Democracy and the Institutions Which Foster Its Two Most Important Ideals

O’Neil defines democracy as “a system where political power resides with the people” and is “exercised either directly or indirectly through participation, competition, and liberty.” (149) This definition implies that the most important ideals underlying a democracy are equality and freedom. Equality ensures that no man or faction has power over another, and that all are subject to the same obligations under government, while freedom guarantees the people’s ability to live and make decisions without suppression by more powerful factions or opposing interests. It is also “the active creation of rights that otherwise would not exist” or civil rights. (O’Neil 172) The definition also shows that there are additional ideals which, when applied under these first two fundamentals, are also significant to the concept of democracy. 

They are participation, representation, separation of powers, and competition. First, it is clear that the people must have some participation in the government in order to possess political power. In addition, representation ensures that the government is attempting to represent all the people’s interests, therefore encouraging equality. Separation of powers guarantees that no single individual or faction may have supreme power, so as not to undermine or neglect the interests of the remainder of the people or the minority. If a group is neglected, then the power exists in only a portion of the people, thereby making them unequal. Lastly, the presence of competition means that there is never one single option for the people, whether it be regarding a political candidate, party, or opinion. It also means that different interests are in competition with each other for power in the government, thereby allowing all viewpoints to be heard and considered. This makes competition extremely encouraging towards freedom and equality.