Social science

Notes of What is democracy? Why democracy?

What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Answer the following:

Q1. Write 3 arguments in favour of Dmocracy.

·        Democratic government is the more accountable form of government. A democracy requires that the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people.

·        Democracy  is based on consultation and discussion which improves the quality of decision making.

·        Democracy is based on the principle of political equality and enhances the dignity of citizens.

·        It allows to correct our own mistakes. In democracy there is always a scope that the rulers can change their wrong decision or the rulers themselves can be changed.

Q2. Is China a democratic country or not? Give your arguments in the favour of your answer.

·        China is not a democratic country in true spirit.

·        For the consisting the election to the Chinese parliament the candidates need the approval of Chinese communist party. Only the members of communist party and its 8 allies are allowed to contest the election.

·        Ther is only one party rule that is communist party in China, which is not a indication of true democratic country. Henceforth, China cannot be considered as a democratic country.

Q3. Giving an example of Zimbabwe, show how laws were made by one single ruler.

·        Zimbabwe got independence in 1980, it is being ruled by ZANU-PF which led the freedom struggle. Its leader, Robert Mugabe has been ruling the country since independence by unfair practices in elections.

·        His government has made changes in the constitution several times to increase the power of the President and make him less accountable.

·        The oppposition party workers were harassed and their meeting were disrupted.

·        Public protests demonstrations are declared illegal. Laws wre made to limit the right to criticise the President.

·        The media had been forced to write and speak in favour of the ruling party.

·        The government has ignored some court judgements that went against it and has pressurized judges.

Q4. Examine 3 common factors for democratic countries.

·        Citizens are given freedom of speech, expression and thought.

·        Free and fair elections are held on regular basis.

·        The dignity of the individual is recognised.

Q5. Why is democracy considerd the best form of government?

   Democracy cannot give us everything but is clearly better than any other form of government.

·        it works for the welfare of the people and perfoms better regarding the removal of poverty and backwardness in the country.

·        It offers better condition of living and implemets policies to ensure equal opportunities for all the citizens in education and employment.

·        It respects people’s wishes and allows different kinds os people to live together. Even if it fails on some of its promises, it allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all the citizen.

·        That is why democracy is considered the best form of government.

Q6. Is Mexico a democratic country or not, give argument for the answer.

·        Since independence in 1930, Mexico hold elections every six years to elect their President. PRI ( Institutional Revolutionary Party) won all the elections till 2006.

·        All those who were employed in government offices had to attend party meetings.

·         The teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote fot the PRI.

·        Media largely ignores the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.

·        Opposition parties did contest elections, but never managed to win. The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win elections.

·        The PRI spent large sums of money in the campaign for its candidated and booths were shifted from one place to another in the last minute, which made it difficult for the people to cast their votes.

Q7. Explain the difficulties faced by people in the non democratic countries.

The difficulties faced by the people in non democratic countries are:

·        People cannot choose or change the ruler. They cannot question the authority or the dictator.

·        People do not enjoy their rights. Supporter of democracy are torchered or killed. For eg: in Chile more than 3000 people were killed by military.

·        In non democratic government, public protest are considered as illegal. Sometimes political activist are imprisoned for indefinite time. For eg: Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar spent long time under house arrest.

·        In non democratic government people cannot enjoy political equality. Universal adult franchise is sometimes denied.

·        In a non democratic government people may have elected their representatives but they are not actual rulers. The power of taking final decision rest with army official. For eg: Pakistan- the realpower is enjoyd by the army.

Q8. Write any 3 instances of equal right to vote in the worl of politics.

OR

Why are China, Saudi Arabia amd Estonia not truly democratic country? State one reason for each of them.

OR

Why are China, Estonia and Saudi Arabia non democratic countries though they have declared themselves as democratic? State one reason for each.

One major demand of democracy is Universal adult franchise that is every adult citizen have right to vote. But in the world of politics there are many instances of denial of equal right to vote.

·        In Saudi Arabia, women did not have right to vote untill 2011. On 25^th September 2011, king Abdullah declared that women will have right stand and vote in future.

·        Estonia made its citizenship rule in such a manner that people belonging to Russian minority finds it difficult to get right to vote.

·        In China before contesting the election the candidates need to get aproval from Chinese communist party.

·        Although the countries declared themselves as democratic the fundamental principle of political equality is denied in all the cores. Thus they cannot be called as deocratic countries.

Q9. Explain representative democracy. Why is the representative democracy is the most common form of government in modern times? Explain any 4 reasons.

OR

What is representative democracy? State its significance in contemporary world.

Representative democracy is the type of democracy founded on the principle of elected representatives. Represanting a group of people as the opposed to direct democracy. It si most common form of government because:

·        It allows to elect representative to have knowledge about specific subject of interest and can take decisions accordingly.

·        Representative and political parties are able to misjudge between differen pressure, groups and sections of society.

·        As the needs and demands od minorities and depressed classes are considered in a representative democracy, their helplessness is removed.

·        Representative dempcracy can make bettersense of needs and demand of people and convert them to practical action plan.

Q10. In a democracy, no one is a permanent winner or loser. Why do we say that? Give three reasons.

·        In any country we find people of different ethnic groups, differrnt communities living together. In that kind of social diversity government take different ways of power sharing.

·        There canbe difference of opinion or history proves divisions of the countries are all due to these variations in a society.

·        But these different groups can be able to live amiably if a government is able to accommodate all. Then government cannot be permanent winner or loser.