WEEK THREE TOPIC: BASIC CONCEPTS OF GOVERNMENT (I) CONTINUED

1. 
   Define Democracy
   
2. 
   List the merits and demerits of democracy
   
3. 
   Define political culture
   
4. 
   Explain the agents of political socialization
   

Democracy is one of the most difficult concepts to define. This is because democracy is perceived differently by different people. The most popular definition of democracy is that put forward by Abraham Lincoln (the 16^th president of America) who defines democracy as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Democracy is a form of government organized in accordance with the principles of popular sovereignty, political equality, popular consultation and majority rule.

The word democracy was coined from two Latin words, “Demos” which means people and “Krata” meaning to rule. The origin of the idea of democracy started with the Greek city-state of Athens and Sparta. The Greek democracy was direct democracy in which every adult citizen took part directly in the decision-making process of the city-states.

However, in the modern state direct democracy is no longer feasible because it would be extremely difficult if not impossible for every adult citizen to take part directly in government as against what is was in the ancient Greek cities. Thus, with the emergence of the modern states which are much bigger and large in size and population than the ancient Greek city-states, people now elect their own representatives under periodic, free and fair elections.