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PERCEPTIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AMONG ROMANIAN LAW STUDENTS
Anca Maria SLEV [email protected] “Dimitrie Cantemir” University, Târgu‐Mureş, Romania
ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the ways democracy and democratic principles are perceived by Romanian 2nd year of study law students, given the fact that Romania has been a democracy for over 20 years now, and the respondents involved in this research have benefited from three semesters of legal education. The research revealed that the principles of democracy are known, respected and valued by young citizens and that the young generation’s general perception on democracy is a positive on e. The existence of n egative per ceptions related to the actions of those in power indicates that a part of the young generation is dissatisfied with and questions the current political order of the country, which represents an indicator of political and social instability.
KEYWORDS: democracy, democratic principles education, perception, government
1. Introduction opinions, and behavior in later years. It is known that regimes based on Consequently, it is important for both popular sovereignty are called democracies; students and teachers to realize that however, this feature is one among many democratic ideology and responsibility are aspects that define a democracy nowadays. often shaped in formative years, while The term democracy encompasses a far young individuals are still enrolled in the broader meaning and ideal; it includes education system. Studies also suggest that individual liberties, self-improvement, and young people who live in politically the provision of necessary means for competitive areas, mainly urban achieving all these. Democracy represents a agglomerations, are more likely to become desirable ideal all over the world. more politically involved and display Adolescence and youth is recognized stronger political attitudes and beliefs than as a critical period in the development of all their peers who live in rural regions [1]. human beings. The manner in which young Democratic attitudes and actions vary people’s way of thinking, mentalities are from urban to rural areas, but also from shaped and educated plays an important culture to culture. A variety of factors such as part in this process, which has national history, social structure, and political repercussions on their political attitude, traditions shape democratic practices.
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Most definitions of democracies focus on to online virtual politics all contribute to the freedom of expression, separation of young student’s political attitudes and are powers, people’s sovereignty, a system of likely to foster democratic disposition and checks and balances, and fair electoral civic engagement in maturity years. It is competition as the key characteristics, but important to take into account the fact that little attention has been paid to the memories, ordeals, and experiences of young perceptions of younger generations. An p eop le of a p art icular generat ion regarding analysis of younger generations’ perceptions the political situation during their coming of could reveal their understanding of age, and their youth period can be correlated democracy, since democracy features do not directly to their political perceptions and only vary from country to country, but also concerns regarding democracy. from one generation to the other. Research that analyzes younger 2. Some Aspects of Democracy generations and their perceptions of Democracy first appeared in ancient democracy can shed light into the question Greece nearly 2,500 years ago, but to the of how each generation thinks of their present day it has not been possible to country’s policy. If a generation is identify a commonly accepted definition of politically conscious than, they devote their democracy. Democracy cannot be described time to the issues that they consider to be of solely as a social structure or a form of interest and relevant to their life and needs. government [2]. For the establishment and However, these issues may differ development of democracy within a society, significantly as they are related to the the presence of certain political, individual, differing circumstances under which each and social elements needs to be ensured. The generation grows up. For example, before ideal of democracy is based on the principle the 1990s Romanian youths (as well as all of individuals’ well-being and good generations of that time) had no or only governance. Democracies represent a form of limited access to political information due government in which political decisions are to the existence of only a few channels of made with the participation of people and by communication. Today’s young generations majority vote, the government is used by the are more exposed to information through people to serve the people, basic and general various media channels including a great decisions regarding governance are made by variety of Romanian and foreign television elected individuals and institutions. The news programs, newspapers, literature, continuity of a democracy depends on virtual communities, and social networks. ensuring that “the majority becomes the Thus, a survey of youths’ perceptions of minority, and that the minority also democracy can help us to understand the reciprocally becomes the majority” [3]. type of democracy that has been developing The main characteristics of in Romania over the two last decades. democracy are the political representation Undoubtedly, many sources that of the people, and the exercise, as well as influence the young generation in their the limitation of parliamentary authority. perception of democracy can be identified. Nonetheless, democracies also include For example, the influence of family and various social and economic elements and it parenting, the environment and the entourage, represents a way of thinking and its schools and teaching style, curriculum and associated lifestyle. This is why one of the Political Science or Legal education, religious prerequisites of democracies is the practice, civic education, exposure to news, existence of individuals who do not see discussion and information, the role of mass their own views and beliefs as absolute media, political environment, and exposure truths, but accept different world-views.
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M oreover, citizens in a democracy are not questionnaires during the first semester of born with an intrinsic comprehension of the 2013-2014 academic year. To this fundamental democratic values such as purpose 19 second-year Law students from liberty, equality, tolerance, freedom, Dimitrie Cantemir University of Târgu- respect, and human rights. Yet, democracy Mureş, Romania (males and females, aged requires that these values are learned and 20 to 24) were interviewed to provide adopted by individuals, and that they live in insight on the investigated theme. It was of a community that nurtures these values. interest to find out, through conversation, Democracies do not have inherent discussion, as well as questioning, in what mechanisms to compel, they only describe a way a participant’s voice might problematize set of abstract principles, and it is up to assumptions, from the students’ perspective, individuals to follow and achieve their own on how they perceive democracy, what are specific pathway in accordance with these t he asp ects t hat t hey cons ider t he mos t principles. Studies conducted in an attempt to beneficial, the positive/negative outcomes of set a list of criteria that make a country living in a democratic system, their personal democratic highlighted that democracy is a experiences and the privileges brought about multi-faceted concept, thus any analysis of by democracy that they see as the most democracy should consider examining valuable. institutional criteria, as well as social, Semi-structured interviews were cultural, historic, and economic factors. In a employed in the current research project for study conducted on 21 democracies Lijpart the following reasons: it provides the revealed some features of democratic opportunity to generate rich data; language countries: they are more prosperous than used by participants was considered essential countries without democracies, the large in gaining insight into their perceptions and majority of workers are employed in the values of democracy; contextual as well as industry and service sectors, they are all part relational aspects were seen as significant to of the broader Judeo-Christian culture (Japan understanding their perceptions; the data being the exception), they are geographically generated in interviews can be analyzed in concentrated on the Northern Atlantic region different ways. of the World [4]. The questionnaire population sample Studying countries with continuous included 61 second-year Law students from democracies, as well as countries whose Dimitrie Cantemir University of Târgu- democratic systems have had interruptions, Mureş, Romania (males and females, aged Huntington identified the following traits between 20 and 29). The questionnaire that support democracy: a high level of included open-ended questions and modernity, the existence of a developed identification of positive and negative market economy, a high level of prosperity, feelings regarding democracy and their economic growth, without there being any personal experiences related to living in a large income gaps within the society, the democratic system. The respondents had to existence of a strong middle-class, a high name the most valuable privileges that level of education, social pluralism, and a democracy provided for them. culture of tolerance and conciliation, respect for the law and individual rights, and the existence of politicians who adhere 4. Results and Findings to and respect the values of democracy [5]. At a first glance the data provided by interviews and questionnaires revealed and 3. Methodology of Research re-confirmed the idea that both negative and This study is based on qualitative positive emotions are an inherent part of research conducted through the use of semi- students’ perceptions of democracy. The structured interviews and completion of main question here is the role their
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perceptions have in the feeling of “although democracy itself is not at fault, in confidence towards democracy in general, our society it is responsible for gross democratic institutions and values. Most of inequities and sharp class divisions”. the respondents (89 %) confirmed the An examination of the student’s existence of an overlap between their own answers revealed that as an alternative to democratic values and the values of the describing democracy as a form of political system. The rest of the respondents government, the respondents mostly chose (11 %), despite the fact that they valued the to come up with metaphors regarding the principles of democracy, positioned individual and social aspects of democracy, themselves at a distance from the political such as equality, freedom, justice, system of their country. This political pluralism, elections, human rights, and dissociation reflects the fact that these safety. Based on this observation, it can be individuals feel that the system is not concluded that students who have a positive responsive to their needs and demands. perception of democracy consider it a All respondents tried to give a valuable and indispensable element for definition of democracy, or to identify the him/herself as an individual and for the basic features of a democratic system, society he/she lives in. which showed that their perception of An analysis of the reasons and democracy as a theoretical concept is explanations provided by students that entirely positive: “democracy is the best formed negative opinions revealed that they form of government”, “democracy means mainly perceived democracy as a form of people sovereignty”, “democracy consists government. Negative perceptions regarding in values such as liberty, justice and the concept of democracy were regarded as equality”, “democracy is the most deceptive, illusory, and these students developed form of state organization”, believed that when democracy was “democracy is a way of thinking, a implemented in their country it became responsibility”, “democracy is defined by something different from what democracy separation of powers, free elections, stands for in theory. In their opinions political pluralism, compliance with human democracy is perceived as a system used by rights and freedoms, majority rule and those in power for their own interests, where minority protection, in one word, power of inequality, injustice, corruption and the people”, “the essence of democracy is discrimination make their way in the the participation of citizens in public life”, allegedly democratic political system. Such “democracy is the regime of freedom and a system comes to have no meaning for the rights”, “democracy encourages self- individual, fails to meet the needs and reliance, initiative and trust”. Nevertheless, demands of the individuals, and prevents there were four respondents who viewed individuals from achieving their ideals and democracy as the best form of government, goals, eventually leading to a rupture or but not the right form of government for estrangement of the individual from the Romania ”most countries are better with a system. Reviewing this group’s answers led democratic system, but in our country we to the conclusion that these students are would be better with another system”, emotionally affected by the current political “democracy is more of an art of situation in Romanian society, lost persuasion”, “democracy is an illusion confidence in the democratic system and designed to lure middle and lower classes” , feel that democracy in Romania is fragile, “if we had applied correctly the principles ineffective, irrelevant and unstable because of democracy we could have built a modern it failed to resolve its problems. and functional democratic system”,
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Another important aspect that emerged actions, ideas, behavior influence events during the study is related to what and developments, decision-making, and respondents see as the most valuable shape their own future. On the other hand, privileges or benefits fostered by democracy. those who feel they cannot influence or These privileges can be translated into a sense become involved in the political environment of political effectiveness and relevance, can lose their sense of effectiveness, become which is one of the preconditions of any alienated from the system and resort to other democracy. Political effectiveness refers to methods of political participation: boycotts, the conviction that the individual benefits strikes, manifestations, barricades, traffic from the existing political system by blockages, or other forms of protest. influencing it, thus acting as an incentive for individuals to become more politically 5. Conclusions interested and knowledgeable. The areas When describing democracy the identified by respondents as the most majority of the students provided answers important and relevant for themselves were that defined democracy and/or its principles the following: “equality of men before the in positive terms, positioning themselves as law is the most important aspect of participants to the democratic system. Those democracy”, “democracy is being heard and who described the democratic system of being listened to”, “the youth are educated, Romania in negative terms were not taught that their voice matters and their vote dissatisfied with the principles of democracy counts”, “the right to express ideas, the in themselves, but with the way they were freedom to explore, which brought progress”, implemented in their country, mostly because “acceptance and tolerance of what is different they felt that essential values of democracy from the mainstream ”, “democracy, like a such as justice, equality, freedom, or the rule car, gives you what you put into it; if you do of law did not apply equally to all citizens. In not maintain its engine it will fail you”, this context, on the one hand, it is very ”freedom of expression”, “it gives everyone important to note that in a relatively young an opportunity to become what they really democracy, such as Romania, the principles are”, “respect for every one of its citizens”, “it of democracy are known, respected and is important to educate people to know what valued by its citizens and that the young they want from the government”, “no one is generation’s general perception on above the law”, “having open borders and democracy is positive. On the other hand, the free movement”. An analysis of these existence of negative perceptions related to elements reveals that among the areas listed the actions of those in power should not be by respondents as the most important benefits neglected, since it points out that a part of of democracy, one can find the very essence the young generation is dissatisfied with of a democratic system. Once individuals and questions the current political order of identify areas of interest and relevance, they the country, which represents an indicator realize that democracy provides them with of political and social instability. However, opportunities, benefits, privileges, thus their students with negative perceptions of next logical step is to direct their political democracy did not indicate any alternative participation towards the respective areas. system, which suggests that they do not Their political participation should increase oppose democracy but rather criticize and to the extent that their demands and needs lack confidence in the policies of the are satisfied, and this is how they gain the current political system. sense of effectiveness, fell empowered and The establishment of a democracy in confident in the values of democracy which a society is achieved at a first stage by are validated by their belief that individual implementation of democratic principles,
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but the essence of democracy is its citizens, democracy, and more interested in active their understanding of democracy, and their participation in the democratic process. ideals and beliefs. But citizens of a The results of the study also point out democracy are not born with democratic that individuals who display a tolerant, values, they acquire these values through open-minded and respectful attitude education. Participants in this study were towards their peers, who communicate Law students who had been familiarized efficiently, flexibly and try to reach with democracy-related concepts, namely agreement, will show the same type of elections and voting, equality and justice, behavior in their relation with democratic rights and liberties, governing power etc. institutions. There are cases when an They demonstrated that they were individual’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, accustomed to electoral mechanisms and judgments, and expectations are different were able to conceptualize their perceptions from the values and rules of a democratic of democracy by making use of and linking system, which inevitably leads to a the above-mentioned concepts together. In conflicting situation. The respective the answers they provided, respondents individual is faced with two choices: to lose often employed terms they had previously interest in social and political problems, or encountered during their three semesters of to participate and try to have a say in the Legal Studies to elaborate concepts of political system. Political participation governing power, equality and justice, reinforces individuals’ belief in democracy, rights and liberties, rule of law. Based on and at the same time educates participants these insights, it can be concluded that on democratic values. Moreover, democracy-related education is beneficial individuals’ involvement in political and for the understanding, establishment and social life reinforces solidarity and development of democracy, and the early understanding between individuals, and introduction of democracy-related topics individuals and institutions, fostering a and subjects could help students become climate of tolerance, equality and common more knowledgeable, articulate and values, and making institutions more descriptive in their conceptualizations of responsive to the requirements of society.
REFERENCES
1. David E. Campbell, Why we Vote: How Schools and Communities Shape our Civic Life, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2006). 2. Jacques Ranciere, Hatred of Democracy, (London: Verso Press, 2006), 52. 3. Giovanni Sartori, The Theory of Democracy Revisited, (Chatham: Chatham House Publishers, 1986), 26. 4. Arend Lijpart, Democraţii. Modele de guvernare majoritară şi consensuală în douăzeci şi una de ţări, (Chişinău: Sigma Publishing House, 1999), 23-28. 5. Samuel Huntington, “Al treilea val al democraţiei”, Romanian Journal of Political Science (Journal of Democracy, 2:2 ,1991), 29-39.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Campbell, David E. Why we Vote: How Schools and Communities Shape our Civic Life. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2006. Huntington, Samuel. “Al treilea val al democraţiei”. Romanian Journal of Political Science. Journal of Democracy, 2:2, 1991. http://www.sar.org.ro/polsci. Lijpart, Arend. Democraţii. Modele de guvernare majoritară şi consensuală în douăzeci şi una de ţări. Chişinău: Sigma Publishing House, 1999. Pacheco, Julianna Sandell. “Political Socialization in Context: The Effect of Political Competition on Youth Voter Turnout”. Political Behavior 30, 4, 2008. Ranciere, Jacques. Hatred of Democracy, London: Verso Press, 2006. Sartori, Giovanni. The Theory of Democracy Revisited, Chatham: Chatham House Publishers, 1986.
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