Substantive Democracy: Beyond the Formalities of Electoralism Introduction Democracy, at its core, is a system of governance premised on popular sovereignty, political equality, and accountability. However, political theorists have long distinguished between formal (or procedural) democracy—which emphasizes electoral mechanisms—and substantive democracy, which goes beyond the rituals of voting to encompass equality, rights, social justice, and … Continue reading Assess the concept of substantive democracy and its focus on equality, rights, and participatory governance beyond formal electoral processes.