Democracy is still flourishing today

By Jon Catterson and Thomas Howard

Teachers are fond of saying that the classrooms are not democracies. They say that the Constitution falls into an abyss at the entrance. Fortunately, teachers do not rule the world. Democratic countries rule the world. Democracies will continue to flourish in the 21st century. They will flourish for two reasons. Democracies have been globally accepted, and democracies are generally beneficial. Hence, most countries will eventually use them. Generally, democracies have been globally accepted.

Many scholars thought democracies would not spread out of the western countries. Recent events have proven them wrong. Countries in Latin-American, Sub-Saharan Africa, the former Soviet Bloc, and South East Asia have moved towards democracy. In 1947, India became an independent republic and immediately moved towards democracy. In Latin America, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia have become democracies in recent years. In Central America, Costa Rica is a notable example of recent democracies. In the former Soviet Bloc, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakstan became democracies. In all, 118 of the world's 193 countries have democratized. This constitutes a majority (fifty-five percent) of the world's population. It is clear that democracies are increasing, and that they will continue to increase. The amount of numbers alone will make democracies flourish

On the other hand, democracies are inherently unstable. A major economic downturn, social unrest, and illegitimate leadership may lead to the downfall of a democracy. Economic downturns do occur; social unrest occurs; democracies fall apart. Athens used to be democracy. It fell when invading armies came, but the replacement for this democracy, dictatorship, was weak. Rome was also a democracy that fell. Again, the replacement was weak

It has been established that democracies are instable. Nevertheless democracies have considerable benefits. Countries naturally act in their own self-interest. If democracy helps countries, they will adopt democracy as their own form of government The question is whether or not democracy is beneficial. The answer is yes.

It is widely recognized that democracies increase the freedom and liberties of the citizens. In democracies, individuals get more respect. When individuals get more respect, they produce more. Therefore, more individualism is good for countries. Most moralists agree that equality is also good for nations. Democratic nations experience more equality. Democracies, especially the United States, advocate the separation of powers. Separate powers insure that a dictatorship under one man will not occur. This increases the stability of the country and increase economic output. Other countries respect countries that are democratic. More respect leads to increased trade and increased economic output. Citizens in a democracy are naturally more involved in the running of government than citizens in other governments. This satisfies a natural urge among people to feel important

In summary, democracies will sustain themselves in the future. Democracy is an idea that is generally accepted, and democracy is beneficial to countries that adopt it.