The article represents an analysis of modern approaches to the understanding of the essence of democracy and tendencies of its development. As shown by scientific researches and concrete political practice, a lot of theories and approaches have been shaped regarding democracy. Still, no uniform doctrine or universal definition has been developed. It is explained by the exclusive complexity of democracy as a social, political and legal phenomenon. The author concentrates his attention on the characteristic of democracy as a method of management implemented in conditions of human collectivity. From this point of view, democracy acts as a unique mechanism of coordination of separate individual wills and adoption of collective decisions, a mechanism that was created in ancient society and has been reproduced by human civilization throughout its historical development. At the same time, there are no universal parameters of democracy which would be suitable at all times and for different societies. Quality of democracy and its real social value are defined by the level of civil maturity of a particular historical society.
Democracy, state, policy, power, collectivity, ideal, tradition, purpose, method
