In the speech Four Democracies, Franklin D Roosevelt spoke about why democracy matters, as well as how and why it should be protected. I would choose to expand on this discussion further by explaining my perspective on the matter and why it is important to preserve it. Primarily, one of the most highly praised kinds of democracy is liberal democracy, as it promises fairness and equality, and protection from exploitation by a business interest to an irrational degree.
The need for democracy is especially emphasized due to the fact that the majority of authoritarian regimes are notorious for such issues as minorities experiencing injustice, the reliance on strongmen leading to a violent transfer of power, and those in power being immune to demands for change (Chatham House). It is crucial to mention that due to its polarized system, American democracy may become impotent and be threatened. As Roosevelt said in his speech, while Americans can be proud of being soft-hearted, they cannot be soft-headed. Thus, the safety of democracy requires close attention.
Moreover, elections are not always a sign of a democratic country, as multiple authoritarians have used this aspect to their advantage. As shown in the graph (see Fig. 1), the share of the global population residing under democracies has witnessed a severe decline by 29 percent. It is especially crucial for people to keep in mind that selfish individuals can threaten the safety of US Democracy (Roosevelt). Civilians are not the only ones concerned with the state of democracy. People who work in the business are perfectly aware that a strong civil society and its freedoms are crucial to an appropriate business environment (Hogg). Fortunately, there are some measures that can be taken to protect democracy. There needs to be unity between the members of the opposition. Political scientist Maryhen Jimenez emphasizes that individual party interests need to be put aside for this mission (Jimenez 2020). Finally, another valuable feature that can help people protect democracy is knowledge. When people know about the various systems that are between democracy and autocracy, the former is easier to protect and prevent from collapsing. That way, one can be sure that a system that prioritizes civil rights, change, and liberties, will be protected.
Works Cited
Armstrong, Martin. “Fragile Democracy” Statista. Web.
Chatham House. “The importance of democracy.” Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank, 2022, Web.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. “Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum – Our Documents.” Franklin D. Roosevelt Library & Museum, 1941, Web.
Hogg, Anabelle L. “To protect democracy we must catalyze new partnerships.” Open Government Partnership, 2019, Web.
Morales, Maryhen J. “Why Democracy Matters.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, 2020, Web.