I really like the way that Sen separates the various reasons that democratic liberties are important: directly, instrumentally, and constructively. He illustrates how these different components of liberty are lacking in certain undemocratic nations, but it's also interesting to think about how these different aspects of the importance of democracy can be seen in the US. For instance, I think a lot of American citizens are aware of the direct and instrumental importance of democracy; if asked about why democracy is important, they could probably come up with reasons both about the intrinsic importance of democracy as well as the democratic actions that democracy allows us to undertake. However, the constructive aspect that Sen points out might not be as immediately obvious, but explains a lot of democratic feeling in the US. Based on how Sen describes the constructive aspect, it seems like the reason most Americans largely believe in the importance of certain capabilities in the first place is because our democratic political system has allowed us to discuss and arrive at their importance. As Sen says, "these [democratic] processes are crucial to the formation of values and priorities, and we cannot, in general, take preferences as given independently of public discussion, that is, irrespective of whether open debates and interchanges are permitted or not" (153).
I also think the qualification that Sen places on democracy's value adds strength to his overall understanding of democracy. According to Sen, democratic liberties' "effectiveness would depend on how they are exercised" (154). This is how Sen explains the inequalities that African Americans in the US are subject to, even though the US is a functioning democracy.
Other thoughts on how Sen presents democracy?
I, too, like how Sen discusses democratic liberties. In terms of what makes a democracy work in practice, I also took note of the importance of social and economic freedoms. Although an individual may have the right to vote, their capability to do so is greatly limited if they do not have access to adequate education, or the ability to truly understand the issues of an election, or the implications of their vote. I think that Sen would likely tie the ability to effectively implement the system of democracy as linked to their other types of freedoms, as well as transparency guarantees and protections as he notes.
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