are there certain qualities required in a culture before democracy can take root?

Question

The most common argument put forward is that the "people must be freedom loving?
All people love freedom.Surly it takes more than just that. what about factors like,intelligence level,lack of religious fanatism,basic honest character.

I agree in part with G spawn, however many in Iran and china are thrown in prison and tourchered because of their views and in that sense are not really democratic regardless of how they see themselves

Answer 1

an educated populace
the right to dissent
two reasons why America is losing its democratic ideals

Answer 2

I guess the idea that freedom is more important.

Intelligence is important as well. I guess why that has proven more true to me than any other theory is the "pyramid" theory. Forgive me but I can't remember his name. Starts with an H. Hate that when I can't remember.....anyway....if you are concerned about survival alone...you can't be worried about art or medicine or anything else to advance a society. Just like now....in our own country....people wonder why there aren't more people out there fighting for things....you can't when your time is spent working (meeting basic needs). You simply don't have the time to spend. The other side of the coin is thinking that if you are enjoying the benefits....everybody else must be too.

I really thought when we went through racism and everything else....that when (as an example) blacks were put into office that they have fought so hard to get....that there would be real change.
Funny thing happened on the way to the top....they are no different...no better...no fairer...than any other group. I live outside of Chicago.....they are the majority....they have the power....thay are making the same mistakes and doing the exact same things they swore they would never do. They have the same ego problems....the same ability to be bought and paid for.....they are no better to "rule" than anyone else. Same anger and hatred...everything.

It really does scare me when people say....when we are the majority....what will you do? Really....we aren't a democracy....we are a "republic".

How can racism be wrong.....if you are racist when you get in power? How are you not racist when people make the statement...I do it for "MY PEOPLE"?" Who is "your people"? What makes "your people" different or special from the "human race"?

The problem is "unfair labor practices" or "poverty" or whatever else. Not an "hispanic" or "black" or "asian" or "womans issue"...problem.

Yes...it takes alot more.....some simply aren't ready yet. It's like expecting a jr.high kid to understand what it means to be an adult. It's alot easier to go backwards than it is to go forward.

If just say "no" worked....we wouldn't have the problems we have. Problem is...just say "no" doesn't work.

Answer 3

Well, the problem is also that democracy can be defined many different ways. It means, "government by the people", and is connected to freedom, but how do you define either of these terms?

Iran is a very democratic country. The have lots of elections... checks and balances... etc... They are democratic, but not what you would consider a Western democracy. But they consider themselves 'free' in that they are free to practice their religion their way, and government is subservient to their religious freedom.

It sounds wierd to most Westerners, but Iranians consider themselves very free. Their freedoms are very different than ones you think of in the U.S., and while the average Iranian considers their country to be democratic, they reject "Western democracy" in terms of the cultural elements of materialism associated with it (family and religion are more important).

The same can be said of China, Vietnam, North Korea, etc. All of them consider themselves democratic. I'm not defending them, but what you define democracy to be (in terms of "freedom from...", "freedom to..." and "freedom for...") varies greatly and depends upon their priorities...

Anyways, my point is that both 'democracy' and 'freedom' are loaded terms, and the definition depends on who you are talking to.

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As for throwing people in jail, while I agree in principle, let's keep in mind WE AREN'T THAT DIFFERENT. We have more people in jail as a percentage of our population than even Iran or China do. And if we want to, we just slap a terrorism charge on them so they don't get attorneys, trials, and all of those other pesky civil liberties (and yes, torture as well... we just play games with the definition).

Plus, when it comes to social programs for the poor, we absolutely suck, and even Iran and Cuba have MUCH better records than we do. Look at health care in this country... If you term democracy as being "the freedom to have adequate health care for all its citizens" (which is as fair as any other definition), then we rank pretty low...

Democracy does not mean that we (or Iran, China, etc) are a fair society. Freedom is dependent on what you as a society see as important. That's all.

Answer 4

They must want democracy before actually living in it, they are used to living a life under a dictatorship and have accepted that life style.

Answer 5

The people have to be intelligent. That's why it will never work here in America, and we'll have to settle for Democrats and Republicans.

Answer 6

No freedom is it. You can try to list reasons why democracy does not take root: Castro, Chavez, Kim Jung Il. Despots do not allow democracy.