Alfred-Maurice de Zayas Quotes About Democracy

Quotes about: Democracy

• Some observers compare elections in some countries with sports events, where people are but spectators. Moreover, elections must not be mere interludes for pushing a lever and then retreating to passivity, for democracy demands committed participation in the daily workings of society.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Sports, Country, People

  "Promotion of a democratic and equitable international order". August 07, 2013.

• The war industries in many countries and the enormous trade in weapons of all kinds generate corruption and fuel conflict throughout the world. The existence of an immensely powerful military-industrial complex constitutes a danger to democracy, both internationally and domestically, because it follows its own logic and operates independently of popular participation.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Country, Powerful, Military

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

• In a democracy, it is the people who are sovereign. Therefore, with regard to the promotion of democracy at the local, country and regional levels, civil society must have a stronger voice in all political processes.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Country, Voice, People

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

• Democracy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the sacred promises of human dignity, justice and peace.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Mean, Justice, Promise

  Alfred de Zayas' aphorisms from his official site, www.alfreddezayas.com.

• Representative democracy frequently manifests a disconnect between parliamentarians and the people, so that parliamentarians have agendas that do not correspond with the wishes of the electorate. This has led in many countries to apathy, cynicism and large-scale absenteeism in elections. What is needed is not only parliaments, but parliamentarians who genuinely represent the wishes of the electorate.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Country, People, Democracy

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred-Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

• Self-censorship as a result of intimidation or social pressures, sometimes referred to as "political correctness", constitutes a serious obstacle to the proper functioning of democracy. It is important to hear the views of all persons,including the "silent majority", and to give heed to the weaker voices.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Self, Views, Voice

  Interim report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, August 9, 2012.

• Every democracy must involve civil society in the process of establishing budgets, and all sectors of society must be consulted to determine what the real priorities of the population are. Lobbies, including military contractors and other representatives of the military-industrial complex, must not be allowed to hijack these priorities to the detriment of the population's real needs.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Military, Real, Priorities

  "UN Expert Urges States to Cut Military Spending and Invest More in Human Development". www.ohchr.org. April 14, 2014.

• Representative democracy betrays the electorate when laws have no roots in the people but in oligarchies. Studies on the concept and modalities of direct democracy are therefore becoming more topical

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Law, Roots, People

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Alfred -Maurice de Zayas". July 01, 2013.

• As far as domestic democracy, all here present know that democracy means government of the people by the people. While we agree that consultation and participation are essential to every democracy, this is seldom achieved in practice.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Mean, Government, Practice

  Statement at the Brussels Conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, October 16-17, 2013.

• Democracy entails a correlation between the public interest as expressed by a majority of the population and the governmental policies that affect them. The term encompasses various manifestations, including direct, participatory and representative democracy, but Governments must be responsive to people and not to special interests such as the military-industrial complex, financial bankers and transnational corporations. Democracy is inclusive and does not privilege an anthropological aristocracy.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Military, Government, People

  "Report of the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order". United Nations General Assembly Human Rights Council, Session 24, July 01, 2013.

• Democracy is not the end product, but the means to the end, which is the enjoyment of human rights by all.

  Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

  Mean, Rights, Democracy

  Report of the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, July 1, 2013.

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