Kinds of democracy around the world

First, one more player in democracy: the media. Newspapers, news channels and social media keep us informed and act as the voice of the people, raising public problems so they get solved. That is why the media is called the 'fourth pillar of democracy'.

Democracy is not one single model. Countries share the same principles (freedom, equality, participation, rule of law, rights and duties) but arrange them differently. Fig. 6.4 sorts them two ways.

Way 1: who decides?

• Direct democracy: citizens themselves take part in most decisions. It is hard to run in a big country. Example: Switzerland.
• Representative (indirect) democracy: people elect representatives who decide for them, in regular elections, and the government answers to the people. Example: India.

Way 2: how is the executive chosen?

• Parliamentary democracy: people elect the legislature, not the executive. Members of the executive (like the Prime Minister and ministers) are also members of the legislature and answer to it. Examples: India and Canada.
• Presidential democracy: the executive is separate from the legislature. The President is elected by the people and answers to them. Example: the USA.

Watch out: India appears in both lists. It is representative (people elect representatives) and parliamentary (the executive comes from, and answers to, Parliament).

Five countries compared (p.148):

A school festival. Fig. 6.5 imagines student councils from four 'countries' visiting your school:

• Team A: everyone gathers and votes on big decisions, like the canteen menu; the president has little power.
• Team B: each class elects a representative; they elect the president and decide together.
• Team C: students directly elect both the president and the council; the president is the chief decision-maker.
• Team D: elections happen, but only selected candidates may stand, the president holds most power, and opposition is discouraged.

"So which team is which?" Team A is like direct democracy. Team B is like representative democracy. Team C is like a presidential system. Team D holds elections, but with no real choice and a silenced opposition, it is not really democratic. The book asks you to choose your ideal team, and give reasons.

This gives you a test for any country: Does it hold regular elections? Who chooses the head of government? Is there more than one party? Can citizens criticise the government freely? From the answers you can call it democratic, partly democratic or non-democratic.