DEMOCRACY IS THE RULE OF THE FOOLS”-by Aristotle

“DEMOCRACY IS THE RULE OF THE FOOLS”-by Aristotle

      Democracy is a well-known term in today’s world. Today many of the countries in the world follow democratic ideals. The growth of democracy in the world began after World War I as the western countries such as Britain and American country USA propagated the democratic value throughout the world. The differences in ideology among the countries was one of the reasons which paved the way for Second Word War even the historians have confirmed it. In 1977, 35 of the 143 countries rated by polity (24%) qualified as democracies, while 89% (62%) were qualified as autocratic of one stripe or another. But democracy spread rapidly as the cold war ended and Soviet led blocs– and Soviet Union itself – crumbled between 1989 and 1991. Of the75 countries rated as autocracies in 1987, only15 (20%) were still rated that way three decades later. More than a third (27) had become democracies, and most of the rest had mixed ratings. Among the 30 new nations formed since 1987, 17 were rated as democracies in 2017,six were  autocracies, four were mixed and three were not rated due to instability or foreign intervention.   

What is democracy? The word democracy comes from the Greek words ‘DEMOS ‘meaning citizens, and ‘KRATOS’ meaning ‘power’ or ‘rule’.                                                         Democracy is a form of government where the power is vested in the people. It is a system where the citizens of a country have the right to vote and elect their leaders. The idea of democracy has been around for centuries, and it has been implemented in various forms throughout history. However, some people argue that democracy is the rule of the fool.

The phrase “democracy is the rule of the fool” has been attributed to several people, including Plato and Bertrand Russell. The idea behind this phrase is that in a democracy, the majority of people who vote are not well-informed or educated enough to make decisions that are in the best interest of the country. 

Democracy is rule of the fool can be very relating as we see many countries in present day fail to choose an able leader who can put the interest of the country before his selfish interest. In Democracy the politicians manipulate the behavior of the people to win the election which leads to mass corruption in the country and misuse of the public funds leading the country to its own demise.

However, it is important to note that democracy is not perfect. It has its flaws and limitations. For example, in some countries, democracy has led to corruption and abuse of power by elected officials. In other countries, democracy has failed to provide basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare to its citizens.

Despite its flaws, democracy remains one of the most popular forms of government in the world. It provides citizens with a voice and allows them to participate in the decision-making process. It also promotes transparency and accountability among elected officials.

In conclusion, while some people argue that democracy is the rule of the fool, it remains an important form of government that provides citizens with a voice and promotes transparency and accountability among elected officials. However, it is important to recognize its limitations and work towards improving it so that it can better serve its citizens.

**Author:- SUMAN MONDAL(JALPAIGURI LAW COLLEGE)