Democracy compared to authoritarian states
Channel: Robert Dalling
Date: 2019-08-17

Democracy is more than voting and free speech. It is firstly a blending of views that partially satisfies everyone. Democracy requires tolerance, participation, the right of dissent, an intelligent distrust of leadership, faith in fellow citizens not rulers, and the desire to compromise rather than suffer civil war. Authoritarian or single-party states outlaw alternative political parties and choose priorities, goals, and agendas without debate. This classroom summary of political culture includes descriptions of single party states and democratic states. An explanation is given for the reason that, after the departure of the European colonizers, India remained democratic and Africa remained authoritarian.

The narration is contained in my book “Human nature, worth, and civilization,” by Robert Dalling. See www.HumanismWeb.net for links to all the videos that comprise this Big History Course.