Assignment

Outcomes of Democracy

What is ‘transparency’ in a democracy?

1. Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedure.
2. Every citizen has the right and means to examine the process of decision making. This is known
as transparency.

How can you say that democracies are based on political equality?
1. Democracies are based on political equality as they provide equal rights to all the citizens to
contest elections and cast vote and ensure equal opportunity to be elected.
2. They also have one vote, one value and equal political rights.

‘Democracy is seen to be good in principle but felt to be not so good in practice.’ Justify the
statement.
1. In a democracy, people expect to have their needs and expectations fulfilled but because every
country has a diverse culture and regions, it is not possible to look after everyone’s needs.
2. Even though democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion, there are instances where the
minority opinions are not taken into account for a general view.
3. If there is corruption, then people lose faith in the government and then do not feel the need to
vote which is not healthy for the country because democracy is a people’s government.
4. Regular elections may lead to change in the ruling party, which causes instability and fall in
economic development.
5. If people are not wise in choosing their representatives and then even though there is room to
correct mistakes, the country will suffer and so will the people.
So----

How is democracy accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens?
Analyse.
1. A democracy is concerned with ensuring that people have the right to choose their rulers and
have control over the rulers. Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to
participate in decision-making in a democracy.
2. Democracy ensures that decision-making is based on norms and procedures. A citizen has the
right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. Thus democracy entails
transparency.
3. Democracy produces a responsible government which is responsible for satisfying the needs and
aspirations of people.
4. People select the government to run the nation on their behalf, hence it is expected that the
government will be attentive to their needs and expectations.
5. It is anticipated that the democratic government formulates mechanisms for citizens to wield the
government accountable.
6. The opposition parties have the right to question and have a dissenting view of the government
policies. They keep an inspection on the ruling party and make sure that it does not misapply the
power.

“Democracy accommodates social diversities.” Support the statement with examples.

1. Democracies develop a procedure to conduct the competition between various communities.

2. This reduces the possibility of the tensions among them becoming explosive or violent.
3. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can
certainly learn to respect these differences and can evolve mechanism to negotiate these
differences.
 Example, Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among ethnic population. This
reduces the possibility of tensions.
4. India has adopted secularism to accommodate religious diversity and banned untouchability.
5. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of
democratic regimes.

Why do we feel that democracy is a better form of government than any other form? Explain.
OR
Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.’
OR
Why is Democracy a preferred form of government all over the world?
Support the statement with examples.
1. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. Decisions are acceptable to
people and are more effective.
2. Democracy promotes equality among citizens.
3. It accommodates social diversity. Ability to handle differences, decisions and conflicts is a
positive point of democratic regimes.
4. There is a room to correct mistakes.
5. A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. There is
transparency in a democracy.
6. Democratic government is a legitimate government, people’s own government.
7. It enhances dignity of individual. It promotes dignity of women and strengthens the claims of
the disadvantaged. (Write examples and elaborate)

Explain the conditions in which democracies are able to accommodate social diversities.
Democracy is best suited to accommodate various social divisions.
Democracy must fulfil the following two conditions in order to achieve a harmonious social life:
• Majority and minority opinions are not permanent. Democracy is not simply rule by majority
opinion. The majority needs to work with minority so that government may function to represent
the general view.
• Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or
linguistic groups, etc.
• Democracy remains democracy so long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at
some point of time.
• No individual should be debarred from participating in a democracy on the basis of religion,
caste, community, creed and other such factors.

“Most significant feature of democracy is that its examination never gets over.” Support the
statement with appropriate arguments. OR
“A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of democratic project.”
Justify the statement.
1. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more.
2. People always come up with more expectations from the democratic set up.
3. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. It shows
that people have developed awareness and the ability to expect and to look at power holders
critically and the high and the mighty.
4. They also have complaints against democracy. More and more suggestions and complaints by
the people is also a testimony to the success of democracy.
5. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic
projects.

“Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens”. Justify the
statement.
 1. Dignity of women. Democracy recognizes dignity of women as a necessary ingredient of
society.
2. To achieve more women as elected representatives, it is legally binding to have a fair proportion
of women in the Panchayati Raj in India.
3. Democracy has strengthened the claims of disadvantaged and discriminated castes. Democracy
provides for equal status and opportunities for all castes.
4. A citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. There is
transparency in a democracy.
5. In October 2005, the Right to Information (RTI) law was passed which ensures all its citizens
the right to get all the information about the functions of the government departments.
6. In a democracy, people also have the right to complain about its functioning.

Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.’ Analyse the
statement.
1. Democracies are based on political equality. All individuals have equal weight in electing
representatives but we find growing economic inequalities.
2. A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Their
share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
3. The poor lead a frugal life and they have very little to depend upon. Their incomes have been
declining and they find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life.
4. The poor constitute a large population of voters. No party wants to lose their votes but they do
not seem very interested in addressing the question of poverty.
5. People in several poor countries are dependent on rich countries for food with Bangladesh being
the worst with half of its population living in poverty.

“Some people think that democracy produces a less effective government.” Analyse the statement.
1. Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often ignore the demands of a majority
of its population.
2. Most democracies fall short of elections that provide a fair chance to everyone and is subjecting
every decision to public debate.
3. Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it comes to sharing information
with citizens.
4. Democracy is unable to achieve higher economic development. It has also showed failure in
reducing economic inequalities.
5. Democratically elected governments do not appear to be as keen to address the question of
poverty as we would expect them to.