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Sunday 15 September 2019 sees the global celebration of democracy, which provides an opportunity to urge all governments to respect their citizens’ right to active, substantive and meaningful participation in democracy. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development addresses democracy in Sustainable Development Goal 16, recognising the indivisible links between peaceful societies and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. Furthermore, the 2018 Democracy Index revealed that political participation is on the rise in almost every region of the world, despite a general growing mistrust in democracy.

The term “democracy” itself comes from the Greek demos, “common people” and kratos, “strength”; it is generally acknowledged that the first democratic government took places in Athens, Greece, in 508–507 BC. All eligible citizens were allowed to speak and vote in the assembly, however, Athenian citizenship excluded women, slaves, foreigners, non-landowners, and men under 20 years of age. Indeed, it was not until 1907 AD that women were allowed to vote in New Zealand, which was the first self-governing country in the world to do so.

Since then, countries all over the world have tried many types of democracy, from direct democracy to parliamentary, taking many forms such as constitutional monarchies and republics. Some economists have criticized the efficiency of democracy, citing the premise of the irrational voter while others argue that democracy slows down processes. As Winston Churchill famously commented, “Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

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