International Day of Democracy

International Day of Democracy 

The 15th September marks International Day of Democracy. The term ‘democracy’ is often used in society and our schools, as one that is valued and important to understand. It is ever-present in our Fundamental British Values. This international day gives teachers a great opportunity to talk with students about democracy in lessons, assemblies and form times.

So what is International Day of Democracy? 

The event was held for the first time in 2008 to mark the 20th anniversary of the First International Conference of the New or Restored Democracies. It is observed internationally to recognise the importance of democracy and where improvements still need to be made.

The UN states that:

The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

What can you do to observe International Day of Democracy?

This day provides an excellent opportunity to educate people about Democracy, review how democratic your systems in schools and organisations are, and raise awareness of democracy. This can be carried out through a variety of different ways including: assemblies, lessons, tutor time activities, discussions, social media campaigns and lunchtime events where students take part in democratic processes such as voting or debates.

Democracy: as easy as voting? 

When asking people to define the concept of democracy, many will talk about the process of voting or rule of the people, but often struggle to be clear with their exact understanding of what it means to live in a democratic country. On 15th September we can take the opportunity to ensure that more people understand that the concept of democracy is in fact quite complex. ACT has produced a Teacher Factsheet to explain in greater detail the elements involved in democracy, and examples of different forms of democratic countries across the world. Additionally, this is accompanied by some case studies that could easily be used in lessons or tutor time to support group discussions or the development of lesson activities.

Additional Resources you may want to use: 

• International Day of Democracy – for students
• What is democracy? – with Danny Wallace – for students
• Why Socrates Hated Democracy – for students and teachers to stimulate discussions
• What is Democracy? – for teachers and older students to stimulate discussion
• WHAT IS DEMOCRACY AND DOES IT WORK IN THE 21st CENTURY | IE EXPLAINS – for teachers.