ABSTRACT
Democracy has a specific political aspect and a broader societal aspect. By political democracy one can understand a political system that is institutionalized in such a way that it: 1) includes widespread participation in the political decision making processes based on the principle of political equality, 2) involves competition between different views and actors in the political decision making process, including mechanisms which keep the leaders responsible and gives a possibility to remove them, and 3) puts limitations to the exercise of political authority, i.e. includes the protection of the basic rights of individuals. By societal democracy one can understand societies in which there: 1) is a widespread acceptance of the equal right to political participation, 2) exists a free public debate and possibilities of creation of a public opinion, and 3) is a widespread respect for other individuals and their fundamental rights (see Gustavsson in this book).
