Oraa, Glory Mae A.

Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World

Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

Many across the Globe Are Dissatisfied With How Democracy Is Working

A woman shows her inked finger after voting in a village near Srinagar, India.

Anger at political elites, economic dissatisfaction and anxiety about rapid social changes
has fueled political upheaval in regions around the world in recent years. Anti-
establishment leaders, parties and movements have emerged on both the right and left
of the political spectrum, in some cases challenging fundamental norms and institutions
of liberal democracy. Organizations from Freedom House to the Economist Intelligence
Unit to V-Dem have documented global declines in the health of democracy.
As previous Pew Research Center surveys have illustrated, ideas at the core of liberal
democracy remain popular among global publics, but commitment to democracy can
nonetheless be weak. Multiple factors contribute to this lack of commitment, including
perceptions about how well democracy is functioning. And as findings from a new Pew
Research Center survey show, views about the performance of democratic systems are
decidedly negative in many nations. Across 27 countries polled, a median of 51% are
dissatisfied with how democracy is working in their country; just 45% are satisfied.
Assessments of how well democracy is working vary considerably across nations. In
Europe, for example, more than six-in-ten Swedes and Dutch are satisfied with the
current state of democracy, while large majorities in Italy, Spain and Greece are
dissatisfied.
To better understand the discontent many feel with democracy, we asked people in the
27 nations studied about a variety of economic, political, social and security issues. The
results highlight some key areas of public frustration: Most believe elections bring little
change, that politicians are corrupt and out of touch and that courts do not treat people
fairly. On the other hand, people are more positive about how well their countries
protect free expression, provide economic opportunity and ensure public safety.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM
Oraa, Glory Mae A.
Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World
Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

We also asked respondents about other topics, such as the state of the economy,
immigration and attitudes toward major political parties. And in Europe, we included
additional questions about immigrants and refugees, as well as opinions about the
European Union.
Bivariate and multilevel regression analyses show that, among the factors studied,
dissatisfaction with democracy is related to economic frustration, the status of individual
rights, as well as perceptions that political elites are corrupt and do not care about
average citizens. Additionally, in Europe the results suggest that dissatisfaction with the
way democracy is working is tied to views about the EU, opinions about whether
immigrants are adopting national customs and attitudes toward populist parties.

Reference
Many across the Globe Are Dissatisfied With How Democracy Is Working. (2019, April
29). Pew Research center. Retrived from pewresearch. org. https://www. pewsearch.
Org/global/many-across-the-globe-are-dissatisfied-with-how-democracy-is-working/

Summary

Democracy is a system of government where the entire population or eligible members

of the state have the opportunity to vote on issues directly or send someone that they

elect to make those decisions on their behalf. It is a governing structure where rule

comes from the people instead of the military or state. Every people have their own

perspective about Democracy. Most believe elections bring little change, that politicians

are corrupt and out of touch and that courts do not treat people fairly. On the other

hand, people are more positive about how well their countries protect free expression,

provide economic opportunity and ensure public safety. democracy is related to

economic frustration, the status of individual rights, as well as perceptions that political

elites are corrupt and do not care about average citizens. It is important to take note that

political systems have their own downsides, and people have different views about them

Reaction

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM
Oraa, Glory Mae A.
Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World
Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

Now many believe that a democracy is the best form of government that is available

today because it gives each person the freedom to have a voice. The advantages and

disadvantages of democracy are essential to review because any governing structure

can be abused under the right set of circumstances. Democracy is a type of political

system that requires a popular vote to take place to elect the leader of the country and

other officials. Simply put, the leaders are chosen by the people. But by weighing their

advantages and disadvantages, which in this case is democracy, you can come up with

a well-informed understanding if it is best for the people or not. The achievement of

democracy depends not only on the rules and procedures of democratic processes but

also on the way certain opportunities are used by citizens.

Positive Impact

World/Global Economy: Democracies usually grow faster economically than other forms

of government. The freedom offered in the structures of democracy allows the general

population to seek any result they want. Although legal barriers exist to prevent one

person from hurting another, this governing structure grants the freedom to look for

different employment opportunities, schools, or even places to live. The choice remains

with your voice. You get an opportunity to seek what you are enthusiastic about in this

life. The structure of democracy makes it possible for everyone to stay fruitful with their

work because they are always employing their strengths. That is why the gross

domestic product of a country which features constitutional arrangements is typically

larger.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM
Oraa, Glory Mae A.
Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World
Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

Philippines: Everyone has the chance to participate. As long as you are eligible to vote,

then you get to participate in a representative democracy. Sometimes people feel like

their votes don’t count, especially if they find themselves in a minority position most of

the time, but the ability to participate in the elections is not compromised. If you can

vote, then you are making your opinion be heard, entails the active participation of

people, of “people power” in a very positive way because it results to real change in the

way people act in the public sphere.

Local Community: The structures of democracy are unique because they allow

everyone to fight for the things that they want in life. Each person can pursue their

dreams, working to mold society in a vision that meets their expectations. Even when

that idea runs counter to what the majority wants or falls outside of an expected window

of morality, there is an ability to express those ideas assuming that others are not hurt

by such an effort. That is why there is more loyalty and patriotism present in democracy.

Even when there is disagreement in the community, everyone still has the common

ground of their nation to fall back upon when forming their identity. Everyone contributes

in their own way, which this governing structure celebrates. Other governments can

dictate those choices.

Negative Impact

World/Global Economy: A democracy allows an individual to cast a vote either directly

or through a preferred representative on the issues that the government must manage.

There is no direction as to how voters approach this responsibility. Although some

people will educate themselves on each issue to offer an experienced opinion, there is

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM
Oraa, Glory Mae A.
Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World
Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

no requirement to go through all of this work. Someone can turn in a ballot that is a

straight-party ticket with no consideration about the individual views or needs. 4. The

voice of the people technically ends with the election. Once a representative is elected,

the voice that people have in their government is technically over. People can still write

their elected officials, make appointments to speak with them, or confront them at town

hall meetings, but they have no control over how the vote will actually be.

Philippines: Negative freedom implies freedom from oppression. Simply put, it is the

“right to protest”. We can explain this by pointing out that democracy makes, or at least

puts “pressure” on government leaders, to be responsive to the needs of the people

because the people hold them accountable. But the weakness of Philippine democracy

is something that I see in the inconsistent image of a corrupt politician who endorses an

anti-corruption book. Protests can effect some change in the public lives of people, but

unless people become real contributors to their well-being, change is but a dream,

“difficult” and “impossible”. In conclusion, my analysis is that responsible citizens,

guided by their “duty of civility”, will work to ensure that development becomes the

priority of their national and local leaders. The streets can be the battle ground for such.

But beyond such and in a very positive way, the academe, research institutions, and

private corporations can contribute to advance the welfare of people more than the

parliamentary of the streets. The EDSA People Power of 1986 is a classic case for

negative democracy. After two decades, it has become apparent that the event has not

translated to a “highly industrialized” Philippines, President Corazon Aquino’s goal while

in office.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM
Oraa, Glory Mae A.
Course Code: GEED 10043 Course Description: The Contemporary World
Program: Bachelor of Elementary Education-I

Local Community:

It focuses on the majority only. In a representative democracy, minority groups are only

given enough air time to have their issues heard so that a vote can be obtained. In

many ways, minority groups are left to solve their own problems in this structure of

government because they do not have the voting power to overwhelm the majority.

Most people work to retain what they have after it is earned. That is why families keep

making mortgage or rental payments, managers continue to reinforce their expertise,

and politicians do their best to stay in power. Democracies put structures into place to

limit the impact of one person on the overall society, but it was not always that way.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

8:30 PM