In his essay, Ryusaku Yamada quotes CD Lummis to make the point that: "the word ‘democracy’ is overworked to mean different things." (For more, see: https://theloop.ecpr.eu/lost-in-translation-democracy-and-its-non-english-variants/)
We also know, and this time from the Norwegian Philosopher Arne Naess, that this bounty of meanings is not new. Seven different meanings of democracy, Naess says, can be found in Aristotle's Politics alone!
What can explain this dynamic? Why has democracy become/has always been so overworked with meaning?
https://theloop.ecpr.eu/lost-in-translation-democracy-and-its-non-english-variants/
One of the main reasons is that using "democracy" arguments it helps simply for contacts and communication - to be more accepted by the opposite side, to maintain conversation, to reach a compromise and to come to the mutual agreement. It is a "key" word in the vocabulary for negotiator and negotiations too. However, in many Eastern countries "democracy" arguments do not play a significant role or the role at all, when they play a distinct role in the Western countries.
Beyond the use of the term by authoritarians as a legitimation device, the term could be used to signify unlimited majority rule, as in ancient Athens, or the liberal democracy as developed in the US and other Western countries. This e.g. is one of the issues that currently came to the fore in Israel. The government argues that it had won the elections and hence no barrier should muzzle it. The opposition claims that this is true only as far as policy issues are involved. The lifting of all restrictions from the government means however a change in the basic rules of the game.
Jean-Paul Gagnon Significantly, I think that the overworking of the term "democracy" with various meanings can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, democracy is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses various political, social, and cultural aspects. As a result, the term can be applied to different contexts and situations, leading to a proliferation of meanings.
Secondly, the meaning of democracy has evolved over time. What was considered democratic in ancient Greece, for example, is different from what is regarded as democratic in modern times. This evolution has resulted in multiple interpretations and applications of the term.
Thirdly, the concept of democracy is inherently subjective, and what one person perceives as democratic may differ from another's view. This subjectivity has led to the emergence of various interpretations and applications of the term, contributing to its overworking.
Finally, democracy is often used as a rhetorical tool to promote a particular political agenda. Political actors and groups may use the term to legitimize their actions or to criticize their opponents, resulting in a proliferation of meanings and interpretations.
Overall, the overworking of the term "democracy" is a reflection of the complexity and evolution of the concept and the subjective and rhetorical nature of its application. or better still, the term "democracy" has been overworked with multiple meanings due to its complex and multifaceted nature, evolution over time, subjectivity, and rhetorical use by political actors to promote their agenda or criticize their opponents.