“Democracy is a word flung around in America carelessly, repeatedly, thoughtlessly. We say it with pride, pairing it with words like “liberty” and “equality.” Or we say it with indifference or annoyance, pairing it with words like “polarization” and “division.” It may feel like the practical privileges of democracy that we take for granted get buried underneath the frustration with the status quo.

I was born in the United States of America and educated according to the American education curriculum. I learned to revere Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I have repeated the words “I pledge allegiance” and “liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness” countless times. I watched the Broadway musical Hamilton three times, knowing almost all the songs and the history by heart. I chant “USA” proudly during international games. Like most teenagers born in the United States, I have been thoroughly entrenched with red, white, and blue.

Yet, I spent considerable time growing up abroad, in a former Soviet Republic - Georgia. Growing up in a former Communist country made me appreciate democracy for what it is. My impression of democracy shifted away from a pleasant idea and overused word into a way of society that tangibly affects the lives of citizens.

Georgia

Georgia shares its northern border with Russia. The geographical proximity reflects the tangled histories of the two nations. Georgia was a part of the Soviet Union for 70 years, from 1921-1991. In fact, Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR, was Georgian. Even after Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia still heavily influenced and affected its politics and current events. For example, in 2008, tensions between Russia and Georgia led to a violent military conflict, displacing hundreds of thousands of Georgians.

Georgia’s current government is pro-Russian and anti-Western. Once one of the most corrupt countries in the world, Georgia has successfully uprooted many of its corrupt politicians and practices. Still, clientelistic practices remain. Though officially retired from politics, former Prime Minister and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili remains a key player in Georgian politics and has strong ties to Russia, having amassed his fortune there. Currently, Georgia is classified as a representative democratic parliamentary republic but is still considered a fledgling democracy at best, quite unlike the United States. Of course, even the US has its woes in government and questionable politics, but at least the basic idea of a somewhat transparent government and laissez-faire economic policies can be observed.

Academic freedom attacked

Georgia’s government has been directly attacking certain more liberal universities. It is reported that the government is attacking the rector of a more liberal, pro-Western university in Tbilisi, the capital city. By bringing up events from the rector’s past that happened ten years ago, the ruling party is actively trying to replace the current rector with someone pro-government. The university’s staff and students have stood in solidarity with the rector, staunchly supporting her. The European Union and German ambassadors have expressed their support and solidarity with the rector and university.

By attacking the university, the government violates the principle of free speech and academic freedom. Such an occurrence would be unthinkable in the United States, but the students in Georgia have to deal with this on a regular basis. At a different university, the government successfully replaced the rector with one who supports the government. This is only one example from a single country regarding a specific aspect of democracy that is not being fulfilled. Academic freedom, press freedom, and government transparency are all fundamental components of a democracy practiced in America for hundreds of years. Despite all the tension and anger with the American government and political parties lately, if we take a step back, we should realize that it is a privilege that we can talk politics, reach out to candidates to praise or curse them and protest political issues.

Photo by RUT MIIT on Unsplash.

Privileges of democracy

During campaigns, voters can meet with candidates, talk, and communicate their worries to those who represent them on the national level. Even though Georgia has some democratic elements like voting and freedom of protest, most young people can only get involved with politics through demonstrations and protests. While demonstrations and protests are important, they are only a one-way conversation. Being able to talk and email government officials is a special privilege. You can have a two-way conversation. That is why we should be thankful for democracy in the US.

The only real way to express that gratitude and not waste such a privilege is to use it. Get involved with local, state-level, or national politics. Reach out to a representative. It’s frustrating to see the privilege of living in a stable democracy such as the one in America - where students don’t have to be afraid of the government controlling their education - being wasted by our apathetic generation. We often say we have lost hope for politics or America. However, if students in Georgia and so many other countries are still fighting for fundamental human rights and freedom, no matter how polarized or divided our government is, not paying attention to the rights given to us by our democracy is ridiculous.

Photo by RUT MIIT on Unsplash.

It starts with one email, one conversation, one vote. It really does not require much effort compared to all that so many others in the world do. We read about protests in Iran, with women burning their hijabs and getting arrested and tortured for it - that’s the only way people there can express their discontent.

It’s time for “democracy” to stop just being a word we barely understand or appreciate. Our democracy and government have their flaws, but at least we have the fundamental freedoms many don’t have. Talking to people who are so desperate to be heard out by their governments should make non-voters ashamed that they do not use the enormous privileges they do have.

Cover photo by Arnaud Jaegers on Unsplash.