Representative Democracy in Crisis

These days, the word that most commonly accompanies  “democracy” is “crisis." To say that representative democracy, where sovereignty resides with the people and their will, means that the “people" are unable to exercise their rights as “active actors."  While, today, nearly everyone, officially, has the right to vote and participate in politics. It is difficult to deny that democracy, especially representative democracy where people participate indirectly by electing representatives, is in “crisis.”

President Yoon Seok-yul, who won the 2022 presidential election with 48.5% of the vote, celebrated the end of his second term in May. Yet, according to a May poll, his job approval rating is at a post-election low of 21% (with 70% disapproving). The conservative People's Power Party's approval rating is in the low 30s. Even after winning 170 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly in April, the main opposition liberal Democratic Party’s approval ratings are not much better. However, when watching both parties debate, they usually use “the will of the people” to justify their claims. However, many people are tired of both parties’ focus on mud-slinging while offering few solutions and policies to people’s problems. 

This trend is certainly not unique to South Korea. The United States is currently in the midst of one of the most closely watched elections in what has been dubbed the world's election year. Two factors threaten democracy in the U.S. The first is election disruption as exemplified in 2020 when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to protest the outcome of the presidential election. The second, and more importantly, is that politics doesn't represent the people. This year's Democratic primary saw a "no candidate" movement, saying they wouldn't vote for any president since none represented their needs and desires.

Even more dangerous than the inability of an elected president, congressman, or local councilor to represent the will of the people is skepticism about political participation. In other words, people don't believe that voting in elections every two or three years can create the social change they seek, so they either express their wishes by not participating, or by not caring about politics altogether.

But we can't abandon democracy to  politicians, especially when they are driving us towards war by escalating military tensions in Northeast Asia or abetting in genocide in  Palestine. If we cannot get peace and justice through elections then we must get it by organizing ourselves and showing up on the streets. After all, those in power will not concede anything unless we demand it. We must look to our history of struggle for our rights as "sovereigns" to save democracies in crisis and expand elements of direct democracy beyond representative democracy.  

We can find a glimmer of hope in Venezuela's presidential election. While he has been called a “dictator” by those that oppose the Bolivarian Revolution, President Nicolas Maduro continues to deepen participatory democracy through the communes while struggling against US sanctions and providing for the basic needs of Venezuelans, something sorely lacking in much wealthier countries such as South Korea and the United States. 

Hwang Jeongeun (General Secretary) 

Venezuela is currently undergoing a revolution that challenges the U.S. unipolar order in favor of a multipolar world. Despite facing issues like corruption and economic difficulties, the Bolivarian Revolution—a 25-year-old initiative of direct democracy that empowers the people—has bolstered communes and continues to secure basic human needs through social programs, including free healthcare and housing missions.

Moreover, the Bolivarian process encourages regional cooperation in Latin America. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America—The People's Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) remains committed to promoting trade and cooperation based on solidarity. This commitment explains why the majority of Venezuelans have supported the current government for 25 years and why Latin American and Caribbean nations stand in solidarity with Venezuela.

As South Korea strengthens its alliance with the U.S., Venezuelan news is often reported through the lens of mainstream Western media. For instance, the media labels Nicolas Maduro as a “dictator” simply because he is serving his third term. Nonetheless, it is crucial to observe the Bolivarian Revolution as it continues to foster direct democracy, social programs ensuring basic needs, and solidarity-based trade. These efforts symbolize hope for a society distinct from one dominated by capitalism, which exacerbates the wealth gap, views basic needs as individual burdens, and disregards the people's will in politics. I am writing from Venezuela, serving as an international observer for the presidential election, and I am keenly anticipating the results on Sunday (July 28).