Representational Or Liberal Democracy

The 21st century is often seen as the most important time for global political renewal. The 21st century saw many countries break away from colonialism and enter into a transitional stage of independence in which new political systems that would lead them forward and away from their past needed to be chosen. Coincidentally at approximately this time, the cold war which consisted of a competition between the two main political systems of capitalism and communism was taking place and at the end of 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, capitalism as well as the associated political system of democracy seemed to emerge as the victor of all political systems ( Nwauwa 2005 : 1 ).

As a result, decolonised countries that emerged into independence …show more content…
This can be seen as the purest form of democracy as although women and slaves were not allowed to vote, all those who were citizens of Athens were given a chance to lead despite legalities such as political experience, intelligence and overall good will ( Heywood 2000 : 126 ).

Representational or Liberal Democracy however, takes a different approach. It can be considered as a more diluted form of democracy as the majority chooses a group that will represent their desires and needs of the people and is only really embraced every few years by means of regular elections ( Heywood 2000 : 126 ). One of the most important aspects of liberal democracy is that representatives or most powerful decision makers are not chosen as a result of birth,wealth, violence or other sinister means but rather as a result of a choice made by the supreme will of the people ( Huntington 1991 : 6 ).

Liberal democracy also emphasises the rights of the citizen in that all citizens are entitled to various civil and political entitlements such as freedom of speech, assembly, expression and the freedom to initiate and engage in political debate ( Huntington 1991 : 7