Governmental ideals are vital for a nation's stability and growth. However, at this instance, we will only be narrowing down to one particular type of government - and that is, through this blog discussion, we want to find out whether democracy really brings about stability in a society.
To start off this discussion, let us take a look at what democracy is all about:
Well, democracy by definition just means the government by people, and this is one of the fundamental values that Singapore's government upholds. That means that all the people should be able to have their say in one way another in everything that affects their lives.
I feel that democracy is indeed capable of bringing about stability in a society as it can boost the development of a nation in a really positive manner. For example, according to a speech that Rice has given on the 8th of May this year, she comments that “Democracy has been opening up old, elite-dominated politics to millions who had been at the margins of their societies, the poor and the disadvantaged and indigenous peoples and minorities. These men and women have at last become active democratic citizens, and they are demanding that their governments work for them.” This means that democracy can provide good relations between the people and the government, and it can also develop mutual trust among the two parties as they can benefit abundantly. Therefore, citizens are able to cooperate, and this will in turn lessen societal instability as people are positive in the path in which the government is taking on.
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I personally believes that instability in the society can exists in three aspect- political instability, social instability and economic instability. These instability are a results of conflicts between ideas and system of doing things.
The ideals in which democracy upholds revolves around the idea of equality and freedom. Upon the practise of democracy, people would be able to exert equal rights in the decision making process of the organization. Since everyone has equal rights to the decisions of the organization, there would be the absence of conflicts and therefore an absence of instability.
I therefore agrees that democracy do creates stability in the society judging on the ideals that this system tries to uphold and that this ideas will eliminate conflicts.
Everyone has different mindsets, so essentially it is only the majority who will be satisfied with the self-elected government, and their subsequent decisions.
This is evident in Malaysia, where Malays form a huge part of the population and hence receive special privileges, whereas the Chinese are greatly disadvantaged.
Hence, by using the criterion that all members of the nation should have equal chance of representation and enjoy universally recognised liberties for there to be stability, I strongly disagree that democracy creates stability in a society.
Democracy would allow a policy that satisfies the people to be brought about. This is what creates stability in a society as people would not complain about the policies that have been implemented in their society. However, the decisions that the people make may not always be the best solution when dealing with politics. This is one of the many reasons Democracy would fail to ensure stability in a society.
Firstly, in a voting system, the people of the society would have a chance to vote who they would like to lead them. However, those who strive to win the people’s hearts would use various methods to do so. For example bribery, sabotage and promises, all these acts remove the advantages of democracy as the people are forced to judge their leaders by their masks. Democracy would in turn cause chaos in the society where leaders are wrongfully brought about.
However, democracy does have its own advantages. Democracy allows the people living in that society to have a say in politics. The government would have a chance of hearing the people’s needs a carry out whatever measures they need to meet these needs. This in turn brings about happiness in the society as the people would not fuss over the politics that have been implemented in their society.
In conclusion, I find this topic sitting on a fence as the effectiveness of Democracy heavily depends on a person’s character. Democracy would work fine in a society that truly wish to bring peace to their people but a society would suffer when Democracy is used to bring about corrupted leaders into the Government.
Let me offer my stand once again. Well, democracy can also provide stability as it is able to reach an essential consensus, without introducing any form of conflicts. For example, collapsed authoritarian states such as the former Soviet union has disintegrated as their intolerant rulers have failed to build consensus. However, democracy enables people to choose their rulers and way of life, and this in turn promotes stability as the government is able to work without having to worry that consensus is unreached as all of these are still fundamentally built on people’s choice and freedom.
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