Solutions

What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Textbook Exercises

1. is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries. Write democratic, undemocratic or not sure against each of these?
  • Country A: People who do not accept the country officials religion do not have right to vote
  • Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years
  • Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last three elections
  • Country D: There is no independent election commission
ans:
  • Undemocratic
  • Democratic
  • Democratic
  • Undemocratic
2.Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these- countries. Write democratic, undemocratic or not sure against each of these?
  • Country P: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army
  • Country Q: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary
  • Country R: The country leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighouring country
  • Country S: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change
ans:
  • Undemocratic
  • Democratic
  • Democratic
  • Undemocratic
3.Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
  • > People feel free and equal in a democracy
  • Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others
  • Democratic government is more accountable to the people
  • Democracies are more prosperous than others
ans:
  • It is an argument in favour of democracy, because in a democracy alone, people are free and equal
  • It is also an argument in favour of democracy, because democracies thrive on dialogues, discussions and ballots where conflicts are easily resolved
  • Democratic government is a responsible government; it is also responsive one. It is also an argument in favour of democracy
  • Democracies tend to become prosperous; in poor countries, democracies are, usually, economically weak. This argument also is in favour of democracy
4.Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement?
  • A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation
  • The Election Commission ordered repolling in a constituency where large scale rigging was reported
  • Women representation in the parliament lias never reached 10 per cent. This led women organisations to demand one-third seats for women
ans:
  • To conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Parliament has to pass a resolution - an element of democracy. This is so because India is a member of WTO. The Parliament can, however, pass the resolution within the parameters of the national interest
  • It is also a democratic element, because free polls strengthen democracy. The Election Commission has the responsibility to see that the elections are conducted in free, fair and impartial manner
  • Thisis also a democratic element. If about half of the country population seeks one third representation, there is nothing undemocratic about it
5.Which of these is not a valid reason for aruingthat there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
  • Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation
  • Free press can report suffering from famine in different parts of the country
  • Government fears its defeat in the next elections
  • People are free to believe in and practice any religion
ans:
  • Is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a better possibility of famine in a democratic country. Belief and practice of religion has nothing to do with famine in a democratic country
6.There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic, method?
  • Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life
  • Boycotting the next elections to give a message to .all parties
  • Organizing public meetings against government policies
  • Paying money to government officials to get water
ans:
  • is not a democratic method, for briber} is not what a democracy promotes in any form
7.Write a response to the following arguments against democracy?
  • Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country. Therefore army should rule the country
  • Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers
  • If we want religious leader to guide us in spiritual matters, why, not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders
ans:
  • Military rule is not a democratic rule
  • True, majority of the people are illiterate, but this does not mean that the rule of the majority is not democratic. Majority rule has been accepted as a democratic rule all over the world
  • The country should not be ruled by religious leaders. Religion and politics are two different things, they have two different domains. Religion is a matter of faith while politics deals with our external relations
8.Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
  • Father to daughter; I dont want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In bur family children marry where the parents tell them to
  • Teacher to student; Dont disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom
  • Employee to the officer; Our working hours must be reduced according to the law
ans:
  • This statement is not in keeping with democracy. Every one, in a democracy, should have the right to decide, for his/her own life and career
  • This statement is not in keeping with democracy. Students have all the rights to ask questions in the class or outside the class
  • This is perfectly in keeping with democracy. The workers should work according to the laws, fixing their hours of work
9.Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision?
  • All the citizens of the country have light to vote. Elections are held regularly
  • The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health
  • People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of that country
  • Several organistions have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nationwide Strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders
  • The government owns the radio and television in the country. A1J the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government policies and protests
ans:
  • It is democratic. In a democracy, everyone has the right to form government, and hence has a right to vote which people exercise during elections which are held regularly
  • This is undemocratic. No restriction by a foreign power is in, itself, democratic
  • It is undemocratic. No language should be imposed on those who do not know; that language. Moreover, education should be imparted in the native language
  • Peaceful demonstrations and strikes are part of democratic, rights; criticising the governmental policies too is also a democratic right
  • This is undemocratic. In a democracy, press has to be free
10.In 2004 a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that?

If an average Black family earns $ 100 then the income of average White family is $ 162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family

In a President election nearly nine out of 10 individuals in families with income over $ 75,000 have voted. These people are the top 20% of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand, only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 15,000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income

About 95% contribution to the political parties comes front the rich. The gives them opportunity to express their opinion and concern, which is not available to most citizens

As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns-coining out of poverty, getting job, education, health care and housing from them. Politicians do not hear regularly about the concerns of business and the most rich. Write an essay bn Democracy and Poverty using the information given in this report but using examples from India

ans:Democracy and inequalities do not together. Where there are inequalities, i.e. the rich and the poor; few rich and the many, poor, democracy, suffers. The rich, having stakes in economy, seek to control politics; they help the political parties, financially, make their candidates win the elections, spend money during elections and then seek policies which favour them. The poor are made to vote for the political parties the rich favour. All this breeding inequality leads to corruption in politics and public affairs. Such is the state of affairs in all the elections, including elections, in India

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