آرشیف

2024-4-21

دکـتـر بصـیر کامجو

Democracy: The Preferred System of the People

The Emergence of Democracy in History

In our view, democracy is the institutionalization of the essence of human free will and freedom to choose laws and legislation, equitable distribution of wealth, universal participation in political power and sovereignty, and government.

According to European historical accounts, the roots of democracy first emerged in ancient Athens in the 6th century (594-508 BC). The foundation of this democracy was the reforms of Solon, a poet and statesman, and Cleisthenes, an Athenian politician who played a key role in expanding democracy throughout the Athenian territory. These reforms gave the common people more power and helped to create a more just and equitable society. The ideas and approaches of these two statesmen form the basis of advanced democracies around the world.

However, history attests that the Achaemenid Empire of ancient Iran (550- 330 BC) under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, also in the 6th century, parallel to the process of Greek reforms, established a form of just system in the Asian civilizational sphere that embodied the placement of the rule of law, the right to freedom of choice, the right to freedom of religion, the right to freedom of property, and other civil liberties of the time. The people of that land, in an area of 8 million square kilometers, lived peacefully side by side.

In this article, we do not claim or demand that the political system of the Achaemenid Empire be considered a democracy. However, the Cyrus Cylinder or Cyrus’s Edict of Peace is a blatant historical document that is recognized as the first declaration of human rights in the modern world. It proclaims freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, respect for women’s rights, the prohibition of slavery, the establishment of justice, and the maintenance of peace and security. This decree shows that Cyrus was a just and wise king who had deep respect for human rights and human dignity and was a symbol of peace and justice.

The foundations of Cyrus’s political power structure could not, in ancient history, demonstrate democracy and popular rule. Because at the head of

political power and sovereignty was an unelected monarch. The essence of human free will, choice, and freedom, which forms the cornerstone of democracy, was captive to the power of the king. Thus, we can claim that the actions of Cyrus and the text of his Edict of Peace only laid the foundation for the initial values of equality, convergence, and human coexistence in ancient times to the human world. For example, Farnoush Ram – Israel writes:

“In the book of Ezra in the Torah or Old Testament, it is said that Cyrus saved the Jews from the land of bondage in Babylon, where they had been forcibly driven, and led them with a caravan of soldiers from the Achaemenid Empire to their ancestral homeland in Jerusalem of Judea.”

However, it is worth remembering that the foundation of power and government that Cyrus laid on the basis of freedom, humanism, and equality, its continuation could have transformed the world. And to guide the future of humanity towards prosperity, comfort, and coexistence. However, unfortunately, this humanitarian idea in the process of time due to the successive invasions of foreigners in the land of Greater Iran, caused the process of establishing a popular system to change its fundamental direction.

We hope that the day will come when the kindred countries that have been severed from the body of ancient Iran will once again form a political system in a cultural geography and in the light of the political values of Cyrus’s Edict of Peace and the valuable experiences of Western democracy in their own countries, the foundations of their popular constitution will be the embodiment of peace, security, social justice, and real freedom.

Democracy means adherence to: the right to vote, equality and equality before the law, maintaining the security and immunity and individual and group freedoms of the people. Which has faced many ups and downs in the course of its history. Especially in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, with the growth of advanced technology and its extensive use in the areas of legal work, business, education, entertainment, medicine, security, the Internet, music, and especially the expansion of the role of artificial intelligence (automation and robotics, decision-making, analysis and root cause analysis, personalization and creativity …) to our entire civilization. Which has paved the way for the emergence of power structures and

political sovereignty under the name of democracy and popular society to be able to spread, strengthen, and develop throughout the world.

The Strategic Foundations of Democracy Are:

Free and fair elections: People have the right to choose their representatives in free and fair elections.
Rule of law: All people are equal before the law and no one is above the law.
Popular sovereignty: Power and sovereignty ultimately belong to the people and is for the people.

Different Types of Democracy in the World:

Direct democracy: In this type of democracy, people directly participate in political decision-making.
Indirect democracy: In this type of democracy, people elect representatives to participate in political decision-making on their behalf.
Parliamentary democracy: In this type of democracy, power lies with the parliament, which is elected by the people, such as the Federal Republic of Germany.
Presidential democracy: In this type of democracy, power lies with the president, who is elected by the people, such as the United States of America.

Democracy has many advantages, including:

Political stability: Democracies generally have more political stability than other forms of government.
Economic growth: Democracies generally achieve more economic growth than other forms of government.
Social justice: Democracies generally enjoy more social justice than other forms of government.

Strengthening democracy:

Education: Educating people about their rights and responsibilities in a democracy is very important.
Civic participation: Encouraging people to participate in civic activities, such as voting, protesting, and joining political parties, can help strengthen democracy.
Political reforms: Political reforms, such as electoral reforms, can help strengthen democracy.

The future of democracy:

The future of democracy depends on various factors, such as the emergence of new technologies and the globalization of human knowledge. It is important to protect democracy from threats, such as populism and authoritarianism, and to perpetuate a world of free thought and individual and family security in social life.

Conclusion:

Democracy is the preferred system of the people because it is based on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice. It is the best system of government for ensuring the rights and well-being of all citizens. However, democracy is not perfect and it is constantly evolving. It is important to continue to work to strengthen democracy and to protect it from threats.