Democracy is the political system that, according to international law, enables all people to participate freely in the government of their country, directly or through elected representatives. Its core principles include free and fair elections, respect for the wishes of the governed, a commitment to peaceful transfer of power and the rule of law at both local and national levels. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development reaffirms that democracies and good governance are the foundation of peace and security, economic prosperity and human rights.
Democracy requires the active participation of its citizens, whose responsibility is to vote and make their views known in debates, but also to take part in other ways of influencing policy and politics, such as civic initiatives or consultative bodies. Its success depends on the fact that, in practice, it is possible to realise the ideals of inclusion, popular control and considered judgement.
Some critics of democracy argue that a system is not really a democracy unless it includes direct, universal suffrage. Others say that, despite the challenges, democratic systems are more resilient than other forms of government and that the benefits outweigh the costs. These concerns are not without merit, but they do obscure the fact that, for democracy to work, it is essential to have a broad base of citizen participation in the public sphere.