Forms understand democracy - 1st

Forms to understand democracy

Is it possible that can exist several forms to understand democracy?

Is democracy a process that can be transformed as time passes or is it some rigid model?

Democracy is a model of political organization of the State, that arises in ancient Greece, in opposition to the monarchical forms of organization of the State, where absolute power rested in the figure of a person: the king.

Democracy in Athens arose with a fault of origin, because it excluded women, slaves and foreigners from the condition of citizenship and therefore took away their ability to decide in the destinations of the nation. The context of this event is set in a time when patriarchy was constituted as the dominant model, based on the power of the male, who led society and took over public space (Engels, 1884)

At the time of the Republic in Rome, there were two magistrates who ruled and were appointed by popular election. However, the principle of social exclusion was maintained because only the patricians had a power that was based on their lineage and economic domain.

Democracy and Republic After the French Revolution, in Europe and in the European colonies that acquire their freedom and independence the figure is rescued from Rome of the republic as a form of organization of the State and of government, and adopts democracy as a model, although she continued to reproduce forms of social exclusion based on lineage, social, cultural and economic status, for citizenship configuration.

Under this republican model the Ecuadorian State emerged in 1830 and democracy was establishedas a form of government. But his approach was that only a few citizens could decide the destinies of the country. This is how an oligarchic democracy is established, that reproduces forms of exclusion based on lineage and economic status.

Democracy is a model that is linked to the figure of a republican state.

The formation of republics gives it a more current meaning to democracy. For Rousseau (1762), the republic, as a model ofState, obtains legitimacy, regardless of the form of government that exists, from the decision of the sovereign people.

The implementation of a democratic model per se supposes the application of the basic principles that govern democracy, which according to Tocqueville they are: equality and liberty. Norberto Bobbio incorporates other principles such as majority decision and defense of the rights of minorities; also argues that dialogue is the way for the peaceful resolution of controversies and proposes the tolerance as a basic rule to accept differences.

Jürgen Habermas proposes a deliberative democracy where rescue the citizen rights of deliberation, participation and political communication.

Participation allows citizens to be what they want to be, assuming responsibility that this implies, in the exercise of their freedom and equality. The participation implies the communication of the ideas of self-determination of the citizen.

Let´s Work!

Watch this video: youtube.com/watch?v=4oUgkHraXyk Based on the information of this video create an infography summarizing the main ideas of the history of democracy in Ecuador.

1875 1895 1912 1920 1922 1925

1809 1822 1830 1748 1843 1859 1861

Dates to consider in the summary

Thanks!