Where and when enlightened democracy can work?

The ideas of the enlightened democracy cannot be implemented in a society unless the citizens are free from hunger and basic needs and are exposed to knowledge and information with which they may explore the conditions of freedom available in life. It requires a society that may provide access to high level of education and awareness of the possibilities that may lie outside the beliefs and ideologies which form the backbones of the existing social structures. Only in a society where human beings feel secure in exploring the possibilities of one`s development without being threatened by authorities jeopardizing the search of freedom and meaning of life, the enlightened democracy can take roots. It is a society of enlightened human beings, who understand the possibilities of life as an evolving being and explore into higher and higher
realms of consciousness, which can only be achieved through joint efforts. In
such a society, people are stimulated to analyze conditions of life with reason
without bearing prejudices, and encouraged to make independent judgment about
the developments of the society with the aim of correcting its course. People
are given opportunities so that all may contribute with ideas and actions in
shaping the evolution. Using knowledge as the foundation of an enlightened
life, when people are inspired to creative activities with the aim of changing
the social reality, which may open greater dimensions of freedom, the spirit of
the enlightened society comes forth. By creating conditions of free choice and
thus building a foundation of a new reality not dictated mechanically by the
forces of nature, or coerced by existing structures of power governing the
social and political dynamics, the enlightened society offers ways to recreate
the world according to higher needs of the mind.  However, it does not profess a random development in different directions following different ideas. It adheres to the vision of development which may unite all to build a social environment of harmony where all may live in peace. It connects man to its cosmic nature, where all are
entangled in a whole fulfilling the meaning of a purposeful design (cosmos is
not an accidental random manifestation of laws as big-bang theory teaches, but
a purposeful creation arising from a cosmic mind where existence of the tinniest
micro bodies to the largest cosmic structures are all manifestations of a cosmic
consciousness). To create such a world one would need an education system and an
enlightened civil society that will provide guidance to people. Knowledge and
power of creativity alone are not sufficient to attain the awareness and goal
directed towards the higher evolution of man. People will need guides in exploring
the possibilities of freedom and understanding how to work in fulfilling the
vision of an enlightened world. Thus the enlightened world envisions the rise
of the enlightened teachers and guides. It will be a society free of fundamentalism
of religion, belief or ideology and open to all ideas which may bring progress with
universal appeal to all, who seek a common frontier of development for mankind without
consideration race, culture or nation.

There exists no such society yet. However, there exist a few societies (for example in Scandinavia) which have the possibility to evolve towards this direction. These societies have already secured their population from hunger and basic needs. The population not only enjoys a high level of social security, they possess enhanced social awareness about the value of cooperation and dialogue, and bear a strong humanitarian tradition
from the past. The level of basic education among the average population is
appreciable and the possibility of availing information from different corners
of the world is substantial. Moreover, the channels of the information are not
coerced and manipulated by ideologies, religions and beliefs. With it the political
and social system are more transparent to public scrutiny. The legal system
functions without corruption and interferences of politics and other interest
groups. The equality of all as regards access to justice is a strong pillar. The
hold of religion and fundamentalist ideas is low which creates a condition for scientific
knowledge and reason to have a greater value in the development. Moreover they
have economic resources to build the education system and the enlightened civil
society required for the fulfillment of the goal.