Democracy: An evolutionary process

On a recent trip back to the UK I was fortunate enough to visit Salisbury Cathedral and the site of the Battle of Naseby. Both are significant historical sites but linked together by virtue of their place in the development of democracy as we understand it today.
Salisbury Cathedral holds one of the four remaining originals of Magna Carta, the founding document which spells out the relationship between King and Subject. It’s a magnificent piece of history.

The Battle of Naseby, in a Northamptonshire field, was the key to the English Civil War, as the King’s Men were routed by the Parliamentarians. 4 years later Charles I was executed and England became a republic of sorts until 1660. This period was a test of Magna Carta, a rebuff to the over zealous monarchy and a statement by the people that they would not have their rights trampled over.

The reason i mention this is because of this post by Gareth Morgan who is chugging is way around Africa and writes a very neat piece on the continuing disaster that is African democracy (not in all countries of course).

Whenever we grumble about our political system a quick dip into the history books should quickly remind us of  how we got here. It’s a shame history is not taught seriously anymore but it often helps us develop a sense of context when we lose our perspective.