Throughout the history with the industrial developments and revolutions, many forms of power have been practiced including systems such as capitalism, feudalism, secularism, communism, liberal democracy, totalitarianism and democracy; yet in all forms, democracy has nearly proved itself to be at least the best we have.

Democracy as a word and a concept takes it roots from ancient Greeks around 5th century BC from the words ‘demos’, which means “whole citizens living within a particular city-state”, and ‘kratos’, “which means power or rule”; and, it has been defined as “a government based on law” with “ elected representatives of the people” by Locke,a form of government that “has never existed and never will” by Rousseau , “Of the people, by the people, for the people” by Lincoln, “people as a body holds the sovereign authority” by Montesquieu and as “a matter of the free choice of government” by Unesco. With all these definitions, it would not be wrong to say that democracy sets a common ground for the concepts of rights, freedom and justice where people are included in decision-making process by elections and referendums which legitimise governments and provide representation of citizens by politicians. Yet, it could be noted that although democracy sets a common ground for majorities and minorities, its practice may not be executed the same everywhere as different governments have different paces of democratisation and development; and, that there are also interventions or influence of interest groups and mass communication channels.

Main concepts of rights, freedom and justice laid down the foundation for democratic political systems and defined main characteristics of democracy, some of which are a legitimate government, the right to vote alternative parties which work for both majorities and minorities, referendums, justice, protection by law and equal treatment for all, freedom of speech, a constitution. Tansey states that Lincoln’s addressing people as “Government of the People, by the People, and for the People” might suggest elements of democracywhich are “First, that it is ‘of’ the people not only in the sense of being ‘over’ all the people but that it derives its legitimacy from their commitment to it (government by consent). Second, that it is ‘by’ the people in the sense that they participate extensively in governmental processes. Third, that it is ‘for’ the people in that it seeks to realise the common welfare and safeguard the rights of individuals” Apart from Lincoln, many politicians contributed to the definition and development of democracy with their own ideologies. Weber identified three key elements of legitimacy which includes “a legal rational basis to the actions of governments based on constitutions, established laws and institutions establishing their authority.”; liberal thinkers emphasized “individual freedom in society”; Hobbes argued freedom and to what extent it could be practiced while citizens “pursue their individual desires without danger”; Locke stated that “the main function of government was to protect life, liberty and estate”; collectivist liberals thought about “state intervention to combat social evils”; Rousseau discussed in his work “Contact Social”(1972) that “collective conscience and will of the people should be reflected by the state and government”; Hegel stated his view about a more “idealised” state as “enabling” and also Bentham supported a form of state which “removes obstacles” to“common evils”andMill worked on the ways for “compulsory education, public ownership of land and better conditions for the workforce” and influenced the reform of education. Also feminism had its impact on women’s right to vote and to be voted for, work conditions, social division of works and overall gender equality and the concept of rights.

Democracy as a system is the rule of majority in which minorities have also an influence and governments are decentralized so that everybody could be heard. All concepts above defining the characteristics of democratic political systems are practiced through fair and free elections, which offer citizens alternatives of political parties and leaders of different ideologies, for reconstitution of the system regularly and embody societies’ tendencies and requests, which are for the common good, by policies, laws and legislatures. During elections, for the outcome, individual features such as social class, wealth, region, cultural and political beliefs are quite influential; but influence of outsider and insider interest groups, mass media and nowadays social media should not be ignored.

Although democracy is accepted as best of the systems we have and apart from only as a concept, it has different models and flaws. Its categories are differentiated by separation and balance of powers, and two main models are direct democracy, in which people have direct influence, and representative democracy, which includes parliamentary and presidential systems which include executive, legislature and independent judicial structures. The latter is the most practiced and also most argued one. There are discussions about whether democratic political systems are really democratic or not regarding the practice of rights, freedom and justice, and the reliability of majority voting, which Aristotle also regarded as poor, in representative structures. Former discussion is actually about to what extent democracy could really be practiced and strongly supported by the word “should” in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ Article 1 as it makes one think about recognition of rights in different regions and countries. For the latter discussion, it should be noted that the majority and the minority are both from one society and not only their social class, economic conditions, region they live in, cultural and political beliefs but also mass media, including social media, have sometimes positive or sometimes negative, changing from perspective, effects. To give an example, while sometimes there are unfair campaigns which promote vote apathy and therefore bring certain results, there are also campaigns that promote polarities and as a result a rise in votes. This remarks the importance of  quality and accuracy in information and also which communication channels it is posed through; moreover, literacy and the ability to think critically of voters.

However younger generations, who generally make a big portion of society in most of the countries, seem to be changing the game. Though they are said to be non-politic, with the internet and globalization, more people and especially younger generations, who learn, read, speak up and listen to other people’s opinions and experiences more, are into politics. Politics here is not the one in parliaments, as most of the people don’t believe in that, but rather a more instant and spreading communication of the issues, a more on streets, really making an impact way. Nowadays, climate change awareness, the projects about how to take action about global problems are at their peak. Also, women’s rights and gender equality problems are taken to streets in every part of the world. People, before waiting for politicians or their representatives to take action, themselves take action to influence them in making new policies while showing the world everything they do and think through social media. Now, people do not wait for TV Channels to broadcast them, but use new media to make themselves heard. Yet, with the rise of this new wave in so-called democratic political systems, governments are keen to take control and limit the spread of information by bans, fines or imprisonment. Although democracy evolves on and on, within this evolution, the rise in negative use of power in banning or limiting communication channels, arrest of journalists and activists, distrust in the voting systems and information pollution should be taken into consideration and enhanced also again through democratic ways.

As a conclusion, it can be concluded that democracy, with its benefits and flaws, is a political system for rights, freedom, justice and as the world population grows, it provides a regulatory system in which people have a voice. While its flaws and the truth that it is not fully exercised everywhere create chaos, these force societies to think critically and realise that democracy brings solutions within itself. With the internet and globalisation, a tendency in awareness that all people around the world have been experiencing the same issues for decades and now any action taken anywhere, directly and rapidly, influences other societies like a wave. Therefore, democracy can be said to be the best of the systems for now as it has solutions within. J. S. Mill’s ideas that individual actions of thinking, speaking should be for the good of every person in society and should not be interfered with if not otherwise and that “It is the honour and glory of the average man that he can respond internally to wise and noble things, and be led to them with his eyes open” shed lights on the crossroads we get through and guides democracy to be practiced with critical thinking while aiming for the good. Finally, Gidden’s statement on democracy “a sturdy plant, able to grow even on quite barren ground” explains the very nature of democracy and also the general saying that it is “a promise, blessing and also a challenge” proves itself to be the best political system for the better.

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