“Representative democracy betrays the electorate when laws have no roots in the people but in oligarchies. Studies on the concept and modalities of direct democracy are therefore becoming more topical” PeopleLawDemocracyStudyBecomingConceptsDirectRootsBetrayRepresentativesBecoming MoreOligarchyElectorateDirect Democracy Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Democracy entails a correlation between the public interest as expressed by a majority of the population and the governmental policies that affect them. The term encompasses various manifestations, including direct, participatory and representative democracy, but Governments must be responsive to people and not to special interests such as the military-industrial complex, financial bankers and transnational corporations. Democracy is inclusive and does not privilege an anthropological aristocracy.” PeopleDoeGovernmentTermInterestDemocracySpecialMilitaryPolicyDirectMajorityComplexesIncludingFinancialPrivilegePopulationVariousCorporationsManifestationRepresentativesBankersAristocracySpecial InterestsCorrelationPublic InterestMilitary Industrial ComplexTransnational Corporations Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Some observers compare elections in some countries with sports events, where people are but spectators. Moreover, elections must not be mere interludes for pushing a lever and then retreating to passivity, for democracy demands committed participation in the daily workings of society.” PeopleCountrySportsDemocracyEventsDemandElectionMereCommittedComparePushingParticipationObserversSpectatorsPassivityLeversDaily Work Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“In a democracy, it is the people who are sovereign. Therefore, with regard to the promotion of democracy at the local, country and regional levels, civil society must have a stronger voice in all political processes.” PeopleCountryPoliticalProcessVoiceLevelsDemocracyStrongerRegardLocalsSovereignPromotionCivil Society Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Representative democracy frequently manifests a disconnect between parliamentarians and the people, so that parliamentarians have agendas that do not correspond with the wishes of the electorate. This has led in many countries to apathy, cynicism and large-scale absenteeism in elections. What is needed is not only parliaments, but parliamentarians who genuinely represent the wishes of the electorate.” PeopleCountryWishDemocracyNeededElectionScalesAgendasApathyCynicismRepresentativesParliamentLarge ScaleElectorate Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“Respect for human rights requires transparent and accountable institutions and governance as well as the effective participation of all individuals and civil society, who are an essential part of realizing social and people-centred sustainable development.” PeopleHumansWellsIndividualSocialRealizingRightsDevelopmentEssentialsInstitutionsHuman RightsParticipationGovernanceTransparentSustainable DevelopmentCivil Society Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“As far as domestic democracy, all here present know that democracy means government of the people by the people. While we agree that consultation and participation are essential to every democracy, this is seldom achieved in practice.” PeopleKnowsMeanGovernmentPracticeDemocracyEssentialsAgreeParticipationConsultation Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
