THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF ZANZIBAR
(SUZA)
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (DDS 111)
DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND
DEVELOPMENT
Compiled by Nahoda, A.M
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DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND
DEVELOPMENT (9 HRS)
Definition of the concepts
Principles of democracy
Types of democracy
Civil societies and its roles in democracy
Principles of good governance
Defining democracy
• Genesis of Democracy
• Democracy has its formal in Ancient Greece in the
middle of the 5th to 4th Century Before Christ in
some Greek city-states, especially Athens due to
a popular uprising in 508 BC.
• This was referred as Direct democracy or
Athenian democracy, and it came due to the
movement of common people to demand
equality and freedom.
Defining democracy
• Democracy comes from the Greek word
demokratía which is a union of two words demos
meaning common people and kratos which
means power.
• Therefore democracy can simply be defined as
the power of the common people
• There is no universally accepted definition of
‘democracy’, but equality and freedom are both
identified as important characteristics of
democracy since ancient times.
What is democracy
• Democracy is government of the people, by the
people and for the people ( Abraham Lincoln
• Democracy is any form of government in which
the rules of society are decided by the people
who will be bound by them (Catherine Kellogg)
• Democracy is a state in which all fully qualified
citizens vote at a regular intervals to chose,
among alternative candidates the people who
will be in charge of setting the state policies.
(Shively,W.P)
Principles of democracy :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Citizen Involvement
System of Representation
Rule of Law
Electoral System (Free and fair election)
Equality
Freedom, Liberty, and Rights
Education
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Principles of democracy
• 1. Citizen Involvement
• Direct Democracy: Citizens take part
personally in deliberations and vote on issues.
Citizens debate and vote on all laws.
• Representative Democracy: Citizens choose
(elect) other citizens to debate and pass on
laws.
Principles of democracy
• 2 A system of Representation
• Direct democracy is difficult in modern world.
People need to be represented by other.
• People are represented through different
criteria such as
• Population(male/female, disabilities, privilage,
ethnicity etc.
• Ideology
• Region
Principles of democracy
• 3 Rule of Law
• Rule of Law Rule according to law; rule under law; or rule according
to a higher law.
• The rule of law is an ambiguous term that can mean different things
in different contexts. In one context the term means rule according
to law. No individual can be ordered by the government to pay civil
damages or suffer criminal punishment except in strict accordance
with well-established and clearly defined laws and procedures. In a
second context the term means rule under law. No branch of
government is above the law, and no public official may act
arbitrarily or unilaterally outside the law. In a third context the term
means rule according to a higher law. No written law may be
enforced by the government unless it conforms with certain
unwritten, universal principles of fairness, morality, and justice that
transcend human legal systems.
Principles of democracy
• 4 The Electoral system
• Electoral Process is any set of rules whereby
the votes of citizens determine the selection
of executives and/or legislators.
• Electoral systems may be categorized in
several ways.
• The most useful is probably a three-way
division into plurality, proportional systems.
Mixed approach
Principles of democracy
• 5 Equality
 political equality
 equality before the law
 equality of opportunity
 economic equality
 equality of respect or social equality;
Principles of democracy
• 6 Freedom, Liberty, and Rights
• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)-People are
equal in the rights they have.
• Freedom: ability to act without restraint; but:
“harm principle:” your freedom to swing your
arm stops at my nose.
• Liberty: social and political freedom.
• Right: Legally guaranteed freedom.
Principles of democracy
• Role of education:
1. Ability to make informed political choices
2.illiteracy undermines democracy
• But: How do we educate citizens?
• Do we educate for participatory or elite forms
of democracy?
Types of Democracy
• Direct democracy is a political system where
the citizens participate in the decision-making
personally, contrary to relying on intermediaries
or representatives. The supporters of direct
democracy argue that democracy is more than
merely a procedural issue. Direct democracy is:
• Rule by the people
• Built on the Athenian model.
• Still present in small town hall meetings.
Types of Democracy
• A direct democracy gives the voting
population the power to; change
constitutional laws, put forth initiatives,
referendums and suggestions for laws, give
binding orders to elective officials, such as
revoking them before the end of their elected
term.
Types of Democracy
• Representative Democracy/ Indirect
• Citizens elected political actors who will
represent their preferences.
• Assumptions of Indirect democracy :
– Voters are aware.
– Voters are rational.
– Voters are tolerant.
– Voters are informed.
Representative Democracy
• Representative democracy involves the selection
of government officials by the people being
represented. If the Head of State is also
democratically elected, then it is called a
democratic country.
• The most common mechanisms involve election
of the candidate with a majority or a plurality
of the votes.
Representative Democracy
• Representatives may be elected or become
diplomatic representatives by a particular
district (or constituency),
• Representatives may be elected to represent
the entire electorate proportionally.
• Some representative democracies also
incorporate elements of direct democracy,
such as referendums
Form of Representative Democracy
• Presidential :Eg United State of America,
Nigeria, Brazil. These countries have an
executive president nor prime minister
• Parliamentary:Eg. Canada, Australia, UK,
Germany, Israil,India. These countries are lead
by Prime Minister
• Semi-Presidential: Eg France, Russia, Tanzania.
These countries have an executive president
and a Prime Minister.
Representative Democracy
Merits of democracy
a) Democracy is the best form of government as the
ruler are accountable to the people and have to fulfil
their needs.
b) Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.
This reduces the chance of hasty and irresponsible
decision from being taking and improve the quality
of decision-making.
c) It provides a method to deal with differences and
conflicts especially in a diverse country like India.
Infact democracy helps to keep our country together.
d) Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens as it is
based on the principle of political equality.
Demerits of democracy
a) Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This
led to instability.
b) Democracy is all about political competition
and power play. There is no scope for
morality.
c) So many people have to be consulted that it
led to delays.
d) It leads to corruption as it is based on
electoral competition.
civil society
• Civil society is defined as; Any organization or
movement that works in the area between the
household, the private sector and the state to
negotiate matters of public concern.
• Civil societies include non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), community groups,
trade unions, academic institutions and faithbased organizations
Civil societies and its roles in
democracy
• Rising awareness of right and responsibility of
citizens in democracy eg educating the people
during democratic process (election)
• Advocacy and lobbying for the interest of
their group in policy formulation eg insisting
that an agenda of their interest is taken by
contesting political parties.
• Enabling effective participation of their
members eg the disadvantages
Civil societies and its roles in
democracy
• Ensuring transparency during and after
election by monitoring the electoral process.
• Representation: voicing the interest of their
member in the legislature. Eg when civil
societies get special seat in the legislature
• Encouraging tolerance among groups and
stability of the country in times of economic
slowdown or social stress
• Watchdog of democracy and good governance
Good governance
• Good governance is the exercise of economic,
political, and administrative authority to
manage a country s affairs at all levels. It
comprises the mechanisms, processes, and
institutions through which citizens and groups
articulate their interests, exercise their legal
rights, meet their obligations and mediate
their differences. UNDP (1997)
Good governance
• Good governance is a process, where
rules and well-functioning institutions
are applied to manage nation’s affairs in
a manner that safeguards democracy,
human rights, good order and human
security, and economy and efficiency are
followed in management of country’s
resources.
Principles of good governance:
• According to the World Bank the principles of
good governance are:
• 1. Voice and Accountability. Presence of
orderly transfer of power, freedom of
association, Press freedom, travel freedom.
Human rights, democratic accountability, the
role of opposition
• 2.Political stability. Lack of Military coup,
insurgency, terrorism, assassination, civil
unrest
• 3.Government Effectiveness. Quality of
bureaucracy, budgetary process, policy
consistency
• 4.Regulatory Quality. Regulation, foreign
investment, govt. intervention, tax
effectiveness
• 5.Rule of law. Lack of Crime, black market,
presence of quality of judiciary, quality of
police, property rights
• 6. Control of corruption. Incidence of
Corruption, anti-corruption measures and
public trust in government
Obstacles of Good governance
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a) Ignorance
b) Corruption,
c) Politicization of administration,
d) Weak democratic institutions,
e) Ineffective parliament,
f) Absence of the rule of law and
g) Absence of meritocracy etc.
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