Robert Dahl feels that democracy is difficult to achieve
because having a perfect democracy requires that a country meet some very difficult
criteria. He says that a perfect democracy needs to
have
- Effective participation, where citizens
have opinions and get to express their opinions effectively on important
matters. - Voting equality. This means that all people
must have the same amount of influence as other people do on the outcome of an issue or
election. - Enlightened understanding, which means that
citizens need to have plenty of opportunities to truly understand the issues that face
their country. - Control of the agenda. In other words,
the people must be the ones to determine what issues are deemed important. They must
control what issues come before the government to be
decided. - Inclusiveness. All people and groups must be
included and made to feel equal.
This list is,
clearly, a set of goals that is impossible to actually achieve. Because democracy
requires so many difficult things, it can never be done perfectly and will always be in
danger. This is why it is "a bit chancy."
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