Principles and Mediating Values
A conception of democracy that is anchored in clear democratic principles and mediating values helps provide a framework for high-quality democracy.
Assessing the quality of a country’s democracy requires a clear conception of both democracy and the country’s core principles. It is equally important to understand how these principles are embodied in institutional, political and social practices. The State of Democracy methodology identifies popular control over decisions and decision-makers and equality among citizens, including between men and women, in the exercise of that control. The more these principles of popular control and political equality are present in a country, the higher the level of public decision-making. Assessing their presence, however, can be particularly complex, especially in some contexts. Mediating values should also be examined in order to determine the extent to which these principles shape and inform the institutions and procedures of representative government. These mediating values give effect to the democratic principles in countries’ institutional arrangements and practices.
Popular Control / Political Equality
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