Democracy seems to be able to create stability in a nation because it allows freedom of expression of its people. However, the flipside is also true.
While freedom of speech seems important to a nation, it can also produce several adverse side-effects. Firstly, freedom of speech provides a wide spectrum of viewpoints from the nation's people. Some of these remarks made by the citizens may offend other parties in the process. Take for example young and democratic Singapore in the 1960s. Everyone was allowed to express their own viewpoints. However, being humans, there was certainly disagreements. Thus, because of free speech, riots broke out in Singapore as different people set out to settle their own differences. This clearly shows that freedom of speech may not be that useful in achieving social stability after all; disagreements will be common, and these may lead to more severe consequences such as riots.
Therefore, can democracy really achieve stability if it can spark conflict due to free speech?
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