Substantive democracy

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Substantive democracy is a form of democracy according to which the outcome of the decisions is real democracy. In other words, substantive democracy is a form of democracy that functions in the interest of the governed. It is important to note that even in societies where voting is unrestricted to the entire adult population, this characteristic does not necessarily qualify it as a substantive democracy.

In a substantive democracy, the general population plays a real role in carrying out its political affairs, i.e., the state is not merely set up as a democracy but is functionally one as well. This type of democracy can also be referred to as a functional democracy. There is not a good example of an objectively substantive democracy.

Opposite to the substantive democracy is the formal democracy, which is a state system that has in place the relevant forms of democracy but is not actually managed democratically. The former Soviet Union can be characterized in this fashion, since its constitution was essentially democratic but in actuality the state was managed by a bureaucratic élite.