ABSTRACT
A functioning democracy requires a particular culture, the acceptance by the citizenry and political elites of principles underlying freedom of speech, assembly, religion and the like (Lipset 1994, 3). These freedoms will be possible if citizens tolerate different beliefs held or interests pursued by other citizens. In a democracy, each citizen is normatively supposed to have equal opportunity to achieve his or her goals regardless of cultural, social, political or economic background and interests. These differences can become problematic in the absence of tolerance (Dahl 1971, 108).
