Analyze the benefits and the drawbacks of direct democracy. Compare it to a representative democracy. Which form serves the interests of the public in different situations? Give examples.
Direct democracy allows for direct participation and decision-making by the public, promoting greater civic engagement and accountability, but it can also lead to majority tyranny and the potential for uninformed decisions. Representative democracy, on the other hand, allows for more efficient decision-making and the ability to elect knowledgeable leaders, but can also lead to a disconnect between politicians and the public. The form of democracy that serves the interests of the public better often depends on the situation at hand - for example, direct democracy may be more beneficial for local issues where community input is crucial, while representative democracy may be more effective for complex national or international decisions.
