We explain what direct and indirect democracy are and the differences between them. We also explain what their characteristics and benefits are.
What are direct and indirect democracy?
Democracy is a type of government system in which decision-making power rests with the peopleas the only sovereign and autonomous will to be obeyed by the public powers. Power is distributed among various institutions that allow citizens to express and exercise collective will, usually including elections or referendums.
The difference between the different types of democracy depends on the way in which this will is expressed and exercised. In direct democracy, citizens are consulted for all decisions.In indirect democracy, citizens only elect representatives who will then make the decisions. Mixed democracy aims for a balance between the two tendencies.
See also: Democratic country
Origin of democracy
Democracy as a system It emerged in the city-states of Ancient Greece (between 1200 BC and 146 BC).
Was a system of political and social organization which gave equal vote to Greek males of legal age.
These citizens should participate in public decision-making through a system of different assemblies.
It should be noted that this system Women, foreigners and obviously slaves were excluded.since none of them were considered “citizens.”
Democracy was inherited by the Roman Republicwhich always fluctuated between imperial monarchies and parliamentary republics. Later, democracy re-emerged in the West after the fall of absolutism and the Ancien Régime, following the French Revolution and the end of the feudal society that had reigned during the Middle Ages.
Since then, democracy has spread to most countries. Today, liberal capitalist democracy It is the form that democratic governments usually adopt.
Direct and indirect participation
The guiding principle of Democracy is that the people are the possessors of the sovereignty of a nationthat is, he is the only one who can make decisions. And to do so, he must participate politically, expressing his will through different mechanisms, which are classified as direct and indirect.
- Live. Those in which the masses are consulted directly, and the majority expresses its will by voting, as in referendums.
- Indirect. Those in which the will of the majority is expressed in the election of a series of political representatives, who will then hold public office and make decisions on behalf of the people who elected them for this purpose.
Differences
- Direct democracy. It follows the Athenian model, that is, the democracy that existed in ancient Athens. It is based on direct, face-to-face consultation and involvement of citizens in decision-making.
- Indirect democracy. It delegates the will of the majority to a series of representatives elected by vote. These representatives are the ones who, during a stipulated period of time, make the decisions they consider pertinent for the benefit of those they represent.
Similarities
Although they differ in their way of expressing the popular will, both types of democracy are subject to it, and to respect for the decision of the majority. In addition, They agree on the essential considerations for a real democracysuch as equal rights, equity before the law and the principle of self-determination of nations.
Semi-direct democracy
Also called mixed democracy, it is a type of democracy that attempts to reconcile the benefits of direct and indirect democracyOn the one hand, it relies on the free election of political representatives who exercise sovereignty in the name of the people.
On the other hand, the power to control or influence the decisions of the political leadership is reserved to the citizens. This It is carried out through figures of direct participation such as the binding referendumthe popular legislative initiative, the recall of mandate, plebiscites and public consultations.
Pros and cons of direct democracy
Direct democracy It has the advantage of being much more faithful to the will of the community.since it is the citizen who decides, expresses and implements public policies. The high level of citizen involvement requires a group with political awareness and commitment to public improvement.
However, for those same reasons, Direct democracy can be slow and costly to make and implement its decisions. The organization of constant referendums requires a level of work and recurrent expenditure. Participation in assemblies and councils means that citizens must devote part of their time to dealing with state affairs.
Pros and cons of indirect democracy
Representative democracy privileges operability and pragmatismconsidering discussion among a finite number of political representatives in an assembly broadcast to the public (which has no direct say in it) to be much more viable. By delegating sovereignty, decisions are made more effectively.
However, The remoteness of decision-making enables corruption and the use of public mechanisms for personal gain. This is because political representatives constitute a political class in themselves, which enjoys economic and social benefits not shared with their constituents.
On the other hand, at a cultural level There is a risk of making the population passiveThis means that the idea that politics is not their concern or is a decision made by others is proliferating.
Pros and cons of semi-direct democracy
Mixed democracy can reconcile the closeness between people and the exercise of power of direct democracy, with the pragmatism and representative dynamics of indirect democracy. It can be considered a more balanced type of democracy, which attempts to take the best of both systems.
However, Their dilemmas lie precisely in maintaining this balance.since it pits two political forces against each other: that of the organised majorities and that of the politicians who represent them. The will of the masses can prevail over the institutions, since they are able to exercise control without getting directly involved.
Direct democracies
Direct democracy It was applied in Greco-Roman Antiquity, first in AthensSparta and other city-states, and later within the Roman Republic. The only similar modern case is that of Switzerland, in two of its cantons or provinces, organized socio-politically around popular assemblies.
In these populations, once a year The citizens of these cantons meet to vote on lawsbudgets and constitutional reforms. In the remaining cantons the system was eliminated for reasons of practicality.
Indirect and semi-direct democracies
Indirect democracy is the majority in the West, especially in European nations (such as Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, etc.) and in the Americas (such as the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, etc.).
However, in many of them There are mechanisms of semi-direct democracyFor example, Argentina has the possibility of including popular initiatives in the treatment of laws. In addition, countries such as Switzerland, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Bolivia have promoted the revocation of mandates, with Ecuador being the most successful, with 21 mandates revoked.
Countries with indirect democracy They are usually divided into Republics and parliamentary MonarchiesIn both cases, power is exercised through the election of political representatives for public powers (generally legislative and executive).