Democracy and Sovereignty

of the population lives under an authoritarian regime*

countries have approved legal reforms to restrict freedom of expression, association and assembly

In a democratic regime such as Spain, 20% of the population lives at risk of poverty

The Problem:

The democracy that characterizes modern states presents itself as the ultimate expression of the idea of justice and citizen participation in public life. However, this democratic model coexists with the worsening of social inequalities produced by the capitalist system, the aggravation of the ecological crisis, the usurpation of fundamental rights by private powers, scarce citizen control over public policies, and the absence of democratic control mechanisms over politics…

Bourgeois liberal democracy is characterized by the elimination of direct participation in decision-making, where people’s responsibility is relegated to an electoral function of representation. These political leaders constitute an elite, linked to the interests of the business class. Furthermore, it is a political system based on individual freedoms and unlimited private property, as well as on the fallacy that liberal economic growth fosters the well-being of society. Added to this context is the growing criminalization of protest that is being imposed in various states, with the clear intention of associating protest with elements that disturb the normal order. The consequence of this is a model of social control based on fear, sacrificing rights and freedoms in exchange for a sense of security.

It is therefore essential to break decisively with traditional representation, radicalizing democracy itself while recovering its emancipatory, critical and participatory dimension. It is indispensable to create a democracy based on popular participation that allows sovereignty to be exercised above property, monopolies and unlimited profit. It will be essential to seek new frameworks in which human rights are the only legitimate criterion for articulating democratic policies and shaping the political and governing power of the state. In contrast to bourgeois liberal democracy, which seeks the reproduction of the capitalist system, we call for a democracy based on popular sovereignty.

activists and journalists sanctioned under the Gag Law, for peacefully exercising their right to protest or documenting police action

The Solution:

It is necessary to protect fundamental democratic rights such as the right to protest and to defense, for which the following objectives must be achieved:

Repeal the gag laws.
Eliminate criminal penalties for peaceful resistance.
Put an end to police arbitrariness.
Abolish the presumption of truthfulness of police officers and security forces.
Recover the right to information at demonstrations.
Prohibit the carrying of weapons by police at demonstrations.
Demand the legal distinction between terrorism and dissent, and between violence and vandalism.

What We Do

What You Can Do

Apóianos

Únete á rede de persoas que construímos unha estrutura independente, eficaz e eficiente para facer fronte ás inxustizas que se dan no mundo.

Asóciate

Únete

Participa de xeito activo con activistas de todo o mundo a través de iniciativas, accións e campañas en prol dos dereitos, as liberdades e o planeta.

Faite activista

Infórmate

Descobre que sucede no mundo a través dunha ollada baseada na acción, a dignidade, a ética e a xustiza… e fai correr a voz!