Democracy & Authoritarianism - Which Is Better?

Coming from the Greek words demos, meaningdiversity of mankind. Open forum governments
people, and kratos, meaning power, democracylike democracies, even representative
has existed in one form or another since ancientdemocracies, allow for the inclusion of minority
Athens' gentry were elected to rule the governed.thinking, for better or for worse. In a democracy
"Democracy is the worst form of government,anyone has the ability to try and change the
except all others that have been tried." Was saidgovernment to cater to his or her own unique
by Former English Prime Minister Winston Churchillbeliefs. Authoritative states have no room for
and even though government by the commonsuch independent thinking. Authoritarians seek to
man has hit many pitfalls throughout history,impose their own will on their people. It doesn't
compared to the authoritative nature mankind'smatter how benevolent the despot is, the
governmental history and in some casesgovernment is still a reflection of his own
contemporary cases, the will of the people haspersonality and beliefs. There is no room for
always and will always be the best form ofvariety. There is only the state's thinking. Such
government no matter the country's size orfreedoms can be seen in the freedomhouse.org
ethnic make up.rankings. Democracies, even transitional ones like
Democracy has spread from nation to nation likeSouth Africa and Mexico, are ranked and classified
wildfire since the 20th Century. Traditionallyas there. Autocratic states like Iran's Theocracy
authoritative cultures and countries, such asor China's pseudo-communistic state are ranked
Germany and Russia, have embraced progressiveas 'not free' (Kesselman 34). And as history has
government. The nature of democracy's spread isdictated, repressive states can only last as long as
inherently democratic. In nations such as thetheir population is willing to be controlled.
United States of America and India, the populaceIran exemplifies the instability of autocratic states.
united under the banner of democratic ideals. TheEvery so often the ruling powers hold an election.
will of the people triumphed over authoritativeThe elections are heavily fixed and the ruling
installations and then the will of the people put in aparty, not surprisingly, always wins. Every time
government of the people.this happens, the populace vents its anger in the
Democracy is sustainable. Because of the electoralstreets. As seen in the most contemporary round
focus of democracy, its success does not rely onof elections, the populace's anger boiled over into
a single personality like most authoritarian states.riots and violence. Compared to the United States
South Africa displays this trait exceptionally. Theor Britain, where similar outbreaks of dissent do
veritable cult of personality that formed aroundhappen, but not nearly as regularly and they aren't
Nelson Mandela and his revolutionary movementcalling for the abolishment of the government,
that not only displaced the apartheid government,usually its just a protest of policy.
but it also put Mandela into a position of executiveDemocracy's sustainability can be attributed to the
power. After he left office, more democraticfact that forums exist for the venting of
elections took place and a new president wasfrustration. People can hold town hall meetings,
elected. Even though the democratic movementprotest in the streets, and vote politicians out of
had lost its face, Mandela, it still continues tooffice if they disagree with the ruling powers. The
thrive.only forum in authoritarian states is violence.
On the other hand, during the BolshevikHistory is rife with authoritative states collapsing
Revolution after the movement's drivingand democratic revolutions installing progressive
personality Vladimir Lenin died the movementgovernment. Few states have accomplished the
began to tear itself apart. And while the creationinverse. The superiority of democracy exists, if in
of the Soviet Union could be seen as a success,nothing else, its sustainability. Government by the
the violent infighting created a hyper authoritativepeople for the people lasts as long as the people
mutation of what the revolution started as. Andwish it to.
while the aim of the Bolsheviks wasn't to installWork Cited:
democracy, their hopes shared similarKesselman, Mark, Joel Krieger, William Joseph,
characteristics, namely governance by theAmrita Basu, and Ervand Abrahamian. Introduction
common man.to Comparative Politics. Wadsworth Pub Co, 2008.
Government of the Governed caters to the