Outcomes of Democracy Q ans

Chapter: Outcomes of Democracy

Q ‘A democratic government is a legitimate government.’ Support the statement with arguments.

Answer:

A democratic government is a legitimate government because of the following reasons.

1 It may be slow, less efficient or not always responsive or clean, but it is people’s own government.

2 It has planned institutions and practices for its functioning, such as:

free and fair elections, regular public debates, right to information to citizens, planned legislations.

3 In a democracy, decisions are taken in a very transparent manner citizens have the chance to examine the process of decision-making.

Q ‘Democracy accommodates social diversities.’ Support the statement with examples.

Answer:

Democracy accommodates social diversities in the following ways.

1 Democracy develops competitive attitude: Democracy develops a procedure to conduct competition among social classes. This reduces the possibility of conflicts and social tensions.

2 Democracy evolves mechanisms to negotiate: No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups, but we can certainly learn to respect these difference and can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracies are best suited to produce this outcome.

3 Democracy represents the general view: Democracy ensures that the government should not be made by the majority but it should have the representation of minority as well.

Q How is democracy accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens? Analyse.

Answer:

There is no denying the fact that democracy is accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Democracy produces an accountable government in the following ways.

1 A democratic government ensures that people are able to choose their leaders and keep a check on them.

2 In an accountable government, people have the right to elect the leaders to form government and if possible they participate in the decision-making process.

3 Citizens also have the right to evaluate the decision-making process. Democracy produces a responsive government in the following ways.

4 Democracy produces a responsible government which is responsible for satisfying the needs and aspirations of people.

5 It promotes the formation of public opinion, needs and expectations of the citizens.

6 There are proper deliberations and negotiations before arriving at any decision.

Q How do democratic governments ensure transparency? Explain any three points.

Answer:

Democratic governments ensure transparency in the following ways.

1 They make sure that decision-making will be based on norms and procedures.

2 They allow every citizen to participate in decision-making, directly or indirectly, through representatives.

3 Citizens can examine and find out about the correctness of the procedure of decision-making using their right to information.

They are accountable to the people. 

4 If people are not satisfied with the way the government works, they have the right to change the government in the next general elections.

5 They provide people with power to demand answers from their representatives and reduce the chances of corruption

Democracy accommodates social diversities.” Support the statement with examples.

Ans.

Democracies 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 can evolve a mechanism to negotiate these differences.

The ability to handle social differences, divisions, and conflicts is a definite plus point of democratic regimes.

Example: Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among its ethnic population. This reduces the possibility of tensions.

What are the two conditions necessary to ensure that democracy accommodates social diversity?

Ans.

It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply ruled by 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 that in the case of every decision or in the case of every election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority

 ‘Respect and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.’ Examine the statement.

Ans.

Economic independence or access to an inherited or self-generated income is considered to be the major means of empowering women.

Equal political and civil rights as men.

Ways of autonomy and freedom.

Distributive justice to reduce inequalities in resources and power.

Love, universal brotherhood, sincerity, honesty, integrity of character, and a firm attitude of rendering help.

Removing social evils including violence, torture, humiliation, etc.

Constant complaints by people can be seen as a testimony to the success of democracy. Explain.

Ans.

Complaints highlight the awareness of the people and their expectations of the system that has been put in place.

It reflects that citizens are not overawed by those in power and can objectively and critically examine the difference they have made.

It is a measure of their participation in public debates.

A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project.

It shows that people have transformed themselves from being subject to being citizens.