Essence and Essentials of Democracy by Dr. CR Annapurna.pptx

Essence and essentials of Democracy
Implications of democracy for a government, political parties, individuals, countries and the world.

1. WELCOME to One Day National Level Webinar on the occasion of International Day of Democracy organised by Department of Political Science S . R. Fatepuria College Murshidabad , West Bengal

2. September 15, 2025

3. “Democracy is powered by the will of the people by their voices, their choices, and their participation”. António Guterres UN Secretary General

4. Democratic Backsliding

5. Meaning After the enormous expansion of democracy that started in the 1980s and gained momentum after the end of the Cold War, global levels of democracy have steadily declined since the mid-2000s. 6 a country must have achieved a significant level of democracy and then the country must have experienced significant erosion of democratic institutions. 

6. Democracy Index 2024, by regime type – Economist Intelligence EIU* No. of countries % of countries % of world population Full democracies 25 15.0 6.6 Flawed democracies 46 27.5 38.4 Hybrid regimes 36 21.6 15.7 Authoritarian regimes 60 35.9 39.2 * Economist Intelligence. EIU. https://image.b.economist.com/lib/fe8d13727c61047f7c/m/1/609fbc8d-4724-440d-b827-2c7b7300353d.pdf?utm_campaign=MA00001514&utm_medium=email-owned&utm_source=eiu-marketing-

7. Map of Democracy

8. Democracy Index – Categories

9. Understanding the Essence and Essentials of Democracy

10. Etymology The word "democracy" originates from two Ancient Greek words: ‘Demos’, meaning ‘people’, and ‘ Kratos ’ , meaning ‘power’ or ‘rule’  Together, demokratia literally translates to ‘rule by the people’ or power of the people

11. Definitions

12. Features Representative Government Responsible Government Rule of Law Rule of the Majority Protection of the Rights of the Minorities Rights guaranteed by the Constitution Periodic Elections Freedom of Press Universal Adult Franchise Multi-party System

13. The Essence

14. Abraham Lincoln

15. Popular Notion Abraham Lincoln: “Democracy is a Government, of the people, for the people & by the people”

16. Meaning Of the People: Power belongs to the people. The government and its power originate from the citizens.  ---- People are the Source of Power ---- For the People:  The government's actions and decisions are intended to serve the interests and well-being of all the people. --- Policy is People Centric --- By the People:  The people actively participate in the governing process, either by making laws directly or by electing representatives to do so. --- People are the Participants of Policy Making---

17. PEOPLE

18. Implications for the Government Horizontal Vertical

19. Vertical Implications Central State District Mandal / Thaluk Village

20. Decentralisation of Power

21. Horizontal Implications Legislature Executive Judiciary Media

22. Four Pillars of Democracy

23. Implications - Party System et.al. Democracy Pressure Groups Interest Groups

24. Implications for an Individual Democracy

25. Implications for an Individual Dignity Rights Liberty Equality Justice

26. Implications for a Nation

27. Implications for the World

28. Map of Human Development

29. Map of Democracy

30. The Essentials

31. Elections

32. Elections Election is very important aspect of a democracy. Periodic elections are the key to Democracy. They allow the people to choose their leaders. The periodicity ensures a certain amount of accountability on the part of the politicians. If their performance is not up to the expectations of the people, then they may be ousted in the next elections.

33. 2019 General Elections One Hundred and Eighty Five – 185 candidates Nizamabad constituency. 178 were the turmeric farmers. These 178 farmers garnered 97000 votes, this was greater than the winning margin of 70,000 votes.

34. Equality

35. Equality Elections without Equality are of no meaning. Universal Adult Franchise invokes the idea of equality. It ensures that all the citizens of a particular age have the right to vote and take part in the election of the government. Equality is both a condition and a result of democracy. Social, Economic and Political Equality

36. Equality of Status and Opportunity Equality is not a grant, but a claim

37. Empowerment

38. Empowerment Equality is not a grant, but a claim. The constitution empowers the citizens with a number of rights in a democratic system. Right to vote Right to contest in elections Right to hold public office Right to petition Right to criticize the government Without empowerment, all these rights become just letters and words.

39. Plachimada vs Coca Cola 2000-07 Depletion of ground water Water Contamination Environmental Degradation

40. Education

41. Education Empowerment is impossible without proper education. Education plays the most vital role in a democracy. Education ensures better and rational usage of political and civil rights. Here, education must include formal training in the political system, the constitution, political values and human values.

42. “It is government that need to flow from the education and not education from the government”. - Plato “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” – Kofi Annan

43. Final Analysis DEMOCRACY

44. Challenges to Democracy Authoritarian elements Poverty and underdevelopment Illiteracy and Ignorance Corruption Criminalisation of politics Divisions Political apathy International politics

45. Democracy is integral to Humanity MAN CANNOT LIVE ALONE A statement of profound meaning, intellect, and philosophy

46. Democracy is integral to Humanity

47. Thank You Dr. CR Annapurna Ph.D. in Political Science, Osmania University, Head, Department of Political Science & Principal(FAC), Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Degree College for Men, Kamareddy .