What is democracy? Democracy it is a political regime which aims to make all citizens eligible and participating equally, directly or through an elected representative.
The word democracy translated from the Greek means "people's government", generated by "demos” (people) and “ Kratos" (power).
Index
- Origin
- current democracy
- General characteristics of democracy
- Types of Democracy
- In Brazil
Origin
This political regime emerged in Ancient Greece, in the V century a. C to designate the existing systems in the Greek City-States. Democratic systems arose in opposition to the Aristocracy, an aristocratic regime, or a regime of noble people, or people who had great influence.
However, initially democracy and aristocracy were not totally different, because in the first democratic citizenships, as in Athens, women, slaves and foreigners were totally excluded from political decisions.
So, the athenian democracy it was very different from the current democracy, because even with the proposal of “government of the people”, it still excluded most of the population, being exercised only by the so-called "citizens" of the time, who were men, over 21 years old and the child of a father and mother Athenian.
Therefore, even claiming to be opposed to aristocracy, monarchy, tyrannies, etc., this form of democracy still presented great exclusion and separation from the “people”.
current democracy
Currently, most countries are supported by democracy, based on legal systems and political institutions represented by powers, namely Executive, Judiciary and Legislative.
However, this political system was only possible after the upheavals that took place in the western world, with the fall of the Absolutist Old Regime and especially after the Industrial Revolution. These occurrences enabled the formation of several population centers and the people went in search of autonomy, associated with the ideal of nation.
Thus, the people started to have their rights and political autonomy, with universal suffrage, for example. Thus, the universal rights and human rights protection.
General characteristics of democracy
Democracy can be listed with general features, but may vary within governments and social structures. For example, a feature of democracy it is equal opportunities, as everyone is equal before the law, but it is not a concept that is 100% exercised within societies.
Some main features of democracy they are:
- Individual freedom from the State;
- Active participation of the people under the decisions of the State;
- Choice of a political representative;
- Equal opportunity for all;
- Common rights such as access to education;
- Government molded to the needs of education.
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Types of Democracy
Basically there are two types of democracy, direct and representative democracy.
THE direct democracy it is characterized by the power of the people over decisions that are taken directly by them. However, this democratic style is not viable in large communities, as the full participation of a very large number of people and the monitoring of this is very complicated. So, it's only possible in very small, closed communities.
already the representative democracy it is made under the choice of a representative who will make the political decisions with the greatest good of the population in mind. These representatives are chosen through vote and occupy positions in the Assembly, Chamber, Congress or Parliament.
In Brazil
Brazil went through different political regimes, being formed first as colony of Portugal, when the people who lived here had no political rights.
After this period, the country became a monarchy, being proclaimed Independence by D. Peter I, becoming the first emperor of Brazil.
Later, the country saw its first republican government being instituted by Proclamation of the Republic on November 15, 1889, through a military coup.
During this period, the right to vote began, which was granted only to landowners, with an established and literate amount of income. Thus, democracy was established in Brazil, but selectively and not broadly, with rights restricted to a few people.
This period extended until the government of Getulio Vargas who seizes power and establishes an authoritarian government, with a dictatorial regime. This phase marked a pause from brazilian democracy, which took a long time to be part of Brazil again.
However, in 1945, Vargas was deposed by a military coup and the presidency was handed over to Eurico Gaspar Dutra, elected directly and thus democracy was re-established.
This 1945 election was the fourteenth presidential election and the twelfth direct election, but it is considered the first truly democratic election in Brazil.
After that, several democratic governments followed one another until the 1964 military coup that resulted in a military regime which lasted 21 years, ending on March 15, 1985.
Brazil only returned to being a fully democratic republic in 1985, when there was a slow and gradual political opening commanded by Generals Geisel and Golbery. In 1985, civilians returned to power with the New Republic and, finally, democracy was restored with the Government of José Sarney.
It was Sarney who promulgated the Constitution currently in force in Brazil, the 1988 Constitution. Thus, since this return to the democratic era, the country has still established itself as a Democratic Republic.
Also know:
- What is fascism?
- What is socialism?
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