Success of Democracy in the United States. Social Sciences Paper

Success of Democracy in the United States
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Success of Democracy in the United States
Democracy is an issue that has fascinated politicians, historians, and other scholars for centuries. It has also been an issue of contention and reworked over the years. The United States (U.S.), is one of the countries that can be used as a case study to explore the concept of democracy. After studying Dickovick and Eastwood text, a comparative approach can be used to explore democracy in the U.S.
Comparative Approach
In many aspects, the U.S. would be considered a democracy. One of the major ways that the U.S. would be considered a democracy is the well-structured democratic institution and rules. According to Dickovick and Eastwood, evidence shows that the U.S. does conduct relatively free and fair elections with all citizens having the right to vote. As long as one is a legal citizen of the country, they have the right to vote. Elections are scheduled every four years to vote for a new president or reinstate the current president, if his or her term is not complete. Additionally, the country allows multiple parties or someone’s choice. People can vote whichever party they choose or a candidate that represents what they stand for based on their political, social, or other ideologies. The elections are also open to any individual to run for office. Xu and Albert argue that the U.S. is a democracy compared to a country like China where a central authority dictates the interest of the people and ratifies the political parties that can run. The U.S. political structure is largely accessible to the people.[Tyler, Dickovick, and Jonathan, Eastwood, Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases, Third Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019), 123.] [Dickovick, Eastwood, Comparative Politics: Integrating, 123.] [Beina Xu, and Eleanor Alberto,“Media Censorship in China.” Council on Foreign Relations, February 17, 2017. /backgrounder/media-censorship-china]
Another important factor that makes the U.S. a democracy is the civil liberties enjoyed. In many countries of the world, civil liberties are limited. The U.S. provides the freedom of speech and expression such that people can air their opinions freely. However, in countries like China, while the Constitution declares that all citizens have the freedom of speech, many aspects of free speech are limited. For example, things such as freedom of the press are firmly limited by certain laws and regulations. In the U.S., freedom to access sources of information, which involves free press is provided. The country’s Constitution also offers the freedom of assembly or to gather or join any interest group and parties. All the same, such freedoms are exercised within certain rules or procedures. For example, civil rights should not infringe on the rights of others. In a case where someone engages in hate speech, the law curtails such freedom by protecting groups from attacks and abuse, in the name of free speech.[Xu, “Media Censorship in China.”] [Tyler, Dickovick, and Jonathan, Eastwood, Comparative Politics: Integrating Theories, Methods, and Cases, Third Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019), 124.] ...