University Essay: The Universal Value of Democracy Analysis

This essay examines the universal value of democracy, drawing on Amartya Sen's perspective. It begins by discussing Sen's view of democracy as a significant achievement of the 20th century, emphasizing its historical context and emergence as a widespread form of governance. The essay analyzes Sen's definition of democracy, which extends beyond electoral processes to include freedom of speech, equal opportunity, and protection of liberty. It addresses common misconceptions about the relationship between democracy and economic growth, and highlights the importance of accepting universal laws. The essay also explores arguments against democracy, such as the Lee hypothesis and the role of authoritarianism, while emphasizing the fundamental role of freedom of speech in facilitating economic development. References to relevant literature are also included.

Running Head: UNIVERSAL VALUE OF DEMOCRACY
Universal Value of democracy
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author's Note:

1UNIVERSAL VALUE OF DEMOCRACY
Universal Value of democracy
Amartya Sen's article 'Democracy as a Universal Value' was a result of a question
being asked in an interview with a Japanese newspaper on his view of the essential thing to
have happened in the twentieth century. It is one agreeable fact due to the Noble laureate's
economic attachment of the concept of democracy and the way it was present even before the
World Wars and the Civil Wars. One can agree to the statement that democracy is for sure the
most significant thing to happen in the twentieth century not because it originated instead
because it re-emerged out of the crowd and established itself as one of the most practiced
forms of governance.
Sen's argument is based on the historical context of the word democracy, and he
believes that despite the widespread belief democracy is not a discovery of the West but was
present even before the West realize it (Klein 2018). The presence of democracy was,
however, was mixed with different forms of acceptance with liberalism and radicalism as
well. Nevertheless, the foundation of the now powerful form and most vividly form of
government has a history of being trampled in places wherever it emerged to being replaced
with a more stoic and stringent authoritarian government. The final form of democracy which
we see being implemented by 121 countries out of 193 is the work of the great western
thinkers, but the whole recognition of fabricator cannot be bestowed on the West
(Criticalconsiderationsblog 2017).
The definition of democracy, as proposed by Sen, goes beyond the universal franchise
of 'one person, one vote' and includes the other facets of democracy which is termed as
complex by him. Democracy along with the electoral process demands the political parties to
have an equal opportunity with the inclusion of protection of liberty and freedom in a speech
to the citizen without the fear of being censored or targeted for it. The common
misinterpretation which is still present today regarding democratic nation is its relationship

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with economic growth (Sen 1999). The ideology aspires to provide equality in legal
entitlement which can be made to deviate even in a working democracy if the opponent is not
given equal opportunity to establish themselves.
The most significant achievement which is the by-product of democracy is the
understanding that has been developed among the people in general irrespective of the kind
of governance they live under The notion of accepting the universal laws of democracy as a
measure of being right. Another significant achievement due to which one can argue that
democracy is indeed one of the most significant achievements of the twentieth century is the
negation of the question which determines if the country or a specific geographical location is
fit for democracy or not. It has been observed that even in an absolute authoritarian
government, it is accepted that the presence of people's willingness to be included in the
matters which concerns their welfare is vividly present (Spagnoli 2018). It is established with
the examples Switzerland's women Prime Minister and how hard a twenty-five years ago,
women were not even allowed to vote.
Another example which proves universal values of democracy is the stance of the
then former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia proposed that contrary to the general belief
that the fundamentals of Islam are against the democratic values, the normative values
present in a democracy is also the very basis of the divine law (Criticalconsiderationsblog
2017). Moreover, the interpretation that freedom is restricted is the misinterpretation of the
words of God furthermore, that the prime intention is the assurance of the authoritarian rule
to maintain the economic control of the government.
There is another aspect of the ideology which is held against its very notion of
freedom. It is a well-known fact that there are still governments in the world which carries
out its governance withholding the authoritarian governance. Sen emphasizes the Lee

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hypothesis that argues on the elevation of productivity on the intensity of authoritarian
restriction, which results in a better economic result (Sen 1999). For this, he gives the
validation of the former Singapore President where he compares the economic performance
of authoritarian regimes such as China and South Korean economic development to that India
and Costa Rica where the control of authoritarianism is lesser than the former countries
mentioned. This cannot be taken as a valid argument that can be held against the notion of
democracy for there is a lack of data which can prove that a stricter control in the hands of
government provides for a better economic condition.
The main reason why the ideology can be held as the most influential of the twentieth
century is the concept of freedom of speech which is the fundamental feature of democracy
also facilitates the working of the economy. Economic development is based on the political
system prevalent in the country which is chosen by the people in the democratic regime and
the freedom of speech gives the people the right to convey their needs and demands.

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References
Criticalconsiderationsblog. 2017. "Is Democracy A Universal Value? Literature
Review".CriticalConsiderations.https://criticalconsiderationsblog.wordpress.com/
2017/09/10/is-democracy-a-universal-value-literature-review/.
Klein, Elise. Amartya Sen's Inequality Re-examined. Taylor & Francis, 2018.
Sen, Amartya Kumar. "Democracy as a universal value." Journal of democracy 10, no. 3
(1999): 3-17.
Spagnoli, Filip. "HOMO DEMOCRATICUS (On the Universal Desirability and the Not So
Universal Possibility of Democracy and Human Rights)." (2018).