CIVICS CHAPTER 1 – (WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?

WHY
DEMOCRACY?)
NOTES
TOPICS:
 Overview
 What is democracy?
o Why define democracy?
o A simple definition of democracy
 Features of democracy
o Major elections by elected leaders
o Free and fair electoral competition
o One person, one vote, one value
o Rules of law and respect for rights
Summary definition
 Why democracy?
o Debating merits of democracy
o Arguments against democracy
o Arguments for democracy
 Broader meanings of democracy

 OVERVIEW:
o The chapter aims to define and understand the features of democracy
o It seeks to distinguish democratic government from non-democratic government
o It introduces a broader idea of democracy beyond minimal features
o Democracy is the most prevalent form of government and expanding to more
countries
o The chapter also explores why democracy is considered better than other forms of
government
 WHAT IS DEMOCRACY?
o WHY DEFINE DEMOCRACY?
(There is a conversation in this section in the book. So, these
notes are the extracted idea of the conversation in the given
section.)
  Merry questions the order of discussing democracy before defining it, suggesting a
reverse approach.
 Teacher Matilda Lyngdoh argues that understanding of words often comes from their
usage rather than waiting for definitions.
 Lyngdoh emphasizes the need for defining democracy due to varying interpretations
and claims of different governments.
 Students discuss different interpretations of democracy, including its origin in Greek
('Demokratia') meaning 'rule by the people'.
 The conversation concludes with the agreement that defining democracy requires
individual thinking and analysis.

o A SIMPLE DEFINITON:

 Democracies are governments chosen by the people

 The rulers in democracies are elected by the people
 This separates democracies from non-democratic forms of government
 Examples of non-democratic governments include army rulers and monarchies
 Simply holding elections does not make a government a democracy
 Many governments claim to be democracies even if they are not
 It is important to carefully distinguish between true democracies and those that
pretend to be
 Understanding each word in the definition of democracy is important
 The features of a democratic government need to be spelled out
 Chapter 3 will provide more information on the distinguishing features of a
democratic government
 FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY:

 Democracy is a form of government where rulers are elected by the people

 Questions arise about who the rulers are, which officials must be elected,
and what decisions non-elected officials can make
 There is a discussion on what constitutes a democratic election and the
conditions that must be fulfilled for an election to be considered democratic
 The text questions who can elect or be elected as rulers, and whether every
citizen should have an equal right to participate in elections
 It also explores the limitations of elected rulers in a democratic government
and the necessity to respect certain rights of the citizens

o MAJOR DECISIONS BY ELECTED LEADERS:

  General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in Pakistan in October
1999
 He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself
the Chief Executive
 Later, he changed his designation to President and held a referendum in
2002 granting himself a five-year extension
 The referendum was criticized for malpractices and fraud by Pakistani
media, human rights organizations, and democracy activists
 In August 2002, he issued a Legal Framework Order amending the
Constitution of Pakistan, giving the President the power to dismiss
national and provincial assemblies
 The civilian cabinet's work is supervised by a National Security Council
dominated by military officers
 Elections were held to the national and provincial assemblies after
passing the Legal Framework Order
 Although Pakistan had elections and elected representatives with some
powers, the final power rested with military officers and General
Musharraf
 Pakistan under General Musharraf should not be called a democracy due
to these reasons
 The rulers in Pakistan were not truly elected by the people, as the elected
representatives could not make final decisions
 The power to make final decisions rested with army officials and General
Musharraf, who were not elected by the people
 This situation is common in dictatorships and monarchies, where the real
power is with those who are not elected
 In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those
elected by the people
 Pakistan under General Musharraf did not meet the criteria for people's
rule
 In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those
elected by the people
o FREE AND FAIR ELECTORAL COMPETITION:

 China holds elections every five years for the National People's Congress
 The National People's Congress appoints the President of China
  Nearly 3,000 members are elected from all over China, some by the army
 Candidates need approval of the Chinese Communist Party to contest
elections
 Mexico holds elections every six years to elect its President
 Until 2000, the PRI party always won the elections in Mexico
 Opposition parties in Mexico never managed to win due to various unfair
tactics
 Mexican elections did not offer a real choice despite seeming to do so
 The Chinese and Mexican elections are not considered fair examples of
people electing their rulers
 A democracy must offer a real choice between political alternatives
 It should be possible for people to use this choice to remove existing
rulers
 Free and fair elections are necessary for a democracy
 Democratic elections are further discussed in Chapter 3
 The Chinese Communist Party always forms the government in China
 Mexico has never been under military or dictator's rule
o ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE:

 Democracy is linked to universal adult franchise

 Despite its widespread acceptance, there are still instances of denial of
equal right to vote
 Examples include Saudi Arabia's denial of women's right to vote until
2015
 Estonia's citizenship rules make it difficult for Russian minorities to get
the right to vote
 In Fiji, the electoral system gives more value to the vote of indigenous
Fijians than Indian-Fijians
o RULE OF LAW AND RESPECT FOR RIGHTS:

 Zimbabwe gained independence from White minority rule in 1980

 ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle, has ruled the country
since independence
 Robert Mugabe was the leader of ZANU-PF and ruled the country since
independence
 Elections were regularly held and always won by ZANU-PF
  Mugabe used unfair practices in elections and changed the constitution to
increase his powers
 Opposition party workers were harassed, and public protests the
government were declared illegal
 Television and radio were controlled by the government and gave only
the ruling party's version
 Independent newspapers faced harassment from the government
 Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017
 Popular approval of rulers is necessary but not sufficient for a democracy
 It is important to assess elections and also look before and after the
elections to determine democracy
 The state should respect basic rights of citizens, including freedom of
expression, association, and protest
 These rights must be protected by an independent judiciary
 A democratic government must respect guarantees to minorities and
consult on major decisions
 A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law
and citizens' rights

SUMMARY DEFINITION:
 Democracy is a form of government in which rulers are elected by the
people
 The definition of democracy needed further explanation and was
explored through examples
 Four key features of democracy were identified through the examples
 These features include rulers elected by the people making major
decisions, fair elections offering the opportunity to change rulers, equal
opportunity for all people to participate in elections, and a government
limited by constitution and citizens' rights
 The exercise of these features leads to a democratic form of government

 WHY DEMOCRACY?
o DEBATING MERITS OF DEMOCRACY:

 Students in Madam Lyngdoh's class debate the merits of democracy

after she asks if it is the best form of government.
 Yolanda initially argues that democracy is widely desired and praised,
suggesting it is obviously the best.
 Tangkini challenges blind acceptance, questioning whether everyone
might be following a wrong path.
 Jeni criticizes democracy for not alleviating poverty and accuses it of
o ARGUMENTS AGAINST DEMOCRACY:

 Conversation includes arguments against democracy

 Leaders changing leads to instability
 Democracy is about political competition with no scope for morality
 Consulting many people leads to delays
 Elected leaders don't know best interest of people, leads to bad decisions
 Democracy leads to corruption based on electoral competition
 Ordinary people shouldn't decide anything
 Democracy not a magical solution, doesn't end poverty
 People can make mistakes in decisions
 Involving people leads to delays and frequent changes in leadership
o ARGUMENTS FOR DEMOCRACY:

 China's 1958-1961 famine was the worst recorded in history

 India's economic condition was similar to China's at the time
 India did not experience a similar famine due to different government policies
 The presence of democracy in India led to a better response to food scarcity
 Economists believe that no large-scale famine has occurred in an independent and
democratic country
 China's lack of multiparty elections, opposition party, and free press contributed
to the severity of the famine
 Democracy is considered the best form of government for responding to people's
needs
 A non-democratic government may not respond to people's needs
 A democratic government is more accountable
 Democracy is based on consultation and discussion
 Democratic decisions involve many persons, discussions, and meetings
 This process reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions
 Democracy improves the quality of decision-making
 The example of the 1958-1961 famine highlights the importance of democracy
 Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the
needs of the people
 Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts
 People in any society are bound to have differences of opinions and interests
 Social diversity in countries like India leads to sharp differences among people
 Preferences of one group can clash with those of other groups
 Conflict can be resolved by brutal power, but that would lead to resentment and
unhappiness
 Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to resolving conflicts
 In a democracy, no one is a permanent winner or loser
 Different groups can live with one another peacefully in a democracy
 Democracy keeps diverse countries like India together
 Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens
 Democracy is based on the principle of political equality
 Even when citizens make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct
 Democracy allows for the correction of its own mistakes
 Mistakes in democracy cannot be hidden for long
 There is a space for public discussion on mistakes in a democracy
 There is a room for correction in a democracy
 Democracy is not the solution to all problems, but it is better than any other
alternative
 Democracy offers better chances of a good decision
 It is likely to respect people's own wishes
 Even when it fails, democracy allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers
more dignity to all citizens.
 BROADER MEANINGS OF DEMOCRACY?
o Democracy is considered in a limited and descriptive sense
o It is understood as a form of government with minimal features
o Representative democracy is the most common form in modern times
o In democracies, a majority makes decisions on behalf of all people
o Elected representatives are used because of the large number of people in modern
democracies
o Democracy is not just about government but can be applied to other organizations
o Democratic decision making involves consultation and consent of all affected
parties
o Democracy can be an ideal standard that all democracies must aim to become
o No country in the world fully meets the ideals of democracy
o Understanding democracy as an ideal help to judge and identify weaknesses in
existing democracies
o The book focuses on core institutional features of democracy as a form of
government
o Democracy applies to many spheres of life and can take many forms
o The most common form of democracy is rule through elected representatives
o In small communities, there can be other ways of taking democratic decisions
o Gram Sabha in a village is an example of direct democratic decision making
o The text raises questions about other democratic ways of decision making
o The text mentions that we will read more about democratic society and ways of
evaluating democracy in the future
o Democracy is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life
o The text emphasizes the difference between minimal democracy and good
democracy
o The text does not delve much into the expanded notion of democracy beyond
government
o Democracy is not just about meeting minimum conditions but also striving to
achieve democratic decision-making ideals
o Constant effort is required to save and strengthen democratic forms of decision-
making
o Citizens play a crucial role in making their country more or less democratic
o Democracy requires active political participation by all citizens, unlike other forms
of government
o The fate of a country in a democracy depends on the actions of its citizens, not just
its rulers

 TOTAL SUMMARY IN POINTS ALLTOGTHER:

The chapter aims to define and understand the features of democracy,
distinguishing it from non-democratic governments.
Democracy is prevalent and expanding globally, prompting exploration into why
it is considered superior.
Merry questions the approach of discussing democracy before defining it, leading
to a debate on the necessity of defining democracy.
Teacher Matilda Lyngdoh emphasizes the importance of defining democracy due
to varying interpretations and claims by different governments.
A simple definition of democracy is presented, highlighting the election of rulers
by the people as a key feature.
Features of democracy include elected rulers making major decisions, fair
elections, equal opportunity for participation, and respect for constitutional rights.
Examples illustrate how dictators like General Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan
undermine democratic principles.
Free and fair electoral competition is crucial for democracy, contrasted with
flawed elections in China and Mexico.
The principle of "one person, one vote, one value" is essential for democracy, but
examples like Saudi Arabia and Fiji highlight inequalities.
Rule of law and respect for rights are fundamental, exemplified by Zimbabwe's
struggles under Robert Mugabe's rule.
Arguments for and against democracy are debated among students, covering
issues like instability, corruption, and poverty.
China's 1958-1961 famine and India's democratic response highlight democracy's
effectiveness in crisis management.
Democracy's emphasis on consultation and discussion improves decision-making
quality, ensuring accountability and peaceful conflict resolution.
Democracy promotes dignity, political equality, and corrections for mistakes,
despite not being a flawless solution.
Broader meanings of democracy extend beyond government, encompassing
principles like consultation and consent in decision-making.
Representative democracy is the most common form, but other democratic
methods exist, like direct decision-making in small communities.
The text raises questions about evaluating democracy's societal impact and
emphasizes the difference between minimal and good democracy.
Constant effort is needed to strengthen and preserve democratic decision-making,
requiring active political participation from citizens.
Democracy's fate depends on citizens' actions, highlighting the importance of
their engagement in democratic processes.
The text stresses the principle of democracy as applicable to various spheres of
life, not just government.
It suggests that no country fully meets democratic ideals, necessitating ongoing
evaluation and improvement.
 Understanding democracy as an ideal standard helps identify weaknesses in
existing democracies and guides efforts towards improvement.
Gram Sabha in villages is presented as an example of direct democratic decision-
making beyond representative democracy.
Democracy requires both meeting minimum conditions and striving for ideal
democratic decision-making processes.
Citizens' engagement is crucial in shaping a country's democratic trajectory,
underscoring their role in strengthening or weakening democratic forms of
governance.
 TOTAL SUMMARY IN PARAGRAPH ALLTOGTHER:
The chapter embarks on a comprehensive exploration of democracy, aiming
to elucidate its essence and distinguish it from other forms of governance.
Merry's inquiry catalyses a profound debate on the necessity of defining
democracy, prompting critical reflection among the class. Matilda Lyngdoh,
in response, underscores the imperative of clarity amidst the diverse
interpretations that abound. Democracy, succinctly put, embodies the
principle of governance by the people, wherein leaders are elected through
popular suffrage, a fundamental departure from autocratic regimes. It
embraces the core tenets of fair elections, equitable participation in decision-
making processes, and unwavering adherence to constitutional rights, which
collectively define its essence. Instances such as General Pervez Musharraf's
authoritarian rule in Pakistan serve as poignant reminders of the challenges
and threats posed to democratic principles. Through this discourse, the
significance of free and fair electoral processes and the principle of "one
person, one vote, one value" is emphasized as essential pillars of democracy.
Moreover, the debate delves into a nuanced examination of democracy's
merits and shortcomings, ranging from its purported stability and inclusivity
to concerns over corruption and persistent poverty. The broader scope of
democracy, extending beyond governance to encompass inclusivity and
transparency in decision-making processes, is also explored, shedding light
on the multifaceted nature of democratic governance. Amidst these
deliberations, a recurring theme emerges: the indispensable role of citizen
engagement in fortifying and sustaining democratic ideals. It becomes
evident that democracy is not merely a system of governance but a collective
endeavour, requiring active participation and vigilance from its citizens.
Through their continued engagement and advocacy, citizens serve as the
guardians of democratic values, shaping the trajectory of democratic
progress and ensuring the realization of its full potential.