Democracy Research Articles

Implementing a Three-Step Security Protocol for Advanced Online Election Systems: A Novel Approach

Organization of voting is the strength of character of all equalitarianism and system. Our country utilize an offline voting systems that are incompetent and disorganized by cause of the demand for abundant man power, and more refinement time for announcement outcome. Our Online Voting System aims at minimizing the division between traditional voting methods by facilitating and updating them. Our system makes it possible for voters to vote their favorable candidates from home through safe and stable online voting. By integrating India's Aadhaar card system and implementing OTPs (One Time Passwords) for better security, ensure a resilient and trustworthy voting process with full integrity. Once they login, voters are led through a strict authentication rules that checks for the genuineness of their ID cards before allowing them to continue. This comprehensive verification mechanism provides that only individuals who meet the requirements are able to participate thereby considerably decreasing the chance for electoral fraud. In addition to that, we also ensure that the system gives space to vote in secret and the votes are protected using strong cryptography measures. Our platform aims at fulfilling this object by leveraging advanced technologies. In this regard, we work towards a better and more egalitarian and democratic electoral system.

Democratic Socialism of BP and its Imperatives in Nepal's Politics and Development: A Critical Outlook

This paper explores Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala’s interpretation of democratic socialism and its influence on Nepal’s political and developmental trajectory. Adopting a review-based methodology within a critical framework, the research delves into BP’s principles of democratic socialism, which aim to blend democratic governance with social fairness and economic equity. The study evaluates how these principles were reflected in development policies during the Nepali Congress leadership, noting both positive outcomes and limitations. Additionally, it addresses the substantial obstacles encountered in applying democratic socialism in Nepal, such as political instability, leadership crisis, economic constraints, and societal challenges. In conclusion, the paper assesses the ongoing significance and future prospects of democratic socialism in Nepal, advocating for its effective theorization and application through development strategies centered on the people, improved governance practices, and reinforced institutional structures to promote political morality and sustainable development.

Strategic narrative in Ukraine

This study analyzes the strategic use of narratives as a crucial factor that enabled Ukraine to effectively counter Russia’s aggression during the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War, supported by the international community. The research focuses on the central theme of “democratic values and identity” within Ukraine’s narrative, exploring how this narrative was crafted and how it garnered acceptance and backing from international actors. Building on existing discussions on strategic narratives, this study theoretically examines the processes of narrative formation, acceptance by actors, and the building of solidarity. Furthermore, it presents an analytical framework to explain the significance of the “democratic values and identity” message, and how it is effectively conveyed to various actors. In the current conflict, Ukraine has projected a strategic narrative centered on “democratic values and identity,”which has reinforced solidarity among both state and non-state actors, enabling a sustained conflict with Russia. State actors have supported Ukraine’s war efforts through military, economic, and humanitarian aid, while non-state actors, including individuals, organizations, corporations, and international institutions, have contributed by amplifying narratives on social media, engaging in proxy warfare in cyberspace, providing internet services and aid, and shaping the strategic environment through international norms. This study suggests that narratives can be strategically constructed and utilized as non-military means to achieve national objectives.

From Transformation to Consolidation of the State: Challenges of the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans

Democratic societies must adhere to the Rule of Law to ensure that every individual—including the government—responsible to the law. This research looks at the obstacles the Western Balkans encountered in defending the rule of law as they integrated into the European Union, concentrating on the discrepancy between the EU's high standards and the institutional capabilities of the area. This study examines the theoretical underpinnings of the Rule of Law as they relate to Western culture and European history, employing qualitative research methodologies. It also examines the integration processes and changes that have taken place in the Western Balkans. The qualitative analysis concludes that although the Western Balkans need the Rule of Law, existing EU policies might risk being ineffective. It recommends implementing more adaptable and encouraging systems to create the fundamentals of the Rule of Law in these countries, promoting steady advancement towards EU integration. This article offers a critical evaluation of the EU's strategy, highlighting the necessity of customized, situation-specific tactics.

The 2020 #EndSARS Protests in Nigeria: Understanding How Perception Influences Government Approach to Civil Uprising in a Dictatorial State

Abstract Dictatorial regimes are known for their non-tolerance syndrome, including for peaceful protests. With manifest dictatorial tendencies, Nigeria, under the President Muhammadu Buhari, fiercely gagged the media and clamped on peaceful protests, believing them to be anti-government uprisings. Despite this repressive approach, the youths embarked on the #EndSARS protest to demand for police accountability. Although the movement could not achieve its desired objectives, it drew international attention to police brutality and unveiled how dictatorial perceptions deny even a democratic government an opportunity to retract its policy steps. This paper analyzes how the Nigerian state escalates its security problems through its perception of, and approach to, peaceful protests. Using data from field survey, acled and documentary media reports, this paper argues that Nigeria’s manifest dictatorial tendencies deny it the opportunity to take in protest demands to initiate pro-people policies that could address its security problems. The implication is that the security environment in the country continues to worsen.

Legal integrity of public authorities

This article is devoted to the study of the state of management activity of public authorities in Ukraine, as well as to the disclosure of such a social and legal phenomenon as the term “integrity of public authorities”, providing its legal definition, and revealing its meaning. It was noted that the first steps on the way to fundamentally reforming the old system of public power with the support of our European allies, starting in 2014, were carried out in Ukraine through the initiation of relevant reforms, of which 18 are key reforms. In order to implement the aforementioned, appropriate amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine and relevant laws were drafted. Thus, the movement towards the specified goal, the implementation of the aforementioned reforms by the public authorities of Ukraine depends entirely on its capacity, integrity, primarily in the field of law, in the spheres of lawmaking and law application, i.e. ensuring the supremacy of law over state arbitrariness. The article reveals the concept of “integrity” as a psychological factor, which is based on the tendency to be organized, responsible and hardworking, and also notes its connection with the law, and the legal category “legal integrity”, which is closely related to professional ethics. Related to legal integrity is legal ethics, which plays a certain role and importance of moral principles in the sphere of justice and law enforcement, as well as in other human activities related to law. Attention is focused on the fact that the analysis of the state of implementation of the planned reforms by the public authorities of Ukraine indicates a very slow progress in the fulfillment of the corresponding obligations regarding democratic transformations in the state, since a certain part of them have not been implemented so far. At the same time, new challenges have appeared during the wartime period, the implementation of which largely depends on the “legal integrity of the public authorities”, which, in turn, can affect the speed of military aid to Ukraine from our allies. First of all, this concerns the need to complete the planned reforms. It is emphasized that one of the negative dynamics, which is surprisingly important for Ukraine, is the slowing down of reforms in the security and defense sector. This is one of the most important public administration reforms, the purpose of which is to strengthen the quality of security sector management (SSC) by means of effective and efficient security provision under conditions of democratic supervision and control. In parallel with it, the reform of the defense industry should be carried out. One of the reasons for the mentioned shortcomings is the absence of a state personnel policy, which leads to the occurrence of grave consequences for national security, to the occurrence of acts of corruption, theft of state funds, and state treason. It was established that the confirmation of the above is only a fragmentary involvement of public authorities of civil society in the normative regulation of public life, regarding the regulation of social relations in the relevant spheres of life, as well as the involvement of citizens in the development and adoption of management decisions, which does not correspond to the provisions of Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Evidence of ignoring the rights and interests of citizens on the part of the public authorities is the legislative, regulatory “deterioration” of the pension legislation in 2018 regarding persons released from military service, which was performed without involving citizens in the discussion; the veteran movement of the security and defense sector was split by the authorities. A significant shortcoming of the functioning of public authorities is that in their activities they often do not perceive the modern European democratic principle of orienting authorities to the fulfillment of social requests of society regarding its further development, but instead act on the contrary – offer and lobby their personal vision of directions for the further development of society, which often does not coincide with society’s aspirations and leads to the emergence of social conflicts. And therefore, only in the case of sharpening attention to emerging social problems, in compliance with the obligations assumed to adhere to European democratic principles, the public authorities have the opportunity to jointly solve existing problems with civil society, thereby consolidating society and increasing the efficiency of public administration.

From Foundation to Impact: Key Processes for Designing Non-Profit Scientific Associations

Introduction: The article discusses the importance of designing nonprofit scientific associations, highlighting the difference between foundations and corporations, and provides a framework for developing resilient, adaptive NGOs committed to their social objectives.Method: A reflective analysis of the regulatory and conceptual framework for establishing nonprofit scientific associations, comparing foundations and corporations, exploring a social impact business model, and offering recommendations to strengthen innovation and democratic governance in these organizations.Results: The development of a nonprofit Scientific Civil Association involves three key stages: defining its organizational identity, selecting a committed board of directors, and designing a social impact business model. These elements, along with proper legal and fiscal structuring, ensure its viability, innovation, and commitment to its social objectives. Conclusions: This procedure guides the creation of resilient Scientific Civil Associations by differentiating between foundations and corporations, promoting democratic structures, and utilizing the Canvas model for social impact, ensuring legal compliance, innovation, and lasting impact.

A Study of the World Wide Consequences of Populism on Democracy

This article explores the profound and far-reaching consequences of populism on democracy across the globe. Populism, characterized by its appeal to the masses and vilification of established elites, has become a potent force in shaping political landscapes worldwide. Through an interdisciplinary lens drawing on political science, sociology, and economics, we analyze how the rise of populism challenges the fundamental pillars of democracy. We investigate its impact on democratic institutions, governance structures, and political culture, highlighting its tendencies to exacerbate polarization, erode trust in democratic processes, and undermine the rule of law. Moreover, we examine the economic ramifications of populist policies, often marked by protectionism and short-termism, which can destabilize economies and exacerbate social inequalities. Additionally, we explore the implications of populism for international relations, including its potential to disrupt diplomatic norms and alliances. By synthesizing empirical research and theoretical insights, this article provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted consequences of populism on democracy, offering insights for policymakers, scholars, and concerned citizens seeking to safeguard democratic principles in an era of populist resurgence.

Calibrating families: Data behaviourism and the new algorithmic logic

Abstract Family intervention is a long-established mechanism of state control, but recent technological developments are facilitating new regulatory capacities and objectives. This paper will explore how contemporary welfare policy interventions in the UK are converging around a technological solutionist ideology that centres family relationships as core instruments of social management. The last decade has seen a marked techno-administrative turn, with family/state relationships increasingly mediated through online portals and dashboards. Over the last few years this data-centric model has accelerated towards an algorithmic approach to governance through the incorporation of big data surveillance, predictive analytics and behavioural interventions to monitor and socially engineer populations. In this paper we draw on policy analysis and freedom of information requests to trace the embedding of data collection frameworks into apparently conventional family intervention programmes in the UK, and show how this “datification” was made into a core delivery tool. We also highlight how secrecy, or at the very least strategic silence, has restricted public knowledge of how and why data is being collected and used in the UK. We show how parents and children are being quantified and translated into datapoints to support new logics of choice manipulation, ceding unprecedented power to financiers, data analytic and social marketing companies, platform developers and big tech industries. The resulting financialization of family welfare services tracks the contours of longstanding social divisions, reconfiguring and in many cases compounding the injustices of race, class and gender. This algorithmic calibration of children and parents is extending the regulatory powers of the state far beyond previous efforts to govern and control poor families, with under-explored consequences for the principles of democracy and justice.

Configurations of democracy—empirical and methodological insights from a comparison of Singapore, Ghana, and Ireland

This article presents and proofs an alternative concept of democracy that seeks to overcome the limitations of rigid universalist, liberal-proceduralist conceptions by emphasizing the fundamental principles of democracy rather than combining them with culturally individualistic features. The approach presented here focuses on the fundamental principles of democracy. Democratic configurations assume that citizens’ political self-efficacy of the people is a potential basic principle behind any institutionalization of democratic order. Therefore, this article refers on a discussion of the theoretical implementation of self-efficacy in the three models of democracy: liberalism, republicanism and communitarianism. Ultimately, every political system must be studied by whether the established institutions serve this basic principle. The article illustrates the proposed approach through case studies of Singapore, Ghana, and Ireland. The empirical examples show how different institutional settings and their adjustments strengthen and hinder political self-efficacy. Therefore, this new bottom-up-approach of studying configurations of democracy may help to get better insights on the democraticness of political systems and other institutional settings.

In the Light: Procedural Legitimacy, the Shadow Docket, and Support for the U.S. Supreme Court

This article examines the impact of procedural regularity on public perceptions of the U.S. Supreme Court. I argue that substantive legitimacy can stem from procedural regularity. Using a novel 2 × 2 × 2 experimental design I develop and test multiple hypotheses base on a procedural regularity and fairness model. The study analyzes how decisions made via the emergency docket affect both diffuse and specific support for the Court, drawing on a multi-wave survey of 3793 nationally representative respondents. Results reveal that procedural irregularities significantly reduce specific support for the Court, while diffuse support remains largely unaffected. This pattern holds even when controlling for factors such as democratic values, policy agreement, and perceived ideological distance. These findings suggest that the Court’s procedural choices can influence public perceptions, particularly specific support. This research offers important insights into the complex relationship between judicial procedures and public opinion, indicating that at least some of the Court's legitimacy is in its own hands. As debates intensify over the Court's use of expedited procedures, this study provides timely, empirical evidence of their potential consequences.

Democratic Education in Ukraine:Specifics, Problems, and Ways to Solve Them

The relevance of the article is due to the development of civil society, the presence of democratization processes and the search for effective mechanisms for strengthening democratic institutions and values, globalization, which requires the active formation of cooperation skills, the emergence of which should be facilitated by democratic education, given its orientation to the formation of democratic values and beliefs, involvement in the adoption decisions, development of pluralism of opinions, dialogue between different groups, etc.The article aims to highlight the specifics of democratic education in Ukraine, outline its problems, and propose ways to solve them.Methodology. The descriptivemethod, the analysis, synthesis, generalization and systematization were used.Research results. The article examines trends in democratic competencies in Ukrainian educational institutions and verbalizes risk zones that can inhibit the process.Conclusions. Therefore, democratic education can be effective only under the condition of the existence of real democracy in Ukraine, the presence of a comprehensive approach to the implementation of democratic education and the formation of state policy in the field of youth education according to the principles: violation of rules, misdemeanors, crime –responsibility», observance of the balance of rights and obligations of the It is necessary to ensure real, not formal, equality of all participants in the educational process, by putting people-centrism as the basis of education , as specified in Ukrainian legislation, and not child-centrism, the active implementation of which can lead to the undermining of the foundations of a democratic society, in particular, itwill contribute to the education of a free but selfish personality. unable to respect the rights of others. Keywords : democratic education, Ukraine, student self-government, democracy.

Transformasi Tatanan Hukum dan Demokrasi: Analisis Perubahan Struktural Pasca Reformasi

This research aims to examine the transformation of the level of law and democracy after the Indonesian reformation, of course after independence Indonesia experienced many structural changes from the pre-Reformation era to the post-reformation era. At all times, Indonesia has always tried to develop and improve Indonesia’s structural order, so this research uses two problem formulations, namely how the legal order in post-reformation Indonesia is and how democracy is implemented in post-reformation Indonesia. This research is qualitative research with a normative juridical approach. The results of this research show that the legal order in Indonesia after the 1998 reform, Indonesia experienced significant changes in its legal order and democratic system. The following are the main points related to several things, namely the constitution, government system, elections and political parties, legal developments, human rights protection, and regional autonomy. Overall, post-reform, Indonesia has moved towards a more mature democratic system with improvements in the legal order, more open elections, and increased protection of human rights.

Peran Mahkamah Konstitusi dalam Penegakan Hukum dan Mempertahankan Keseimbangan Kekuasaan dalam Sistem Pemerintahan Indonesia

This research aims to evaluate the role of the Constitutional Court (MK) in maintaining constitutional supremacy, democracy and balance of power in the Indonesian constitutional system. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. Data was collected from primary sources in the form of statutory regulations, such as the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and Law Number 24 of 2003 concerning the Constitutional Court, as well as secondary sources in the form of books, legal journals and legal scientific articles. The research results show that the Constitutional Court has an important role in maintaining legal stability, maintaining the balance of power between state institutions, and upholding democratic principles and constitutional supremacy in Indonesia. Through its authority to carry out judicial reviews of laws and government policies, the Constitutional Court functions as the front guard in enforcing the law and maintaining the balance of power between the executive, legislative and judiciary. However, the role of the Constitutional Court often sparks debate regarding the limits of judicial intervention in public policy, showing the complexity in maintaining the balance of power. Therefore, this research contributes to understanding the role and challenges faced by the Constitutional Court in the context of the Indonesian constitutional system.

Accounting for <i>Hijab</i>: Interrogating the Post-Secular

This article questions the idea of the ‘post-secular’ as a category for understanding Indian women’s experience of religion as an existential practice in neocolonised capitalist patriarchy. The majoritarian state’s manipulation of an identitarian regime of signification to use and control women’s lives is located in a plural, democratic society that is currently riven by the violent politics of conflicting religious and secular constructions of <i>hijab</i>, a head covering worn by Muslim women. From an engaged ideological perspective that seeks radical transformation, feminist struggle includes the right to practice and profess one’s faith, against a majoritarian norm that bulldozes difference and imposes its prescriptions as ideal. This article aims to show, from a feminist perspective, the manipulation of significatory practices in India, linking women’s ‘dress’ with progress to essentialise and politicise identity. It questions whether redressal against violence wrought on women by religious fundamentalism can be found in a secular state policy, based on the norm of equality of difference. Feminist practice would actively use the guarantees given to the citizen by a pluralist secular constitution to challenge the violence of interlinked discriminations, necessary for the survival of a plural society in which diversities co-exist.

Balancing privacy and public interest in the fight against illicit financial flows: Lessons from an European Case Study

Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) – such as corruption and money laundering – have a significant negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights. Combating IFF is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 16 explicitly promulgates the relation between the rule of law, social security and the fight against IFF. Cross-border data access and exchange by enforcement authorities is crucial to map and disrupt IFF, punish suspects and take away their criminally earned assets. At the same time, human rights restrain national enforcement authorities when combatting IFF. States must abstain from undue interference with individuals’ privacy rights, such as the storage of information relating to an individual’s private life and the sharing of such information. Pursuant to article 8 ECHR, interference with the right to respect for private – in accordance with the law – is only permissible if this is necessary in a democratic society, e.g. in the interests of national security and public safety. In this article we explore the balance between individual rights and states’ responsibilities in the fight against IFF; between privacy and the common good of fighting bad money. To what extent may privacy concerns be an obstacle to investigate global IFF? Our conclusion is that there is an imbalance. We suggest that human dignity and human security should be given more weight in the balancing of human rights in this context.

<b>Democracy</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>Prosper</b><b>ity:</b><b> </b><b>Analyzing</b><b> </b><b>Political</b><b> </b><b>Systems</b><b> </b><b>and Economic Results Through History</b>

Examining how democratic governance has impacted economic outcomes in various temporal and regional contexts, this article uses a historical lens to analyze the relationship between political democracy and economic progress. In order to investigate the fundamental mechanisms by which democracy influences economic policies and growth trajectories, this study uses a comparative historical analysis to focus on three key cases: post-war Japan, modern India, and the British Iron Revolution. By promoting improved governance, stimulating investment, and aiding in the creation of social capital, democratic institutions frequently promote economic development, according to the data. Nonetheless, the research also emphasizes how certain historical, cultural, and socioeconomic elements play a major mediating role in how well democracy fosters economic progress.

Community energy and socio-technical infrastructure resilience: analysis of mini/micro hydro power projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract In 2014–15, Pakistan’s provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) launched a decentralised power generation initiative, installing over 356 small hydro power units to provide electricity to over 2.5 million people in its mountainous regions. This initiative built on the foundation of prior community-based mini/micro hydro-power projects (MHPPs) deployed in the region since the 1980s that have experienced mixed success; by 2020, over 150 units were non-operational. This paper investigates the socio-technical factors influencing the success and failure of these projects, focusing on outcomes and processes integral to community MHPPs. The study analyses the critical implications of MHPPs for socio-economic welfare, gender equity and democratic governance through extensive primary research including field observations at 40 sites, questionnaire surveys with community residents in three in-depth case-studies, and expert interviews with local policymakers and project developers. Analysis shows that electricity provision from MHPPs has had positive outcomes for the communities in terms of improved education, poverty alleviation and economic growth, alongside enhanced access to information and gains in women’s entrepreneurship and health. Nonetheless, the study also identifies significant shortcomings in the processes involved in community MHPPs related to inadequate technical assessments, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as challenges arising from undemocratic governance mechanisms and inequitable participation. By teasing out the multiple socio-technical dimensions that shape infrastructure resilience of MHPPs in KPK, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable community energy projects and informs policy for decentralised energy transitions that ensure democratic alignment and inclusive design.

Navigating hate speech and content moderation under the DSA: insights from ECtHR case law

ABSTRACT The dissemination of hate speech online necessitates forceful content moderation to protect individuals and democratic values, without undue infringement of freedom of expression and the right to access information. In Europe, recent regulatory measures like the Digital Services Act (DSA) address the amplification of harmful content on social media, and place responsibilities on Very Large Online Platforms to counter societal risks, such as hate speech. The DSA mandates that platforms balance commercial interests with protecting user rights and safety, necessitating nuanced moderation strategies. However, both automated and human moderation face challenges in accurately identifying and countering hate speech. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its interpretation by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) provide essential guidance for navigating how to counter hate speech and also protect freedom of expression. This article aims to contribute to the understanding the emerging landscape of platform regulation and how the demands in the DSA can be better understood and operationalized regarding moderation of hate speech, in light of ECtHR case law.

Principles of criminal law of Ukraine and principles of criminal law protection of professional activity of law enforcement officers

The article analyzes the links between the basic principles of criminal law of Ukraine and the principles governing criminal law protection of professional activities of law enforcement agencies. Special attention is paid to the study of interaction and impact of these principles on law enforcement. The author refers to the contributions of national scholars who have studied the nature of certain principles of criminal law and offers a systematic analysis for further improvement of the regulatory framework. The author emphasizes that modern changes in criminal law should reflect not only historical experience, but also modern challenges that require a deeper understanding and application of the principles of justice, legality, humanism and democracy. The author also emphasizes the need to enshrine the principles in the new edition of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in order to comply with international standards and ensure legal certainty and objectivity of law enforcement. According to the author, there is a need for greater clarity and systematization of the principles of criminal law, and their inclusion in the Criminal Code will help ensure greater transparency and efficiency in their application. The author of the article emphasizes the importance of the principles of criminal law proposed by P. L. Fries, which form the basis for criminal law protection of professional activities of law enforcement agencies, but also emphasizes the possibility of their expansion. In particular, the author proposes new articles for the Criminal Code of Ukraine which include the principles of legality, equality before the law, guilt, justice, individualization of punishment, personal nature of responsibility, humanism, and inevitability of responsibility. The author comes to the conclusion that the principles of criminal law protection of the professional activities of law enforcement agencies are based on constitutional and criminal law principles. The basic principles such as the rule of law, justice, equality before the law, individualization of punishment, and inevitability of liability form the structure of protection of law enforcement officers’ rights. An analysis of the principles which are repeated in constitutional and special criminal provisions shows that it is inappropriate to allocate separate principles for law enforcement officers. The author proposes a two-tier system of principles for effective criminal law protection which avoids duplication of categories and ensures systematic and rational law application.