Rethinking Human Democracy: From Majoritarianism to Meritocracy

OpenAlex İngilizce

This study examines the "Human Democracy" model, grounded in the corpus of Prof. Dr. Nasip Demirkuş, as a comprehensive response to the deepening governance crises of the twenty-first century. The model criticizes the current majoritarian and secular liberal democracy understanding as "Quantitative Majoritarian Democracy" and simultaneously as "Defective/Incomplete/Natural (Savage) Democracy" due to its moral vacuum, lack of meritocracy, and quantitative hegemony. In contrast, it proposes a merit-based and radical governance paradigm that places "Humane Ethics" (universal virtues derived from the Prophet Muhammad's attribute of 'al-Amin' and the Hanif tradition of Abraham) at the center of politics. (Demirkuş, 2008; Demirkuş, 2025a; Demirkuş, 2025e) The study analyzes the model's epistemological foundations (the distinction between Science and Ilm [Wisdom], the dual-winged human nature, the difference between Reason and Intellect), its theoretical framework (the integrity of religion-morality-politics, the concept of Humane Secularism), and its practical application mechanisms (Moral Score System, Behavior Archive, Synergic Assembly, Seven Oaths system, State-Funded Elections). Subsequently, the model is evaluated in the context of contemporary political philosophy (communitarianism, virtue ethics, epistemic democracy, epistocracy) and Islamic political thought (the Shura tradition, Al-Farabi's Al-Madina Al-Fadila theory). While the model is seen as a strong contribution in terms of its radical critique, emphasis on virtue, and concrete proposals, it is open to serious criticism regarding applicability, pluralism, individual liberties, and the risks associated with an absolute understanding of morality. In response to these criticisms, this study presents a revised version of the model, a gradual transition strategy, and the "Universal Human State" goal, which is the ultimate vision of the model.