Democratie: pleidooi voor een begripsbepaling

Samenvatting

The terms 'democracy' and 'democratization' have been discussed a great deal recently in relation to the educational system and the labor movement. Since the word 'democracy' has been used so often and in so many ways, it may prove beneficial to define it more precisely. Most attempts to do so have tended to look only at political considerations. Democracy can be defined on both a factual and an ideal basis. In a political sense it involves not only the right to participate in the electoral process, but also the free distribution of information and the guarantee that every person has an equal say in the operation of the government. The question of what a democracy ideally entails is to a large extent a sociological issue, since it encompasses, in its broadest sense, the interaction between sociological units. Often, this involves a power struggle between ideals, which must be resolved on the basis of equality, the rights and freedoms of the parties, constructive rivalry, and a certain form of solidarity. These are only suggestions which it is hoped will lead to a broader meaning of the term 'democracy'. P. Tiersma