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SUBJECT: POLITICAL SCIENCE GRADE 10
Chapter: Outcomes of Democracy
1. Why democracy is better than any other form of Government? Or
What are the merits of democracy?
• Promotes equality among citizens
• Enhances the dignity of the individual
• Improves the quality of decision making
• Provides a method to resolve conflicts
• Allows room to correct mistakes
2. Mention any four common elements of democratic politics all over the world.
Answer:
Common elements of democratic politics all over the world:
• They have formal constitutions.
• They hold elections.
• They have political parties.
• They guarantee rights of citizens.
3. Mention any three distinguishing elements of democratic politics all over the world.
Answer:
Distinguishing elements of democratic politics all over the world:
o Democracies differ in social situations;
o They differ in economic achievements;
o They differ in their culture.
4. What are the conditions necessary for the tsuccess of democracy?
Answer: Democracy means rule by the people. But only having a democratic
government is not enough. There are certain conditions necessary for a democracy.
• Free and Fair Elections: Elections should be held regularly in the country. They
should also be held in an impartial way. The role of money should not be there
in the elections.
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• Moral Soundness of the Citizens: The success of democracy depends on the moral
soundness of the citizens. It means that individuals should have tolerance for
different views, religions and languages. They should place national interests above
the personal interests.
• Economic Equality: There should be sufficient economic security for the
individual. There should not be large gap between the poor and the rich.
5. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate
government?
Democracy produces an accountable, responsive, and legitimate government in
thefollowing ways:
• Democratic government is responsible to the people. It cares about the
opinions, needs and expectations of the people. Non-democratic
governments take quick decisions as compared to democratic governments.
But as due to deliberations and negotiations, the decisions of democratic
government are acceptable to citizens.
• In a democratic government, citizens are able to participate in decision
making. In this way the basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a
government accountable to the citizens. Democratic government follows rules
and procedures. People have the rights and means to examine the process of
decision making, as it is transparent It develops mechanisms for citizens to
take part in decision making whenever they think fit.
• In a democratic government, people have the right to choose their leaders
and have control over their leaders. It has greater success in holding regular
and free elections and setting up conditions for open public debate. But
does not provide fair chance to everyone and in subjecting every decision
to public debate.
• Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it comes to
sharing information with citizens. But still compared to non-democracies
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they are better in this respect. Democracies often frustrate the needs of the
people and often ignore the demands of a majority of its population.
• There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the
world. The accompanying evidence from South Asia shows, the support
exists in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries without
democratic regimes. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by
them. They also believe that democracy is suitable for their country.
6. Do democracies produce economic growth and development?
• Dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth than democracy
• Economic development depends upon several other factors –
population, global situation, cooperation from other countries,
economic policies. Differences in the rates of economic development
between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies
are negligible.
• Democracy is not a guarantee of economic development. But we can
expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorships in this respect. When we
find such significant difference in the rates of economic growth between
countries under dictatorship and democracy, it is better to prefer
democracy as it has several other positiveoutcomes.
7. Is economic growth in democracies accompanied by increased inequalities
among the people? Or Do democracies lead to a just distribution of
goods and opportunities? Or Do democracies reduce economic inequality
and poverty?
• Democracy is based on political equality. But along with this we can see
economic inequality growing. A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly
disproportionate share of wealth and incomes and their share in total income
of the country is increasing.
• On the other hand, the income of poor is declining. Sometimes they find
it difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house,
education and health.
• In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing
economic inequalities. In India the poor constitute a large proportion of our
voters and no party will like to lose their votes. Yet democratically elected
governments do not appear to be as keen to address the question of poverty
as you would expect them to.
• In Bangladesh, more than half of its population lives in poverty. People in
several poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food
supplies.
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8. How does democracy enhance the dignity and freedom of citizens?
• Democracy respects all the individuals equally. The passion for respect and
freedom are the basis of democracy.
• Dignity of women – Long struggles against male dominated societies have
created some sensitivity to respect and treat women equally. It becomes
easier for women now to wage a struggle against what is now unacceptable
legally and morally.
• In a non-democratic set up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis
because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have the
legal and moral force there.
• Caste discrimination – The claims of disadvantaged and discriminated castes
for equal status and dignity have been strengthened. Caste based inequalities
are still practiced in our society but it lacks legal and moral foundations. It
is the recognition that makes ordinary citizens value their democratic right
People’s demand for more benefits.
• As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to
make democracy even better. The fact that people are complaining is itself a
testimony to the success of democracy. It shows the transformation of
people from the status of subject into that of citizen. The citizens believe
that their votes make a difference to the way the government is run and to
their own self- interest.
9. Do democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens? OR How does
Democracy accommodate social diversity? OR What are the conditions under which
democracies accommodate social diversities?
• It will be a fair expectation that democracy should produce a harmonious
social life. Eg. Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among
ethnic populations.
• Democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This
reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent.
• No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups.
But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve
mechanisms to negotiate the differences.
• Democracy is best suited to produce accommodation of social diversity. Non-
democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social
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differences. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is
thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
• The following two conditions are necessary for a democracy to
accommodate social diversities:
(a) It is essential to understand that democracy is simply not rule by majority
opinion. The majority always requires working with the minority so that
government function to show the general view.
(b) Majority means that in case of every decision or election, different
persons and groups may and can form a majority on the basis of birth, then
the democratic rule ceases to be accommodative for that person or group.
Additional questions (refer to the textbook for the answer)
1. What is meant by Transparency in Democracy?
2. The cost of time that democracy pays is perhaps worth it. Explain this statement.
3. Why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world?
4. Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.
Justify.
5. In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.
Explain the statement with the example of India.
6. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. Do you
agree with this statement? Explain.
7. Expectations from democracy also function as the criteria for judging any democratic country.
Explain this statement.
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