DEMO. POL.(IX) -LESSON-2 WHAT IS DEMOCRACY AND WHY? (LESSON NOTES)

DEMO. POL.(IX) -LESSON-1

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY AND WHY?

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø We have read about different countries in the first lesson and find out that in some countries people have the rights and in some countries people does not have the rights. We also see that held elections regularly are not the feature of democracy. In this lesson we will discuss about the various features of democracy with suitable example. We also discuss about the need of democracy in the world.

v SIMPLE DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY

Ø According to Abraham Lincon:-“Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people”.

Ø The word democracy comes from a Greek word ‘Demokratia’. In Greek ‘demos’ means people and ‘kratia’ means rule. So democracy is rule by the people.

Ø Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.

v FEATURE OF DEMOCRACY

Ø Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. So

§  Myanmar where the army rules, Dictator Pinochet’s rule in Chile, or President N krumah’s rule in Ghana was not democratic. They were not chosen by the people.

§  Hereditary kings, like the king of Nepal or Saudi Arabia, are also not democratic rulers. They rule because they were born into noble families.

Ø In a democracy final decision making power must rest in those who are elected by the people.

§  In Pakistan, President Musharraf has the power to dismiss national and state assemblies; so the final powers rest with the army and the General himself. We cannot call it a democracy.

Ø A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

§  In China, elections are held for its Parliament. But all the candidates are either members of Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller allies of the party.

§  In Mexico, elections have been held every six years since 1980. But the same party, PRI, has won the elections. Obviously, there has been rigging and mal-practices, with freedom, denied to opposition.

§  In both the examples elections are held but one cannot claim that they are free and fair.

DO YOU THINK THESE AFFECTED IDEAL DEMOCRACY

Ø In a democracy each adult citizen having one vote and each vote has one value. Democracy is based on the fundamental principle of political equality.

§  Countries like Saudi Arabia, Estonia and Fiji in some or other way deny voting rights to certain sections of its population.

Ø A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional and citizens’ rights.

§  A democratic government cannot do what it likes after winning the elections. It has to respect certain basic rules and is accountable not only to the people but also to other independent officials.

§  Robert Mugabe is President of Zimbabwe. He is ruling there for last 38 years. But in many incidences, he has behaved in an undemocratic way and even above the law.

v WHY DEMOCRACY?

v POINTS AGAINST DEMOCRACY

Ø There has been criticism of democracy by various people. The charges are that :

§  It creates instability by changing its leaders frequently.

§  Democracy is about power play and political competition. There is no scope for morality.

§  So many people have to be consulted before any issue is solved. It leads to delay.

§  Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people.

§  It leads to corruption for it is based on electoral corruption.

§  Ordinary people do not know what is good for them, so decision making should not be left to them.

v ARGUMENTS FOR DEMOCRACY:

Ø Many people favour the democracy around the world. they give their ideas that why democracy government is best in all form of government. Their arguments for democracy are these-

§  Democratic government is a more accountable form of government.

§  Democracy improves the quality of decision making.

§  Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.

§  Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.

§  It allows us to correct its own mistakes.

So we can say that democracy is the best form of government in the world.

v BROADER MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

Ø Democratic ideas can be practised in various decision-making processes. In broader sense no country can be completely democratic.

Ø The features of democracy are only minimum conditions. As in presently mostly country have the representative democracy which means rule through the elected representative, not directly by all people.

Ø  A lot can be done towards achieving real democracy. Every democracy has to try to realize the ideals of a democratic decision making.

Ø This cannot be achieved once and for all. This requires a constant effort to save and strengthen democratic forms of decision making.

Ø The success of democracy depends not just on what the rulers do, but mainly on what we, as citizens, do. Democracy depends on active political participation by all the citizens.