What are some similarities and differences between representative and liberal democracy?

Answer 1

Both representative and liberal democracies emphasize the role of elected officials and the importance of individual rights. In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, while a liberal democracy not only includes this feature but also prioritizes the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law. A key difference lies in the extent of individual rights: liberal democracies often ensure that minority rights are safeguarded against the majority's will, whereas representative democracies may not always prioritize these protections. Ultimately, all liberal democracies are representative, but not all representative democracies meet the standards of liberalism.