Subject: Political Science-I SOL| School of Law

LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

DEMOCRACY

Democracy

In the dictionary definition, democracy is government by the people in which the supreme
power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents
under a free electoral system.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “democracy is a government of the people, by the people,
and for the people”.

Following are the varied definition of democracy.

 “Democracy comes from the Greek words demos meaning ‘People’ and ‘cracy’ meaning
‘authority’ or ‘power. Government which is conducted with the freely given consent of
people a system of government in which supreme authority lies with the people.”
 Rule by the people in a country directly or by representation.
 “The form of government in which political control exercised by all the people, either
directly or through their elected representative.”
 The word ‘democracy’ itself means ‘rule by the people. “A democracy is a system where
people can change their rulers in a peaceful manner and the government is given the
right to rule because the people say it may.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY:

Following are the characteristics of democracy;

1. Democracy is a set of principles and practices that protect human freedom.

2. Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule, along with individual and minority
rights.
3. Democracies as a system guard against all-powerful central governments and it
decentralizes government to regional and local levels. The right of the people to demand
the Government they elected and the duty of the Government to be accessible and
responsive to their needs and demands is the main function.
4. One of the primary functions of Democracies is to protect such basic Human Rights
i. Equality before Law,
Subject: Political Science-I SOL| School of Law
LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

ii. Equal Protection before Law

iii. Freedom of Speech,
iv. Freedom of Religion;
v. Right to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life
of society.
5. Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to all citizens.
6. Democracy subjects governments to the Rule of Law and it ensures that all citizens
receive equal protection under the law and that their rights are protected by the Legal-
constitutional system.
7. Democracies are diverse political systems, reflecting each nation’s unique political,
social, and cultural life.
8. Democracy ensures the citizens to participate in the political system and it protects their
rights and freedoms.
9. Democratic societies are committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, and
consensus.
10. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “intolerance is itself a form of violence and an
obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.”
11. Democracy is a system of government in which power and civic responsibility are
exercised by all citizens, directly or through their freely elected representatives.

TYPES OF DEMOCRACY

Democracy by its function has different scope and importance.

1. Direct democracy:

In a direct democracy, all citizens, without the intermediary of elected or appointed officials,
can participate in making public decisions. Such a system is clearly only practical with
relatively small numbers of people in a community organization to tribal council,
for example, or the local unit of a labor union, where members can meet in a single room to
discuss issues and arrive at decisions by consensus or majority vote.

2. Indirect Democracy/Representative Democracy:

Subject: Political Science-I SOL| School of Law
LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through
freely chosen representatives. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority
of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine election that shall be held by
universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or the equivalent free voting
procedures.

During elections, citizens vote for the candidate for their choice. Elected leader represent
“the people” and govern for a set period of office. Representatives are chosen through
elections based on the constituency or proportional representation system, or on a
combination of the two.

3. Constitutional democracies:

Democracies are based on a written constitution or a supreme law that serves to guide
legislators and the laws they make. Written constitutions serve as a guarantee to citizens
that the government is required to act in a certain way and uphold certain rights. The
strength of a real democracy depends on certain fundamental rights and freedoms. These
rights and freedoms must be protected to make sure that a democracy will succeed. In
many countries these rights are found in and protected by a constitution. The constitution
also sets out the structures and other laws.

4. Social Democracy

Social Democracy is a combination of social, economic and political ideas that supports
economic and social policies. It promotes social equality and social justice giving strength to
economy and representative and participatory democracy. Social Democracy is based on the
principle of Social equality in all aspects of gender, status, beliefs, values and customs.

Social Democracy believes strongly in Equality of opportunity and equality in freedom as the
basis of human rights and life in a Democracy. Social Democracy enabled the individual
through hard work and effort to succeed and excel.

5. Industrial Democracy:
Subject: Political Science-I SOL| School of Law
LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

Industrial democracy is defined as the means to promote democratic principles in industry

and labour by the provision and protection of Labour Rights and Responsibilities in the
workplace.

Industrial democracy encourages the participation of labour in decision making along with
the management. Industrial democracy promotes dignity and decency of labour and paves
way for better efficiency, harmony and unity of purposes of the management and labour.

Industrial democracy enables the workers participate actively in the process of building
both community and individual interests for the collective good of the society and state.

Industrial democracy empowers workers as partners in the industry calling for their joint
efforts to build community interests and welfare

Industrial democracy paves for the development and growth of the country through better
productivity and greater harmony

6. Economic Democracy

Economic democracy is defined as the process of creating democratic conditions of

economic productivity, minimising the rich-poor gap and socio-economic differences,
promoting affordable economic development and the ideal of creating greater equality
among various classes.

Economic democracy believes in “workplace democracy” and “employee ownership” that is

intended to promote equality and democratic redistribution of wealth.

7. Totalitarian Democracy

Totalitarian Democracy is known as populist democracy or mass democracy in which

Citizens after electing the representatives have no voice in decision-making, but the elected
representatives decide for the entire country. Totalitarian Democracy elevates the ruler,
party and the elected legislators over the voting citizens and captures power through
democratic means but runs as dictatorship. The political ideology of the ruler, party and the
legislators becomes dominant over people interests. Totalitarian democracy in the name of
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LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

people’s rights would use internal terror against certain sections of people and also speech
restrictions to keep the population under its complete control.

Totalitarian democracy would have complete control of the economy of the state and
would use it to control the population.

8. Radical Democracy

Radical Democracy believed in the “power of the people” in local communities known as
local republics who would join in the creation of the state and government. The local
republics would finally exercise authority in the national and state levels.

Radical democracy brings into Democracy the real sense of people’s participation,
accountability of the elected and the power of the people to change the government.

9. Plebiscitary Democracy

Plebiscitary Democracy is defined as the process of a direct voting by the people of a

candidate, or party or a public issue or the adoption of a new constitution of a state or to
determine the association of the province with the state known as national self-
determination. The voters have the choice to accept or reject the choice.

MERITS OF DEMOCRACY:

1. The participation of the individual members in the government facilitates to enlist their
sympathy and co–operation to the success of the government.
2. It is an effective form to educate the public about political, economic and social affairs.
3. It is helpful to promote patriotism among the people and prevents occurrence of violent
revolutions.
4. It helps to make progress and development and enables changes to take place in a
peaceful manner.
5. It ensures to the people freedom of speech, conscience, assembly and action.
6. It guarantees liberty and equality, which are necessary for human development.

DEMERITS OF DEMOCRACY:

1. It sometimes leads to establish the majority view over the minority view.
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LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

2. Party leaders and political office holders in government control the citizens and the
members of the party.
3. It does not encourage individuals to give their opinions.
4. It is a very expensive form of government because elections have to be conducted
periodically to various offices.
5. It is difficult to prevent corruption and malpractices.
6. It is also known as government by amateurs and lead to domination of masses.

ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY:

The term Khilafat also makes it abundantly clear that no individual or dynasty or class can be
Khilafah, but that the authority of caliphate is bestowed on any community which accepts
the principles of Tawhid and Risalat. In such a society, each individual shares the Allah-given
caliphate. This is the point where democracy begins in Islam.

Every person in an Islamic society enjoys the rights and powers o¢ the caliphate of Allah and
in this respect all individuals are equal. No One can deprive anyone of his rights and powers.
The agency for running the affairs of the state will be established in accordance with the will
of these individuals and the authority of the state will only be an extension of the powers of
the individual delegated to it.

Their opinion will be decisive in the formation of the Government, which will be run with
their advice and in accordance with their wishes, Whoever gains their confidence will carry
out the duties of the caliphate on their behalf and when he loses this confidence, he will
have to relinquish his office. In this respect, the political system in Islam is as perfect a
democracy as ever can be.

1. ISLAMIC DEMOCRACY VS WESTERN DEMOCRACY:

What distinguishes Islamic democracy from Western democracy is that while the latter is
based on the concept of popular sovereignty, the former rests on the principle of popular
Khilafat. In Western democracy, the people are sovereign, in Islam sovereignty is vested in
Allah and the people are His caliphs or representatives. In the Western democracy, the
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LL.B-I (5 Years) Hand-out # 4

people make their own laws whereas in the Islamic democracy, people have to follow and
obey the laws (Shari‘ah) given by Allah through His Prophet (SAW).

Western democracy is a kind of absolute authority which exercises its powers in a free and
uncontrolled manner whereas Islamic democracy is subservient to the Divine Law and
exercises its authority in accordance with the injunctions of Allah and within the limits
prescribed by Him.

CONCLUSION: