What are the Principle, Forms and Essential Condition of Democracy

Politics is essentially an ancient and universal experience. The art and science of political analysis have developed over several thousand years throughout many parts of the world.

Democracy

Democracy as a political system, as a form of government, has become politically the most fashionable one day. It is originated from two Greek words ‘Demos’- means people and ‘Kratia’ means power. So, Democracy means power of people.

Definition:

Abraham Lincoln - ‘Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people’.

Characteristics:

• Government of the people;
• By the people;
• For the people;

MacIver – “Democracy is not a way of governing whether by majority or otherwise but primarily a way of determining who shall govern and broadly to what ends”

Characteristics

1. Determination.
2. Present in Aim.

Gettell- democracy as -‘that form of government in which the much of the population posses the right to share in the exercise of sovereign power’

So at last we can say that democracy is a word with many meanings and some emotional color.

Basic Principles of Democracy:

1. Democracy guarantees the right to speak, criticizes and disagrees with other.
2. Stands on the spirit of tolerance.
3. It believes in the methods of peace.
4. It is opposed to use of coercive method.
5. It upholds the dignity of human personality. 
6. It guarantees fundamental rights to its citizens.
7. It is built on liberty, equality and fraternity.

Forms of Democracy

Two types of forms in democracy

Direct /pure Democracy: A direct democracy is one in which the people themselves take direct part in the affairs of the state. 

• It is known as pure and simple democracy.
• People  exercise power.
• Small number of population and small states.
• It was existed in the ancient city sate of Greek.
• It is not found in modern state.

Indirect / representative Democracy:  It is represented by the selective number of people.

1. Huge number of people.
2. Representative exercise the power.
3. It is found in the modern state

J.S. Mill – “The whole people or some numerous portion of them exercise the governing power through deputies periodically elected by themselves".
The people judge the representative by the deeds.

Essential Condition for Democracy:

1. One Political Maturity and Education: The greatest defect in the working of democracy lies in the fact that the masses in which the power is vested are mostly uneducated, in the third world countries. They do not properly aware the political problems of their country and the value of their votes. 
2. Eternal Vigilance: Alertness of the people is essential condition without which the true idea of democracy cannot be realized. According to Bryce, "indolence and indifference on the part of the citizens are the two enemies of democracy." 
3. Self-governing Institution: Another defect in the working of democracy lies in the fact that people do not possess a proper knowledge regarding the working of democratic institutions. This defect can be removed by establishing self- governing institutions like village panchayats, Union perished, City cooperation, district boards, etc. 
4. Debit, Discussion and Criticism: Democracy is a government by debate and discussion. A keen spirit of toleration is essential for constructive criticism and healthy discussion. Moreover, democratic government implies a government by the majority.
5. Free and independent press: Individual liberty is the core of democracy. These freedoms allow a free scope for the proper expansion of human personality.

some other essential condition

• Well organized party system: 
• Well organized opposition: 
• The majority party forms the government: 
• Peaceful atmosphere: 
• Sense of solidarity.  
• Strong desire