Yesterday the eyes of so many were fixed on the Inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama. Standing in the crowd of an estimated 1.4 million people who formed a colorful tapestry stretching across Washington’s National Mall, I was overcome by this moment epitomizing the beauty of democracy: peaceful transition of power amidst enthusiastic civic engagement.
But elections – even as historic as this one – are not enough to sustain democracy and to make it work, as many struggling democracies around the world discover. Then-Senator Obama pointed that out back in 2006 in a speech at the University of Nairobi. He emphasized that poor governance and corruption can undermine democracy, even in a country where elections do take place:
“Elections are not enough. In a true democracy, it is what happens between elections that is the true measure of how a government treats its people. (…) It is painfully obvious that corruption stifles development – it siphons off scarce resources that could improve infrastructure, bolster education systems, and strengthen public health. It stacks the deck so high against entrepreneurs that they cannot get their job-creating ideas off the ground.”
Democracy is not just about singular events such as elections and inaugurations – even the most memorable ones – and it is not about particular leaders. Instead, the essence of democracy lies in building and constantly perfecting a system where decision-making in open, transparent, and inclusive, where the rule of law and accountability apply equally to all, and where economic prosperity is possible as a result.
Published Date: January 21, 2009