Outcomes of Democracy

Why democracy is a better form of government?

1. It promotes Equality among citizens

There is no discrimination on the basis of caste or creed or color. Everybody is equally

treated by the law. Constitution of India assures social economic, and political equality.

2. It enhances the dignity of the individual

The constitution of India guarantees the dignity of the individual irrespective of their
position. Everybody is equal before the law, even if you are the prime minister or president of
India. Everyone is given only one vote and one value to the vote. The fundamental rights of
Indian constitution (right to education, Freedom of religion, equality) is for to secure the dignity
of the individual

3. Improves the quality of decision making

It will not take any decision soon. Every bill is passed as a law or decision after a long
process. But it takes lot of time to reach at

4. It provides a method to resolve conflicts

This is the only form of government that can solve the different types of crisis in the
country. It is through passing law or by court verdict. It understands the people, their culture.

If there is a clash of views on a particular issue, in a dictatorship the ruler may eradicate the
other group using force or army. But it never happens in the democracy. People may have
different views on the same issue. The difference is respected and give chances to expresses their
dissatisfactions. Majority rules but minority always has the room to express their views

5. It allows room to correct mistakes.

Democracy is ready correct mistake. Even if the law is passed and public is against the law,
the democratic form government is ready to make change. It is done through the constitutional
amendments

 How are the democratic governments better than the other forms of governments?
Compare.
 Which is the odd one out in the following in context of democracy?
Free and fair election; dignity of individual; majority rule; equal treatment before law

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  In a democratic government, a citizen has the right and the means to examine the
decisions taken by the government. It is known as-
Transparency, Legitimacy; democracy; monarchy

Dilemma in Democracy

Most of the people support democracy against any other forms of governments like
monarch, military, dictatorship, or religious leaders. But many are not satisfied with democracy
in practice. It seems to many that democracy is good in principle and not so good in practice.
This is the dilemma in democracy.1

Outcomes of Democracy2

Over a hundred countries in the world today practice some kind of democratic politics.
That means they have formal elections, guarantee the rights of every citizens. Although they
have the features of democracy, each democracy is different in terms of their social situations,
economic achievements, and their cultures. Achievements of each democracy may be different.
But they are common in following areas.

Democracy is Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate

1. Government

Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate government

In democracy people have the right to choose their rulers and people have control over
their rulers. That means people can question them, and the rulers (leaders) are answerable to the
people.

And people also get chance to participate in the decision making processes.

a. Is the democratic government efficient? Is it effective?

Some people think that democracy is less effective when we compare with nondemocratic
government. It is, of course, true that non democratic rulers have no bother about discussion in
assemblies and worry about the majorities and public opinion. So they can be very quick and
efficient. But decision may not be accepted by the people.

In contrast to non democratic governments, democratic government will take more time.
They have to follow prescribed procedures before reaching to a decision. So decision is more
acceptable to the people. Because it is based on the principle of deliberation and negotiation. So
the cost of time that democracy pay is perhaps worth it.

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What is the dilemma in democracy? Do you think democracy is impractical?
2
Even though forms and achievements are different in each democracy do you find anything common in
democracy? What are the outcomes of democracy?

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Responsive

In a democracy we are most concerned with ensuring that people will have the right to
choose their rulers and people will have control over the rulers. Because people are electing
them. They are answerable to the public. When media asks question, they answer to all their
questions, because these are the question of the people.

Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedures. In order
to pass a law or bill there are certain procedures and norms it must pass through. So, a citizen
who wants to know whether a decision was taken through the correct procedures, he or she has
the right and the means to examine the processes of decision making. This is known as
transparency3. Once government is transparent, that is a responsive form of government. And
this government is accountable to the people.

Criteria for evaluating the democracy

Democracy can be evaluated on the basis for following practices and institutions.

1. Regular and free elections

2. Open public debate on major public policies and legislations
3. Citizen’s right to information about the government and its functioning.
4. Free of corruption
5. Government should act in response to the demands of the people.

Most of the democracies follow these things

But some places it fails to conduct regular and fair elections and space for open debate.

Democratic governments do not have a good record in sharing the information to the
citizens. But it is much better than any other forms of governments4, because there
nothing of these kinds exist

Democratic governments have very low record in meeting the needs of the people and
free of corruption.

Legitimate

There are many aspects on which the performance of a democratic country is not
satisfying. Then why do we accept it?

In one aspect democratic government is better than the alternatives. Because it is a

legitimate government. Legitimate means something which can be justified. Because it is
3
What do you mean by transparency?
4
How does the democratic form of government much better thatn other forms of government?

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people’s own government. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them. Data from
South Asia shows that people refer to be in democratic system.

How is the democracy accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations
of the citizens? analyze
 What is the criteria to judge a democracy
Expectations; elections; resolution of conflicts; people’s opinion
2. Development

Economic Growth and Development

The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us. But this
is not the reason to reject democracy.

Democratic Government – growth rate - 3.95%

Dictatorial Government – growth rate – 4.42%

Democracy is little slow in economic development. When Russia was far way from the
economic development. But Stalin led them they became super power in the world. But in India
since 1947, India has been a developing country.

Germany was facing a huge economic depression., As soon as Hitler came to power,
within few years he made Germany a leading country in the world.

Dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth. However the difference in
the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and
democracies is negligible. Because country’s development depend on country’s population size,
global situation, cooperation from other countries, economic priorities adopted by the country
etc. It is cooperating with everything and everyone. It was not the situation of Germany at the
time of Hitler.

We cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development, but we can

expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorship in this respect.

Reduction of Inequality and Poverty

Democracy is based on political equality. All individual have equal weight in electing
representatives.

In democracy people are different economically, that means there are ultra level rich,
middle class and very poor. So economic difference is present in democracy. The poor constitute
a large portion of our voters and no party will like to lose their votes. So parties try to eradicate
the poverty. Sometimes we see very few steps to eliminate it. We feel that dictatorship has
POSITIVES in this respect.

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If the dictatorship could have brought wealth in the nation, then many countries such as Nigeria
and Myanmar, which are under dictatorial rule, would have become rich.
Accommodation of Social Diversities

But democracy has positive aspect in terms of accommodation of social diversity. It

produces a harmonious social life.5
In dictatorship the ruler keep a blind eye and deaf ear two the minority. In democracy we
have the concept of rule of majority. It is not the rule of the majority in terms of election. It
addresses the concerns of the minority groups. In dictatorship minority has no choice rather to
compromise with the majority group. Dictatorship runs in the concern of the person and
democracy runs in the concerns of the people.

Democracies accommodate various divisions. In matters of disputes between two

communities, democracy is the best to solve these issues. Democracy respects the social
difference.

Democracy is not just a rule by the majority. Majority always woks with the minority.
Every citizen of a country gets a chance to be in majority. For example Panchayath Raj- women
gets a clear representation in the election. Thus the vulnerable section gets a chance to be in the
majority. Eg. Belgium

Majority also mean that, not the majority of a group of religion. Different groups, persons
etc form the majority. Democracy is true and exist as long as it accommodates every citizens of
the country. And it ceases when somebody is excluded on the basis of birth, cast. creed etc.

Dignity and Freedom of the Citizens

Democracy promotes dignity and freedom of the individual. Dignity and freedom is
related to the fundamental rights of the citizens. Every individual wants to receive respect from
fellow beings. Often conflicts arise among individuals because some feel that they are not treated
with due respect. It realizes that respect and freedom as the basis of democracy. This principle is
legally accepted through different laws. For example; for the dignity of women- for that laws to
abolish dowry, laws against the sexual harassment etc. This does not mean that women are
always respected or equally treated rather these laws give a protection and they can struggle for
their right. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy6.

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Do democracies lead the people to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens?
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The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Explain

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 In a non democratic government the notion of unacceptability does not have any legal
basis. Because individual freedom and dignity are not the concern of the government and they do
not have any legal and moral force7.

Complaining itself is the testimony of success

Examination never ends in democracy or as democracy passes one test, it produces

another test. The fact that people are complaining itself a testimony to the success of democracy.
It shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to expect and look critically at
power holders. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the
democratic project. It transforms the people from the status of subject to a responsible citizens.

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Democracy stands much superior to any form of governments in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.
Justify the statement.