This chapter explains what democracy is, what rights you have, and how you can have influence. You also read about threats to democracy.
What is democracy?
Democracy is a Greek word that means rule by the people. Power therefore comes from the people. All citizens should be able to influence decisions.
In elections, the people choose who will govern. This is called representative democracy. The people must have different political alternatives to choose between. It must also be possible to replace those in power.
Free elections
Elections in a democracy must be free and fair. In free elections, everyone who may vote has one vote, just like everyone else. Everyone must be able to say what they think without being threatened or forced. Several parties must also take part in the election.
You vote in secret. You never have to say what you voted for. Anyone who does not want to vote may choose not to.
Freedom of expression and legal certainty
You may try to convince others, that is, get them to agree with you on political questions. The same right applies to groups and parties. You also have freedom of expression: you may speak and write freely about your opinions.
In Sweden, the same laws apply to everyone, and this is important for democracy. The law must treat all people equally. A court may only convict someone after a fair trial. This is called rättssäkerhet (legal certainty). A country where the law applies to everyone and protects everyone's rights is called a rättsstat (a state governed by the rule of law).
A strong democracy
A democracy only works if everyone takes responsibility. Swedish education is based on democratic values. Values are ideas about what is right and important. Children in compulsory school, for example, learn what rights they have and how society works. They also learn how important it is to take part in society and to vote.
The more people who vote and take part, the stronger democracy becomes. Knowledge about social issues also makes it stronger.
How you can have influence
There are many ways to have influence, such as voting in elections. You can join a party or an interest group. An interest group works for a particular group or issue. Or you can start your own association. The right to start associations and join them is called freedom of association.
You can contact politicians. You can also demonstrate, that is, go out on the street with others to show what you think. The right to do this is called freedom to demonstrate. Another way is to start a petition or sign one. Many people sign their name to support a demand.
You can also talk about politics with people you know. You can contact journalists, or write an opinion piece yourself in the media. An opinion piece is a text where you explain your view. At work, you can have influence too, for example through a trade union for employees. You can also tell your kommun (municipality) what you think and suggest ideas.
Threats to democracy
One problem for democracy is low voter turnout, that is, when few people vote. Then it can become harder for people to influence the decisions that shape their everyday lives. One cause can be low trust, meaning people do not trust politicians. Or people may believe their own vote does not matter. When few people vote, differences between groups in society can also grow.
Another threat is disinformation, that is, false information that someone spreads on purpose. It spreads, for example, on social media, where hatred also spreads. The aim is to create conflict in society.
People who speak about social issues can receive threats. This applies, for example, to politicians and journalists. The threats can scare them away from the democratic debate. A well-functioning democracy therefore requires that many people can have influence. Information must be true, and society needs to protect everyone who takes part in the debate.
Segregation and integration
Segregation is, among other things, when different groups of people live apart from each other. The groups may have different incomes or different ethnic backgrounds, meaning they come from different population groups. Integration is when people live close to each other, even if their backgrounds and finances differ. They also feel included, that is, like part of society.
Segregation can mean that public services and culture are easier to reach for some people than for others. There can also be areas where people feel less safe. Some people get very little contact with others in society. Then they may trust authorities less and take part in politics less. In this way, segregation can weaken democracy.
Politicians often have proposals to reduce segregation and make integration easier. One example is language education. Another proposal is that the same area should have different types of housing.