Discussing Essential Principles of Democracy (Essay Sample)

Essential Principles of Democracy
Student’s name
Institution
Essential Principles of Democracy
Democracy has been defined basically as a type of government where people hold the authority to elect their governing legislation (Post, 2006). This paper seeks to examine the exact democratic notions and principles that make a government to be considered as democratic. This involves examining two most important and fundamental democratic principles, as well as those (democratic principles) considered related and desirable but not essential to democracy.
In his journal article on Democracy and equality, Post (2006) describes democracy as a government form with the aim of achieving the value of collective self-rule. Specifically, the author addresses the association between democracy and the values of equality (Post, 2006). According to the Law professor, while democracy essentially necessitates that people be accorded equal treatment as self-governing agents, democracy does not necessitate the types of utilitarian equality normally linked with philosophies of distributed justice and fairness. Actually, Post (2006) mentions how these types of utilitarian equality are habitually conflicting with self-rule necessitated by democracy, as enshrined in a custom of rights limiting the realm of autonomy. Given that democracy necessitates that the citizenry be informed of their role in their process of autonomy, and the fact that this condition remains fulfilled only where the citizenry is able to relate to the procedures formulating public opinions, violations of utilitarian equality may at times estrange citizenry besides impairing the types of identification constituting to autonomous self-rule that formulates democracy. Post (2006) thus concludes that substantive democratic commitments and democracy are bound permanently in a reinforcing and antagonistic manner.
In an article by Brink (2007) on Mill’s moral and political philosophy, the author mentions three principles acting as the rudimentary maxims of utilitarianism. These principles include Happiness or Pleasure as the central thing comprising of intrinsic value; Actions are valid to the extent they generate happiness, invalid to the extent they generate unhappiness, and; the happiness of everybody matters equally. According to Brink, Mill was an ardent believer in utilitarianism philosophy. The author quotes Mill’s definition of Utilitarianism as the principle stipulating that “actions are valid proportionately where they seem to enhance happiness, and invalid where the reverse of happiness is the result” (p. 210). Brink offers rather divergent viewpoint on Mill’s liberal and utilitarian principles by focusing on how they have been applied in political and social contexts.
Based on the above arguments and from a personal point of view, the most essential and fundamental democratic principles to democracy include the principle of equality and the principle of citizen participation. Participation remains a vital role considering the participation of citizenry in democracy. Besides being a right, it is equally an obligation of the citizens to participate, and this may include voting in elections, vying for elections, debating issues, being informed, participating in civic or community meetings, paying taxes as well as protesting. Through participation, a better democracy is created. Considering the principle of equality, all persons should be treated equally in any democratic society. Equality indicates equal treatment and giving of opportunities among all persons, in addition to not discriminating others based on religion, gender, ethnic group or racial background. A good democracy enables people to uphold different personalities, beliefs, languages and cultures.
There are those desirable principles b