Neno ‘demokrasia’ linatokana na neno la Kigiriki cha kale ‘demos kratos,’ ambalo kwa tafsiri ya karibu linamaanisha ‘nguvu ya watu.’ Kwa maana yake, ina maana kwamba mamlaka ya kutunga kanuni na sheria yapo mikononi mwa watu, yaani ni wao wanaoshikilia mamlaka kuu. Kinadharia, watu wote wangetoa maoni yao kuhusu jinsi mambo yao yanavyopaswa kuendeshwa, kwa kuwa wao ndio wangekuwa katika nafasi bora zaidi ya kuamua ni nini kingekuwa bora kwao wenyewe. Hata hivyo, hali halisi ya demokrasia iko mbali sana na hili.

The word ‘democracy’ derives from the ancient Greek term ‘demos kratos,’ roughly translated as ‘people power.’ By its definition, it means that the authority to legislate rules and laws lies in the hands of the people, i.e. it is they who hold the sovereignty. In theory, all the people would voice their opinion on how their affairs should be run, as they would be in the best position to judge what would be best for themselves. However, the reality of democracy is far removed from this.

Kwa kweli, demokrasia ni mfumo unaompandisha binadamu kwa uongo hadi kufikia hadhi ya Mungu. Matokeo yake, binadamu dhaifu, anayejipinga na mwenye mipaka, anapewa uwezo wa kutangaza nini ni sahihi na nini si sahihi. Hivyo, kwa kufuata matakwa na tamaa za watu, na kwa kuzingatia upendeleo wao, kukosea kwao na ujinga wao, sheria hutungwa ili watu wengine wazifuate. Kwa hiyo, dereva wa basi anaweza kuwa na sauti katika sera ya uchumi ya nchi, fundi viatu angeweza kuamrisha jinsi serikali inavyopaswa kupangwa, na mhudumu wa hoteli angeulizwa njia bora ya kupanga sera ya mambo ya nje - yote hayo bila kujali kama wana maarifa yoyote kuhusu mada hizo. Ni wazi kwamba mfumo unaotokana na mchakato kama huo utajaa upungufu.