Abstract

Political thinkers may differ in their explanations of what the concept "democracy" is all about, but essentially they all bring it down to political participation and institutional arrangements. Any discussion of democracy must therefore include the following: Is the public's voicing of their concerns and freedom of assembly enhanced? Is the public's participation in political procedures and access to channels improved? Is there increased latitude for the public's understanding and choice of political candidates? Is centralized political power in the state decreasing? Is there less control over political information? Are the channels of communication to the public becoming more unimpeded? If the answer to these questions is yes, then these are positive factors that promote democracy; if it is not, then they are negative factors