Politics & Democracy
What is politics and why does it matter?
In many countries political bodies aim to expand your personal liberties while making sure this is not at the expense of the liberties of others. But in some countries, politics oppress the majority of the people in order to please a minority.
The decisions that governments make are far-reaching and have a huge impact on the economic development of a country because they dictate how scarce resources are used.
- The power that local governments and groups have depends upon the individual country but can include decisions regarding issues like how land is used, who can use different resources and what services (for example health and schools) are provided and to what standard.
- National decisions matter: for example, whether all groups and individuals are considered equal, which services are provided publicly or privately and to what extent the wishes of the people are prioritised above the desires of companies and government officials.
- International decisions affect what national and local governments make decisions about and how they make them. International decisions include both those between two or more countries and in international organisations like the United Nations. International politics includes issues like conflict, trade and the environment.
What is good governance?
If politics are the decisions that governments make, governance is how these decisions are put into practice. Good governance is an important attribute and is essential for progressive development. It is the way a government uses its resources and power to better the lives of its citizens.
It is the government's ability to:
1) be transparent and ensure each citizen can express their opinions.
2) provide efficient and effective public services.
3) promote the health and well-being of its citizens.
4) create a favourable climate for economic development.
What is democracy and why is it so important?
Democracy is an ideal and refers to a political system where the people rule and are involved in every decision. But what this means in practice is very different. It would be impossible, after all, for every individual to make an informed decision on every aspect of their lives.
Most democracies that we think of are 'representative, multi-party democracies'. This means citizens choose people to represent them through elections and who go on to defend their interests in government. These representatives are organised in political parties according to interest. Most democracies in the developed world are liberal democracies which aim to give everyone equal rights and protect individual liberties, such as the freedom of speech.
Winston Churchill famously said: "Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time". Democracy is not without its faults – it does not really represent the interests of the majority (and even when it does, these interests can be harmful to others), it excludes minority groups, it can hinder economic development and does not provide public goods in the most efficient or effective way. That said, the most prosperous countries, both economically and socially, are democratic.
What is important to understand is that democracy, by itself, is not enough to guarantee freedom and development – these are very complex processes and each country will develop differently.
