Lauren - Week 11 Contribution

 Can Democracy Adapt to Culture

I nEw Zealand many good governance norms support a system of stable democracy. However, these norms may not be as well placed to function in other culture, but does that make them less democratic?

Whilst (as discussed in class and tutorials) culture is a broad concept, one facet of this concept relevant to democracy in many countries is religion. When looking at nations which have religion intertwined with governance, one core democratic norm which is difficult to give full effect to is parliamentary supremacy. 

Parliamentary supremacy is built on the idea that the supreme law of a country and the group which has the supreme decision-making power, should be that which is established through free and fair democratic elections. However, this is made difficult where a religious figure or doctrine is seen as supreme to the authority of parliament, therefore causing parliament to act within the bounds of that religion. 

Whilst that may to the face seem fine and democratic because the elections are free and fair, I think also of consideration is the form which elections take. For example the FPP (First Past Post) system which was in effect in new Zealand until 1994, allows for minority parliaments. Where a party can receive the overall minority of votes, but because of the population distribution in each voting district, they gain the majority of parliament seats, therefore control government. In these circumstances I would argue it is then not democratic for that government to enforce a system of beliefs over the population, even if they maintain other democratic processes, because those beliefs are not those of the majority, therefore is oppressing the majority culture.