ideal that can be reached or embodied by various institutional arrangements according to one’s ideological conception of freedom, participation, rights, and other philosophical issues.

There is a definite tension between Liberalism and democracy, but this pairing can work together as long as power is kept in check. Democracy is a form of government and could be simply described as the theory of legitimate rule by the majority. Democracy may be totalitarian if the rule of the majority ruthlessly violates the rights of the minorities and diminishes their chances of becoming the majority. Liberalism is an understanding of the degree of government. Since Liberals know that in any society, power is a factor and cannot be eliminated, they do not try to abolish it but see their job as limiting, dividing up and controlling power and preserving the chance of replacing those in power. Liberalism and democracy happily coexist in many countries.

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Although Liberalism is closely associated with the modern development of democracy and democratic institutions, there have been a number of problems in its relationship with democracy. Rousseau saw democracy as being fundamentally majority rule. In Rousseau’s view even if 99% of the people supported one course of action, it would not necessarily be for the common benefit if it were simply the sum of the self-interested motives of the individuals who formed the majority. In short, we could say that Rousseau was showing a preference for consensus politics rather than simple majority rule. Rousseau therefore rejected democracy as a ...

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