Characteristics Of Liberal Democracy

Of all modern democracies, the United States, Great Britain, and France are among the most exemplary illustrations of liberal democracy. Although these three nations share the characteristics of liberal democracies, they differ greatly in multiple facets of their respective political cultures. Both the similarities and differences among these nations can be attributed to each country’s history, more specifically because of their revolutionary paths to liberation into modernity. The diversity of each country’s political practices, from political participation to governmental structure, while varying between them, still uphold the values of liberal democracy that allow these nations to succeed today. In this paper, I will be focusing on the divergence

Rather than establishing regime change through violent revolution, Great Britain’s adoption of liberal democracy came following the 1688 Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the limitation of the monarchy’s power through legislation. Working in tandem with the 1215 Magna Carta —which protected church rights, nobles against illegal imprisonment, established habeas corpus, and instituted swift justice, and served as a foundational document for future democracies— the English Parliament passed legislation that ultimately rendered the monarchy powerless within the political sphere. Although the people of Great Britain did oppose the authoritarian, undemocratic influence the monarchy had on politics, the cultural significance of the crown was, and still is desired. Although the Glorious Revolution ultimately led to the country’s liberation, the development of the constitutional monarchy was not caused by a catalyzing event, but was rather a gradual transition that occured over hundreds of years. The monarchy is able to coexist within the parliamentary system because it no longer serves as the head of state, rather than the head of government, which is now the role of the Prime Minister. The responsibilities of the monarchy are purely cultural, meaning its primary purpose is to unite the nation and preserve its historical significance. Not only is the Monarch barred from directly participating in government, but they are also prohibited from expressing any political opinion whatsoever, allowing the country to maintain the title of liberal democracy. Since the monarchy lost its political power, Great Britain has implemented a bicameral Parliament in which members of the House of Commons are elected by their constituents, and the House of Lords, where members have inherited their position through heredity or are appointed by the Prime