In today’s era, people are becoming aware of their basic rights. However, many consider their vote only as a way to elect a person who can fulfill immediate needs rather than long-term governance. Often, this leads to electing politicians who fail to serve the public effectively.
As Tim McCormick highlights in Liberal Democracy Battling for Survival: A Plan for Action, democracies can slowly erode when citizens are unaware of their own power and responsibilities. The book uses examples such as the subtle weakening of press freedom during the first Trump presidency to illustrate this decline.
What Is Meant By Liberal Democracy?
The word liberal democracy is an adjectival phrase of two words together. One is liberty, and the other is democracy, and they are both interconnected with each other. As the former cannot be achieved without the latter. So, there is a greater emphasis on the practical execution of this liberal democracy in countries of the world. People only make believe in the actions and do not trust mere words.
However, they know well the nature of these politicians who trap innocent people with their flamboyant speeches. Their speeches are nothing more than lies and fake promises that they make to the public. They take an oath for the service of humanity, but they forget everything about it after coming into power.
For instance, McCormick discusses how populist leaders may use social media to influence opinions, appealing to emotions rather than rational policy debate, an essential lesson for voters today.
A Beginner's Guide to Its Core Values and Global Challenges
In this guide, readers will get to know about the core meaning and purpose of liberal democracy and use it to their advantage. However, first of all, they should be aware of their right to vote after reaching a certain age. It is the age of maturity when they are sensible enough to choose their leaders from among themselves. Thus, it is the basic condition of a democratic setup that elected members must come from a public background. They can easily select their leaders from their inked stamps and thumb impressions on the ballot paper.
The aim of this voting process is to elect a leader who must fit the requirements. So, the government must protect the rights of the public. These politicians are completely accountable for all their actions and have to be clearly answerable to the people. Hence, they must be responsible for serving the nation and fulfilling its needs.
Learn more about these democratic principles and how to protect them in your community by exploring McCormick’s book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1918130558
Fundamental Elements of Liberal Democracy
The following are the essential factors of maintaining a liberal democracy in the country:
1. Free and Fair Elections
At every time, these politicians make bigger promises in their speeches to ordinary citizens who just listen to their words. They become a trap and cast their votes for these leaders who do nothing for the public in return for the favor. However, they forget everything and enjoy their luxury style of living on the money of these people. The government imposes a heavy burden of taxes on these citizens and enforces its laws to threaten the community.
People want a fair and transparent result of elections and see their chosen leaders in the assembly. There must be no sort of violence or oppression in the city. It comes especially from the side of the police who tyrannize the public by means of power and authority. But they cannot even pressure people to vote against their will. Use of digital technology can help reduce the chance of corruption in the traditional voting system.
2. Strict Rule of Law
In a democratic state, the law is above all else that matters most. Therefore, the law has to be prominent, giving no exception to anybody. It must be equal for all without differentiation between the rich and the poor. It sees everyone from the same view and also treats them similarly.
So, the punishments must also be the same for all. Irrespective of their position and authority in the world. The court should put the charges on an equal footing for everyone. It must sentence the guilty and put the person behind bars regardless of their wealth and power. No sources or references would work to bail out a culprit from jail.
3. Brings the True Justice
Justice is the right of everyone who lives in society. So, it is the responsibility of the court to make a legal and impartial judgment. Thus, they can do it without any kind of fear or terror in their minds.
However, they must strike their hammer and break the nib of the pen after announcing their verdict. It brings the fear of law among people who want to cause trouble in the city.
Especially, the minors must be happy with the verdict to wish and desire to live a peaceful life without any external disruption. Therefore, the majority of the population must not tease or disturb these minors residing around them.
Global Challenges of Liberal Democracy
It is absolutely common to find hurdles and obstacles in the way of liberal democracy in the country. However, there must be a will of the public to clear the resistance and roadblocks. They must have the courage to confront these challenges mentioned below.
1. Weaken the Judicial Power
The independent judiciary aims to deliver an ideal form of justice to its citizens. However, it works under no pressure and makes its own decisions. But the unnecessary involvement of the government makes the judicial system weak and disables its powers.
Therefore, it reaches such a level where judges are bought and sold at a price. It shows the view of a decline of democracy in any nation in the world. Bribes and corruption are common in the judiciary that easily bails out the criminal in a respectful way. It is because of the lack of evidence against these culprits who are backed and supported by these political parties on their authority. These criminals roam openly around the city and commit more such crimes that go unnoticed.
2. Shows Economic Inequality
All these elements become the reason for economic inequality in the countries of the world. So, they only have their power and pressure on the poor. It is because the wealthy are exempt from all these restrictions.
Ordinary people have to face and suffer through all the pains, and they never find legal justice for their cases. They have to pay a heavy burden of taxes and do not even get their rights, which makes them extremely disappointed.
All the distribution of wealth comes into the wrong hands, who take the undue benefit of it. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. The government raises the labor costs and makes it difficult for common people to make ends meet. They make the standard of living highly expensive for people who are unable to manage their budget for their expenses every month.
3. Modify the Law of the Constitution
Many newly elected governments make several changes in the constitutional laws of their country for their own benefit. However, they modify these clauses and add something new to them. It causes a sense of disparity in the nation that makes the law work for the rich and wealthy citizens.
On the other hand, it only suppresses the poor under the enormous burden of taxes that are difficult to pay. They never provide the right to freedom to the public and never give them complete independence.
4. Restrict the Civil Society
The formation of a civil society is for the definite public interest. However, they work independently of the government and create NGOS that help citizens in many different ways. So, this idea of a municipal setup is applicable only in a democratic state.
Otherwise, there is no such value and demand for these activities in a controlled government. Leaders always disallow these kinds of things that are against their rules. Thus, they abolish the thought of a civil society working for the benefit of people in a community neighborhood.
Bottom Line
All in all, the above-mentioned are valuable points to learn and understand about liberal democracy. However, readers can evaluate these challenges to bring a solution to them. So, they must need a democratic government that favors their sense of freedom and independence. The law must be prominent and applicable to all, regardless of their status.
To explore detailed solutions and examples of democratic survival, read Tim McCormick’s Liberal Democracy Battling for Survival: A Plan for Action today.
Frequently Asked Questions
The term liberal democracy is based on liberty and democracy and gives a mutual combination of both. So, it emphasizes the basic independence of the rights of citizens.
Liberal democracy is different because it discusses the protection of basic human rights and never lets anybody violate them. It teaches a true practical meaning of equality and justice.
There are enormous values of liberal democracy in the form of impartiality, freedom of speech, legal justice, and accountability of power. It elects the leaders by will and choice and not by force.
Besides benefits, there are several challenges of liberal democracy that create harsh obstacles and roadblocks in the journey. It makes the practice so difficult and pressures the public.
The formation of a liberal democracy is incomplete without the law of the constitution because it empowers the rule of law and imposes on the government to take the right and prompt decisions.