“Saddam's ouster will not necessarily lead to the same result, since Iraq lacks democratic traditions. Democracy doesn't just consist of holding elections.” ResultsDemocracyTraditionElectionDemocraticIraqSaddam Author:Brent Scowcroft
“Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it. It is a corrective to the sluggishness of "the proper channels," a way of breaking through passages blocked by tradition and prejudice. It is disruptive and troublesome, but it is a necessary disruption, a healthy troublesome.” WayLawDemocracyHealthyEssentialsTraditionPrejudiceProtestPassagesDepartureDisruptionTroublesomeBlockedDisruptive Book:The Zinn Reader: Writings on Disobedience and Democracy Source: The Zinn Reader: Writings on Disobedience and Democracy
“I have no intention of slurring over the differences we have with socialism, nor concealing my belief that we are the National Party of Great Britain, representing not narrow class interest, nor the bigotry of the left wing intellectuals, but all those who support the British tradition of democracy, of personal freedom, of personal responsibility for one's own affairs and those of one's family, with the least possible interference from the State.” StatesBeliefLeftInterestDifferencesPartyResponsibilityClassSupportDemocracyTraditionWingsIntentionAffairBritishSocialismBritainBigotryPersonal ResponsibilityRepresentingInterferenceGreat BritainLeft WingPersonal FreedomConcealing Author:Norman Tebbit
“Tradition is only democracy extended through time; it may be defined as an extension of the franchise. Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who are merely walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man's opinion, even if he is our father.” IfsMenGivingMayMeanGovernmentFatherOpinionClassDemocracyObjectsBirthWalkingTraditionVoteDemocratRefuseAccidentsDefinedGood ManNeglectAncestorArrogantSubmitObscureExtensionsOur FatherRough TimesOligarchy Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Science is neither a single tradition, nor the best tradition there is, except for people who have become accustomed to its presence, its benefits and its disadvantages. In a democracy it should be separated from the state just as churches are now separated from the state.” PeopleShouldStatesScienceChurchDemocracyBenefitsTraditionAccustomedDisadvantages Book:Against Method Source: Against Method
“The philanthropic tradition is older than democracy, older than Christianity, and older than higher education. It gives form and purpose to personal and social life that cannot be provided by the self-interest of economic enterprise or required by the mandate of political institutions.” GivingSelfFormPoliticalPurposeSocialInterestChristianityDemocracyEconomicHigherTraditionInstitutionsEnterprisePhilanthropySelf InterestSocial LifeMandatesHigher EducationPhilanthropicPolitical Institutions Author:Robert L. Payton
“I've written a book entitled 'Islam: the Challenges of Democracy,' because it is a challenge. It requires careful interpretation of the Islamic tradition and Islamic theology, and there's a lot in there that would support democratic ideals.” BookChallengesSupportDemocracyWrittenIdealsTraditionDemocraticIslamCarefulTheologyIslamicInterpretationEntitledDemocratic Ideals Author:Khaled Abou El Fadl
“Far from being the product of a democratic revolution and of an opposition to English institutions, the constitution of the United States was the result of a powerful reaction against democracy, and in favor of the traditions of the mother country.” CountryStatesMotherUnitedResultsPowerfulUnited StatesDemocracyProductsRevolutionTraditionConstitutionInstitutionsDemocraticFavorsReactionsOppositionConstitution Of The United StatesMother Country Author:Lord Acton
“The fate of every democracy, of every government based on the sovereignty of the people, depends on the choices it makes between these opposite principles, absolute power on the one hand, and on the other the restraints of legality and the authority of tradition.” PeopleHandsGovernmentChoicesPrinciplesDemocracyFateDependsAuthorityTraditionOppositesAbsolutesRestraintSovereigntyAbsolute PowerLegality Author:Lord Acton
“The Greek people not only relate to the ancient traditions, they have fought, they have shed blood, until recently, to defend the values of democracy and freedom.” PeopleValuesDemocracyBloodTraditionAncientRelateGreekShed Author:Alexis Tsipras
“How do we preserve our civil rights, our traditions as a liberal democracy, in a time when government power is expanding and is more and more difficult to check?” GovernmentDifficultDemocracyRightsTraditionChecksCivil RightsPreservesExpandingLiberal Democracy Author:Edward Snowden
“We can't attribute a long history of democratic traditions to Japan, either, but today Japan boasts a fully-fledged democracy in which governments change according to democratic procedures. It's no coincidence that the Taiwanese, Japanese, and South Korean economies are among the most innovative in Asia.” LongGovernmentTodayEconomyDemocracyTraditionDemocraticSouthJapanAttributesCoincidenceAsiaBoastInnovativeProceduresKorean Author:Garry Kasparov
“When considering the Islamic world, Turkey is the best example of a country where democracy irreversibly gained a foothold despite religious and cultural traditions still respected today. With some reservation, this can be said about Pakistan, too, where we can observe dynamic political processes going on [and] governments change as a result of elections. In my opinion, it is up to the ruling elite to initiate cardinal changes.” WorldSaidStillsCountryGovernmentTodayPoliticalProcessReligiousResultsOpinionDemocracyExampleTraditionElectionDespiteIslamicElitesConsideringPakistanRulingTurkeysCardinalsReservationsInitiate Author:Garry Kasparov