EVERWIN GROUP OF SCHOO LS

STD IX . NOTES FOR REFERENCE

DATE :16.07.2021. DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

CH 1 WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

What is Democracy?
• A simpleDefinition: Democracy isa formofgovernment in which the rulersare electedby the
people.
Featuresof Democracy
• The rulersare elected by the people.
• Free and competitive electionsare held.
• Eachadultirrespectiveofreligion,education,caste,colour,wealthhaveonevote,onevalue.
• Theelectedrulerstakedecisionswithinlimitssetbyconstitutionallawandcitizens’rights.
• Rule of Law
• The rightsof the citizensmust be protected through Constitution.
• There mustbean independent judiciary.
Major Decisionsby Elected leaders
• In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999 and overthrew
democratically electedgovernment and becamePresident of the country.
→ In 2002, he held a referendum in the country which wasbased on malpracticesand fraud granted
him afive-year extension.
→ Afterpassinglaw,‘LegalFrameworkOrder’whichgavethepresidentpowertodismissthe national
and provincial assemblies, electionswereheld to thenational and provincial assemblies.
• In thiscase, Pakistan hashad elections, electedrepresentativeshavesomepowers. But thefinal
power restswith military officersand General Musharraf himself. So,thisshould not be called a
democracy.
• In a democracy, the final decision-makingpower mustrest with thoseelected by the people. Free
and fair electoralcompetition
• In China, electionsareregularly held after every fiveyearsfor electingthecountry’sparliament
called National People’sCongress.
→ Before contesting elections, a candidate needsthe approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
→ The government isalwaysformed by the Communist Party.
• Mexico holdselectionsafter every six yearsto elect itsPresident.
→ But until 2000every election waswon by a party called PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
→ Opposition partiesdid contest elections, but never managed to win asPRI wasknown to use many
dirty tricksto winelections.
• Both the casesshould not be called a democracy.
• Ademocracymustbebasedonafreeandfairelectionwherethosecurrentlyinpowerhavea fair
chance oflosing.
One person, one vote, One value
• There are many instancesof denial of equal right to vote.
→In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.
→ Estonia hasmade itscitizenship rulesin such a way that people belonging to Russian minority
find it difficult to get the right to vote.
→ In Fiji, the electoral systemissuch that the voteof an indigenousFiji hasmore value than that of an
Indian-Fijian.
• In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each votemust have one value. Rule
of Law and respect for rights
• Since independence, Zimbabwe ruled by ZANU-PF.
→ Itsleader, Robert Mugabehasbeen ruling the country. He ispopular but alsousesunfair practicesin
elections.
→ Electionshave been held regularly and alwayswon by ZANU-PF.
→ Opposition party workersare harassed and their meeting disrupted.
→ Public protestsand demonstrationsagainst the government are declared illegal.
→ Television and radioarecontrolled by thegovernment and giveonly theruling party’sversion.
→ Independent newspapersaretherebut thegovernmentharassesthosejournalistswhogo against it.
→ The government hasignored somecourt judgmentsthat went against it and haspressurised judges.
• In thiscase, government isnot democraticasthereisno thereisno citzen' basicrights, no
political opposition, no judiciary.
• A democraticgovernment rule within limitsset by constitutional law and citizens’ rights. Why
Democracy?
Argumentsagainst democracy
• Leaderskeep changing in a democracy. Thisleadsto instability.
• Democracyisall aboutpolitical competition and power play. There isno scopefor morality.
• So many peoplehave to be consulted in a democracy that it leadsto delays.
• Elected leadersdo not know the best interest of the people. It leadsto bad decisions.
• Democracy leadsto corruption for it isbased on electoral competition.
• Ordinary people don’t know what isgood for them; they should not decide anything.
Argumentsfor democracy
• A democraticgovernmentisabettergovernmentbecauseitisamoreaccountableform
of government.
• Democracy improvesthe quality of decision-making.
• Democracy providesa method to deal with differencesand conflicts.
• Democracy enhancesthedignity of citizens.
• D emocracy allowsusto correct itsown mistakes.
Broader Meaningsof Democracy
• Themostcommonformthatdemocracytakesinour timesisthatofarepresentative
democracy wheremajority isallowed to takedecisionson behalfofall the people.
→ The majority of people rule through their elected representatives.
• A democraticdecisioninvolvesconsultationwith andconsentofall thosewhoareaffectedby
that decision.
• Democracy isa principle that can beapplied to any sphereoflife.
→ Democracy can apply to a government or a family or any other organisation.