How do We Assess Democracy’s Outcomes?
-Is Democracy a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative?
Democracy is better because:
• It promotes equality among citizens.
• It enhances the dignity of the individual.
• It improves the quality of decision-making.
• It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
• It allows room to correct mistakes.
-Is the Democratic government efficient? Is it effective?
• Imagine that other forms of government may take decisions very fast. But it may take decisions that are not accepted by the people and may, therefore, face problems.
• Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is bound to take place.
• In contrast, the democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
• But because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
-So, the cost of time that democracy pays is perhaps worth it.
Outcomes out of every Democracy:
• As a political outcome of Democracy, we expect an accountable, responsive and legitimate government.
• As an economic outcome, we expect that democracies produce economic growth and development, and reduce poverty and inequality.
• As a social outcome, we expect democracy to accommodate the social diversity in a society, and provide dignity and freedom to all citizens.
Political Outcomes
-Democracy is an accountable, responsive and legitimate government:
• Democracy ensures that decision-making is based on norms and procedures. So, a citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. This is known as transparency. Democracy follows standard procedures and is accountable to the people.
• Democratic governments have a very good record when it comes to sharing information with citizens and are much better than any non-democratic regime in this respect. Democracy is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption.
• There is one respect in which democratic government is certainly better than its alternatives. Democratic government is a legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean. But a democratic government is the people’s own government.
Economic Outcomes
- Economic growth and development
• Economic development depends on several factors—country’s population size, global situation, cooperation from other countries, economic priorities adopted by the country, etc.
• However, the difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible.
• Overall, we cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development. But we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorships in economic development.
- Democracy reduces economic inequality and poverty
• Democracies have growing economic inequalities. A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a lion's share of wealth and those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon and find it very difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house, education and health.
• Democratically elected governments address the question of poverty by making various welfare schemes to remove poverty.
• Democracies not only make welfare schemes but also give reservations for socially and economically backward people in jobs, elections and educational institutions.
Social Outcomes
- Democracy accommodates social diversity
• Democracies usually develop a procedure to accommodate various social groups. This reduces the possibility of social tensions becoming explosive or violent.
• No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But democracy is best to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts.
- An example of Sri Lanka reminds us that democracy must fulfil two conditions to achieve an accommodation of social divisions:
• It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply ruled by the majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.
• It is also necessary that rule by the majority does not become rule by the majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group, etc. Rule by majority means rule by the majority’s choice.
- Democracy promotes the dignity and freedom of the citizens
• Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of the individual by providing Fundamental Rights. Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings.
• The passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various Democracies.
• Take the case of the dignity of women, most societies across the world were historically male-dominated societies.
• Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect for equal treatment of women is necessary ingredient of a Democratic society.
• Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
- Conclusion
• A Democracy always strives towards a better goal. People constantly demand more benefits in a Democracy. There are always more expectations.
• People now look critically at the work of those who hold power, the rich. They express their dissatisfaction loudly. It shows they are no longer subjects but citizens of a Democratic country.
Know the Terms
1. Dictatorship: Under Dictatorship, all the powers are vested in a single person or in a group of people.
2. Legitimate government: Legally chosen government is called a Legitimate government.
3. Transparency: To examine the process of decision making in a Democracy.
4. Accountable government: The government is elected by the people and therefore responsible to them.
5. Responsive government: The government in which people have the right to know the process of decision-making.
6. Economic Development: It is the development of economic wealth of countries, regions or communities for the well-being of their inhabitants.
7. Dictatorship: A form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.
8. Economic Inequality: It is the difference found in various measures of the economic well-being among individuals in a group, among groups in a population or among countries.
9. Social Diversity: It is all of the ways that people within a single culture are set apart from each other. Elements of social diversity can include ethnicity, lifestyle, religion, language, tastes and preferences.
10. Social Divisions: When social differences amongst different communities increase and one community are discriminated against because of the differences, it becomes a social division. For example, the social difference between the upper castes and lower castes becomes a social division as the Dalits are generally poor and face injustice and discrimination.
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Extra Question answers
1. “There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world.” Support the statement. (CBSE 2015, 12)
Ans. There is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world because
● Democracy can address all socio-economic and political problems.
● Democracy is a legitimate government.
2. Why is Democratic Government better than
other alternatives?
Ans. Democratic government enhances the dignity of the individual and no individual is discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, colour or creed. Thus, Democracy government is better than other alternatives.
3. Which form of government is considered best?
Ans. Democracy, as it improves the Quality of Decision-making. It provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts. It enhances the dignity of Citizens. It allows correcting its own mistakes.
4. “Some people think that democracy produces a less effective government." Analyse the statement.
Ans. It is true some people think that Democracy
produces a less effective government because:
(i) Non-Democratic rulers do not have to bother
about deliberation in assemblies or worry about
majorities and public opinion.
(ii) They can be very quick and efficient in decision-making and implementation.
(iii) But Democracy is based on the idea of
deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay is
bound to take place.
(iv) Most democracies fall short of elections that
provide a fair chance to everyone.
(v) Democratic governments do not have a
very good record when it comes to sharing
information with citizens.
(vi) Democracies often frustrate the needs of the
people and often ignore the demands of a majority of their population.
5. "Transparency is the most important feature of Democracy." Analyse.
Ans. Transparency is the most important feature of Democracy:
(i) Democracy ensures that decision-making will be based on certain norms and procedures.
(ii) So, a citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through correct procedures can find this out.
(iii) The citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision-making. This is known as transparency.
6. “Democratic governments in practice are known as accountable.” Support the statement with arguments.
Ans. Democratic governments in practice are accountable because:
(i) It is right to expect Democracy to form a government that follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
(ii) It is also expected that the Democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think it is fit.
(iii) The democratic government is accountable to the people. If it ignores the will of the people, they will not elect their ruler in the next General Election.
(iv) The procedures and Decision-making process should be transparent for a democratic government to be accountable to the people.
7. How Democracies have been able to reduce Poverty? Elaborate.
Ans. Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. Although the majority of voters constitute the poverty ridden group, yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be as keen to address the question of poverty as you would expect them to. The situation is much worse in some of the countries where people depend upon rich countries for food supplies. But even then, democracy is favoured because it provides the opportunity to change the rulers.
8. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation". Examine the statement
Ans. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation:
(i) Democracy gives importance to deliberation and public opinion.
(ii) The Democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving at a decision.
(iii) Its decisions may be both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
(iv) Democracy ensures that decision making will be based on norms and procedures.
(v) Transparency as persons have the right and the means to examine the process of decision making.
(vi) It follows procedures and is accountable to the people.
(vii) The democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable.
(viii) Democratic government follows mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit.
9. Describe any five Outcomes of Democracy.
Ans. Five Outcomes of Democracy are:
(i) In a Democratic nation, the government is accountable to the Citizens. It is responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Moreover, the government is efficient and effective. The democratic governments work on the principle of deliberation and negotiation, so delays take place.
(ii) In a democracy, decisions are based on norms and procedures. Decision making is transparent, i.e.every citizen has the right to examine the entire process of decision making.
(iii) In a democracy, the right to question the process of decision making is absent.
(iv) It is provided that a democratic government is accountable, but there isn’t any mechanism to hold the government accountable and the decision making is not based on norms and procedures.
(v) Democracy is solely based on political equality. Every citizen has an equal weight in electing representatives. However, the same is not true in the economic field. In democratic countries, the poor usually become poorer and often find it hard to cater to the basic essentials of life like food, clothing, higher education, and health. Democracies have massively failed in this regard.
10. Describe the importance of Democratic government as an accountable and legitimate government.
Ans. The importance of Democratic government as an accountable and legitimate government can be understood from the following points:
(i) Democracy produces an accountable government. Accountable government is the one, whose every action is justified. We often find in democratic government that the rulers are elected by the people. A government comes in power due to the majority of the public have voted for it. The government is apprehensive that the same public may not vote it to power next time if it does not fulfil their expectations. These elected representatives constitute the government and participate in the decision-making process on behalf of the people. Also the people (citizens) have the right and means for examining the process. This is known as transparency and is very essential for proper governance in the country.
(ii) Democracy produces responsible government. A democracy carries with it certain important liberal ideals of governance. They include, regular free and fair elections, public debate on major policies and legislations, the openness of information regarding major government policies and legislation and corruption free government. All these factors contribute towards making democratic government a responsive form of government. For example, after a prolonged period of mass protest and negotiation, the UPA government had to finally agree to people’s demands and introduce the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament.
(iii) Democracy produces a legitimate government. Legitimate government is a government under which law and action of the government are revealed to the people and government functions in a transparent manner.
(iv) In a Democracy, all the laws are applicable to all the citizens whether rich or poor.
(v) In a Democracy, there is a political equality, i.e.every vote count has an equal weightage.
(vi) People have the right to challenge the government policies and actions. If the people are not satisfied with the working of the government, they have the right to change it.
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