Today, I want to talk about the word democracy—a term we think we know and even believe in, but we don’t always take a moment to consider what it truly implies and what it should mean to us.
In its simplest terms, democracy can be defined as “rule by the people.” But when we look at this definition, it is quite vague.
If you were to build a strong democratic country, the central element would naturally be people, as they are the core of democracy.
But who are these “people”? How are they defined or created? If these “people” are meant to hold power, how much power should they have? To what extent? These complexities necessitate laws that determine who qualify as “the people” in a democratic system and what kinds of powers they are entitled to hold. Yet, to create fair and just laws, we need good and lawful people to make them. And this brings us back to the same question: how do we create these “good people”?
This is what is known as the paradox of people in democracy—it’s a never-ending cycle that doesn’t resolve itself. Even if a democratic system is somehow successfully established, we cannot just sit back and watch what happens because the entire system can easily break apart when even just one individual, especially if that one is in a leadership position, neglects their responsibility to make or uphold laws as a democratic citizen.
If I have learned anything about democracy as a political science student, this system is extremely vulnerable and fragile, particularly when individuals like President Yoon start to abuse and exploit such vulnerability. However, I’ve also learned that this very vulnerability is why we must actively engage with and address the challenges facing democracy every single day. By doing so, we can prevent anti-democratic forces from dismantling democracy.
As citizens of democratic nations, we are endowed with significant rights: the right to free speech, the right to assemble, the right to vote, and the right to demand that we will not be ruled by despots. And with these rights comes a great responsibility—the responsibility to exercise them actively and vigilantly.
That’s why we’re here today, and that’s why you are here. We must raise our voices against threats to democracy. The moment we stop doing that, democracy truly ends.
Sarang Kim is an international student from South Korea. She recently earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington, majoring in Political Science with a minor in World Political Systems.
What is Democracy? The Fragile and Vulnerable System That Requires Everyday Practice