Plato taught about a style of democracy he had experienced in Athens. According to Plato; “Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequaled alike”.

  To Plato, the pursuit of freedom in a pure democracy would result in anarchy and chaos.

Depending on the “people”, there are three types of government:

• A government “of the people” supports membership in government by ordinary people whose only qualification is citizenship.

• A government “for the people” is designed with the purpose of supporting the needs of citizens.

• A government “by the people” results from citizens’ contributing, by participation, to form the rules upon which the government operates, and from how justice is determined.

Participation in government by citizens may be direct, as in the example of Switzerland where rule and candidature for political office are influenced directly by citizens through referendum. It also may be indirect such as in a republic like France, where elected representatives to government determine rules and leadership.

The Economist identifies democracies as: full democracy (examples: Norway and Canada); flawed democracy (examples: United States and France); as hybrid regime (for example Pakistan); or as authoritarian democracy (examples: Russia and China). Each type of democracy represents a different perspective on structure and practice.

In Great Britain monarchal parliamentary democratic form is structured.,

France is a parliamentary republic with a popularly elected president as head of state and an - independent citizen-elected parliament that serves to create legislative rules for government and to restrict legislative powers of its popularly elected executive president.

In the United States, there is a constitutional republic as stated in the preamble of the constitution; “in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, - insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.”

A socialist parliamentary government represents democracy in India, the world’s largest democracy based on population. India’s democracy tries to provide equal opportunity for all Indian citizens by removing economic inequality to reduce concentration of wealth.

Plato noted n “Republic” that every city exists really as “two cities that are at war with each other.” Of course, he was referring to the government and the citizens.

What can be claimed for a successful democracy is that no matter why there is a disagreement between the citizens and the government, a way must exist to solve the problems. Citizens must understand their needs and have a means of expressing them as well as have some assurance of accountability from the government officials.

Differences of what is good for government come from different political ideals - the expectation for how a democratic system should exist. Different political ideologies result in different expectations for democracy.

 An ideology is a system of ideas or ideals that we might think of as desirable, or perfect, but not necessarily expect to become a reality.

A political ideology reflects personal opinion or how one might think about government. It is a belief system held in common within groups of people. Such groups operate in a cooperative fashion following the same ideological principles. A democracy supports human values through participation in a political process according to common ideological principles. A political ideology addresses beliefs about how rules for social behavior contribute to determining how benefits are developed by the entire society. The ideology is concerned with how benefits are to be distributed to gain maximum benefit for all individuals, but also for the state. This political behavior takes the form of government, and for our purposes involves a government applying principles of democracy.

Democracy is a system of government that provides a means for people of many different political ideals to choose their leaders, to hold them accountable for their policies and conduct while in office, accompanied by a process for determining law or rules to govern behavior in the society

An individual's political ideals may be classified as:

• Libertarian

• Authoritarian

• Conservative

• Progressive

Conservatives believe that stability comes from fixed, unchanging rules, while progressives have a more progressive attitude, accepting responsibility for their own behavior and that government rules would adapt to accommodate social change over time.

Political ideology expressed through democracy may provide for the best economic system for individuals, groups of individuals, and the state. In contrast to this, there are other economic-based political systems such as socialism with shared ownership of all national assets by the citizens, or in capitalism where benefits from economic growth are available only to investors or owners of businesses.

The concept of democracy is credited to have originated some time ago with the ancient Greeks. The Greek word for democracy, “demokratia”, literally meant, "rule of the people." Its modern application allows citizens to exercise power, directly or indirectly, by determining how government is to be formed and supported, and what services are to be provided.

Democracy is sometimes referred to as rule of the majority, since it is through voting that citizens have the most effective means for exercising power, and a majority vote represents the greater number of citizen voices.

Throughout history democracy has been considered a political system where decision-making within an institution or organization reflects participation of all members who share equal levels of power. Modern democracies differentiate themselves from this perspective through the belief that citizens are capable of influencing government and a capacity to intervene in developing their own government processes.

Furthering democracy worldwide is often presented as a moral mission, but this is often forgotten since economic survival for democratic governments requires commercial partnerships with other democracies.

French Revolution and American Revolution were the models for future governments. Most contemporary democracies appear to have taken their form from the American and French examples.

With democracy gaining traction in other parts of the world, Africa has remained one place where democracy remains only as a potential. With the exception of the Republic of South Africa, only a few signs exist to indicate that democracy is stable enough to survive tribal or ethnic opposition. Some refer to democracy in Africa as a ''second wave of liberation.'' Both individuals and movements are in search of more democratic forms of governance as a next step after independence from colonization. Africans in many countries are expressing themselves more openly to force leaders to comply with popular demands.

All democracies possess some characteristics in common. These include: citizen participation in government processes with voting, issue group participation, direct participation, and the rule of law developed to balance behaviors of both citizens and their government.

In “direct democracy”, all citizens of at least 18 years of age take part in government decision-making. The method of citizen voting varies among the political districts (cantons) of the country. Federal Council consists of Councilors representing different political parties to provide executive power from a broad base of political interest, with the head of state rotating among members. Proposals to consider change in government may occur up to four times per year, resulting in citizens or citizen groups being presented for consideration by direct referendum. The Council then votes them on at regular sessions.

Switzerland is a good example of direct democracy.

Although the government of the United States provides elements of direct democracy, mostly it demonstrates a republic form of government. Citizens participate in direct elections for their legislative leadership, but it is this representative leadership that determines the form and process of central government. A principle element of democracy in the United States is the separation of powers among the three different branches (areas): legislative, executive, and judicial. The power in each of these branches is explained in a constitution. This creates a strong central government that represents the interests of individual citizens and the local governments of each of the member states.

The French democracy, a form of constitutional republic, incorporates a parliament of directly elected representatives in a National Assembly and an upper house of government elected indirectly. In France, the directly elected president appoints a Prime Minister, who must be approved by the National Assembly. An electoral college elects members of the French Senate.

The Electoral College is not a place or formal institution. It is a process for determining leadership through indirect means to represent different political constituencies. This "college" is a group of electors who Answer: vote for a candidate. It represents the views of citizens, but also the region they represent.

The elements of ındirect democracy are:

• Citizens determine government through indirect voting

• Open elections to all citizens of legal age to determine representatives who act on their behalf

• Representation in government through political party influence

• Rotation of leadership when determined by leadership to be necessary

• Rule of law developed by representative leaders.

All similar parliamentary governments are referred to as Westminster Parliamentary systems. In such systems the citizens directly elect members of the legislative body. The elected members of the parliament then choose from among the leading political party who will be the Prime Minister with executive functions.

The parliamentary system of government was created in the United Kingdom. It is known as a parliamentary monarchy because the Queen remains at the head of government.

Hybrid democracy is a form of government with a mixture of democratic principles found in nondemocratic governments. In a democracy, citizens believe that leaders and governments exist to serve the citizens. A hybrid democracy has popular elections, but the performance of elected leaders and the system they contribute to do not necessarily serve the interests of the voters. Citizens are cut off from the process of governing.

Hybrid regimes can be found mostly in developing countries. A country new to democracy might make the transition to a system that supports citizen voting for leaders. Major political movements may cause such movement to favor citizen appeal.

Former Soviet states, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Tanzania and Liberia are the examples of hybrid democracy.

Hybrid democracies combine citizen participation (frequent and direct elections) with an autocratic style of leadership (leaders’ decisions cannot be questioned).

Russia may be considered a hybrid state even though its structure is presidential. According to its constitution, Russia is considered democratic, but an authoritarian leader rules, making the country an authoritarian democracy.

Chine is the best example for a country in which elections for leadership are conducted only within a single dominant political party. China, has a president elected from within the Communist Party, the only acknowledged political party in China. Prior to the 1983 election of Li Xiannian, the country's first elected president since the end of World War II, the Communist Party Chairman ruled China. Today, the leader of China holds both titles of President and Chairman of the Communist Party.

In contrast to a monarchy where leadership is determined by heredity, some monarchs are elected. Even in elected monarchies, candidature and voting base may not be universal. For example, the eldest son in the reigning monarch's family could be the only candidate balloted for election.

The main difference between democracy and monarchy is that; determination of leadership in democracy is by voting, while leadership in monarchy is determined through family lines or other forms of inheritance for the title.

The United Kingdom is a good example of this type of democracy, as the titular monarch has only ceremonial roles to play.

A single political party may control the legislature, or various political parties share power. A constitution defines how the government works and how leadership is what is an selected and replaced. In this form of democracy, the legislative body forms the government. It determines its own leadership and provides executive functions

 In this type of democracy, when judicial decisions are made based solely on a constitution, court systems have limited facility to influence government. Their behaviors are controlled through constitutional or legislative rules. When a democracy exists to support social change as it considers the needs of citizens, common law activism becomes more a determinant of justice than fixed laws and regulations.

Spain under Francisco Franco, Italy under Benito Mussolini, Germany under Adolph Hitler, and The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin were totalitarian regimes. Today totalitarian regimes are seen in North Korea and to some extent in China through the domination of the Chinese Communist Party.

Totalitarianism in democracy would expect to establish and maintain sovereignty as an obligation of the government. Sovereignty includes control over how the government is run; control could expand to include how the state retains rights of ownership of all property. Giving permission to private citizens or businesses to own property is up to the government to decide.

With some ambiguity, fascism is known as right-wing politics. It stresses strict nationalistic policies and rigid control over social behavior. Just as ambiguous is the idea that fascism represents left-wing politics to the extent it rejects social class structure and emphasizes stability through economic gains. What is closer to reality is that neither right-wing nor left-wing politics apply. The dominant feature avoids party alignment for other than developing nationalism as a first priority for government. Fascism promotes the influential power of nationalism and is similar to totalitarianism.

In theocracy, responsibility for behavior rests with the individual, solely. Rules for behavior come from what is perceived as spiritual. Islam provides a good example of managing behavior as a self-regulated issue. Rules accepted by the individual come from a spiritual sense of reality that goes beyond limitations experienced by humans on earth.

An oligarchy is a form of government by a few with a continuous base of power through privilege or through corruption. Power may be limited to political parties, individuals, or wealthy groups. The results of action from this government focus on self-preservation and retention of a base for total power.

Aristotle referred to oligarchy as when a government that should be under its control is influenced not for the good of the total society, but instead for a small group of powerful individuals.

Plutocracy is a form of leadership resulting from the very wealthy taking control of government. Its only purpose for its members is to make them richer by controlling the government that supported their wealth in the first place.

A stratocracy is a form of government headed by military chiefs. It is not the same as a military dictatorship or junta in which military power is not supported by law. A stratocracy actually provides citizen support as a constitutional enablement. Thus, the state and the military are constitutionally the same entity.

Democratization is transitioning to a more citizen-centered political regime from a regime that is less supportive of citizen needs and interests.

Russian Federation and the other states in Soviet Union, China, Japan, some African countries such as Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Burundi and Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Tunisia are the examples for the countries that have experienced democratic transition.

 In Turkey a successful referendum movement resulted in a move from parliamentary process to a presidential one, one that elevated the popularly elected president into a more powerful position as head of state with some control over executive, legislative, and judicial functions.

The problems that a democracy must overcome to support its citizens are;

1. Breadth

2. Size

3. Cultural values

4. Over-extension

5. Need for expansion

6. Uninformed public

7. Perils of capitalism

8. Lack of majority

9. Separation of Powers

10. Origin of law

11. Transition

12. Moral decay.

The Economist identifies democracies as: full democracy (examples: Norway and Canada); flawed democracy (examples: United States and France); as hybrid regime (for example Pakistan); or as authoritarian democracy (examples: Russia and China) (Economist, 2015). Each type of democracy represents a different perspective on structure and practice.

Early Greek philosopher Plato taught about a style of democracy he had experienced in Athens: “Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequaled alike (Plato: 558C).” Plato suggested that an aristocracy led by philosopher-kings (the wisest men) would be a more just form of government. Plato claimed that government which serves individual citizen’s changing needs, instead of works to help the population as a group, would lead to mob rule. To Plato, the pursuit of freedom in a pure democracy would result in anarchy and chaos.

The British liberal political philosopher John Locke claimed that under a social contract between citizens and rulers, those who are ruled can resist their obligation to support any government that takes away property or enslaves its citizens and have the right to express this resistance violently. “Man has a right to enforce the law of nature and punish offenders,” claimed Locke in 1689 (Locke 1689: 4).

In the United States, there is a constitutional republic as stated in the preamble of the constitution; “ in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.” U.S. President Abraham Lincoln supported the structure of American democracy during the Civil War of 1861-1865, which was fundamentally caused by disagreements over what a democracy should protect. “Of the people, for the people and by the people” was his claim for purpose in democracy (Lincoln, 1863).

All democracies possess some characteristics in common. These include: citizen participation in government processes with voting, issue group participation, direct participation, and the rule of law developed to balance behaviors of both
citizens and their government.

A principle element of democracy in the United States is the separation of powers among the three different branches (areas): legislative, executive, and judicial.

• Citizens determine government through indirect voting
• Open elections to all citizens of legal age to determine representatives who act on their behalf
• Representation in government through political party influence
• Rotation of leadership when determined by leadership to be necessary
• Rule of law developed by representative leaders

Citizens participate in direct elections for their legislative leadership, but it is this representative
leadership that determines the form and process of central government.

Regime is a government in which the system has not changed even though there have been different leaders.

Totalitarianism,fascism,oligarchy,theocracy,plutocracy,stratocracy

Totalitarian governments centralize all government functions. While a single political party has all of the power, it needs to eliminate any other political party expressing different political opinions. Even the thoughts of citizens must be controlled.

An oligarchy is a form of government by a few with a continuous base of power through privilege or through corruption. Power may be limited to political parties, individuals, or wealthy groups.The results of action from this government focus on self-preservation and retention of a base fortotal power.

Plutocracy is a form of leadership resulting from the very wealthy taking control of government. Its only purpose for its members is to make them richer by controlling the government that supported their wealth in the first place.

A stratocracy is a form of government headed by military chiefs. It is not the same as a military dictatorship or junta in which military power is not supported by law. A stratocracy actually provides citizen support as a constitutional enablement. Thus, the state and the military are constitutionally the same entity.

As discussed earlier, totalitarian power appears in several different forms of government control. Power for regimes may derive alternatively from a mix of individual leadership, the military, and a national political party. Power may also derive from religious leadership whether or not the leadership comes from human or spiritual elements. We might also ask if theocracy necessarily means totalitarianism. Here we run into a problem in understanding what role is available for government and what remains for the individual. For government, control addresses the behavior of society, setting rules based on what is best for society. For theocracy, responsibility for behavior rests with the individual, solely. Rules for behavior come from what is perceived as spiritual.

With some ambiguity, fascism is known as right-wing politics. It stresses strict nationalistic policies and rigid control over social behavior. Just as ambiguous is the idea that fascism represents left-wing politics to the extent it rejects social class structure and emphasizes stability through economic gains. What is closer to reality is that neither right-wing nor left-wing politics apply. The dominant feature avoids party alignment for other than developing nationalism as a first priority for government. Fascism promotes the influential power of nationalism and is similar to totalitarianism. Spain in the early 1930s under General Francisco Franco resisted communist political influence by spreading a strong sense of nationalistic pride in a monarchical government. Italy presented a somewhat earlier attempt under Benito Mussolini to rebuild tightly controlled nationalistic social systems in support of its monarchy. For its part as a dominant fascist society, it follows the example set by Mussolini in Italy, As for other totalitarian forms of political control, fascists depend on the blind faith of citizens for their leadership. Under fascism, unlike
under religious totalitarian systems, a single leader serving as dictator provides strong leadership. State supported violence is often the way to assure success. A binding element in a fascist doctrine is the anticipation of what is promised by the future if obedience is total in expectation of destiny. In a totalitarian society, politics is everything. No aspect of society is separable from political theory and action. A good example of the process of political control is depicted in George Orwell’s novel, 1984.

Language differences present potential problems, interfering with accurate communication. Compromise is sometimes forced by making all citizens use a single language, such as Mandarin in China. With a growing Spanish speaking population with Hispanic social values in the United States, the government dedicates great resources to teach English to all immigrant citizens. In Canada, the government has successfully accommodated two standard languages (English from its British heritage and French from its French heritage) for different sections of the country. India reports more than 122 different major languages across its vastly different cultural regions. Although the Indian constitution attempted to set Hindi as the single national language, accommodation for English is also cited in the same constitution.

In most presidential democracies, an inherent separation between head of state and head of government provides
for protection against tyrannical control by one or the other. However, less change is accommodated when deliberation of law and policy is required for state and government to cooperate. On the other hand, lack of adequate separation, in rule or in practice, could result in a tyrannical government.

In many democracies law is determined by constitutional allowances and restrictions. In other democracies where constitutions are weak or do not exist, law making resorts to natural law or to common law, both subject to extreme liberalism requiring interpretation of circumstance and its constant changes.

The size of a government contributes to the risk. With broad interests among citizens it is difficult to have effective governance. How, for example, does majority rule operate effectively across a citizenship of diverse and conflicting cultural or social values? A democracy unable to manage differences so that accommodation is made for minority interests is likely to face civil unrest and possible revolution.