Democracy: What is and what ought to be

The democratic ideal or what ought to be is broken down into six sections by R. Dahl in his new work On Political Equality:

1. Effective participation

2. Equality in voting

3. Gaining enlightened understanding

4. Final control of the agenda

5. Inclusion

6. Fundamental Rights

These six pillars of democracy are arranged around direct democracy. This is what ‘ought’ to be in a democracy. However direct democracies are absent and what is now left is a representative form of democracy. Thus institutions must be created to reach these ideal pillars of democracy. A scaffolding of representative democratic structures spiraling around these pillars of direct democracy. Dahl reveals six points creating what “is” instead of what “ought” to be.

1. Elected representatives
2. Free, fair and frequent elections
3. Freedom of expression
4. Alternative sources of information
5. Associational autonomy
6. Inclusion of all members of the demos

If placed into a corresponding table:

A	1,4
B	1,2
C	1,3,4
D	1,3,4
E	1,3,4
F	1,2,3,4

Why is this civics lesson important? Because this 120 page work gives every citizen a guideline illustrating the health of our democracy, it reveals the reality of our democracy and the ideal. Political equality is the legitimatizing factor of any democracy. It is the lasting idea of the enlightenment a faultless notion of earthly solidarity. Dahl’s work cuts through the minutia of civics class and enhances the vibrate kinetic energy of our democracy. Don’t miss this prophetic work.