JAC Board Class 10 Social Science Notes Civics Chapter 7 Outcomes of Democracy
→ How do we assess democracy’s outcomes?
- Democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative.
- Democracy is better because it promotes equality among the citizens; enhances the dignity of the individual; improves the quality of decision-making; provides a method to, resolve conflicts; and allows room to correct mistakes.
- Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practise some kind of democratic politics.
- The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It creates conditions for achieving something, the advantage of which the citizens have to take and achieve those goals.
→ Accountable, responsive and legitimate government
- • The most basic outcome of democracy should be {hat it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens.
- Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation.
- Non-democratic rulers do not have to bother about deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. Hence, they can be very quick and efficient in
- • On the other hand, in democracy, it will take more time to follow procedures. As it has followed procedures, its decisions may be both more acceptable to people and more effective.
- In a democratic government, a citizen has the right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency. This factor is often missing from a non-democratic government.
- Democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable and mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit.
- Democracy holds regular, free and fair elections; open public debate on major policies and legislation; and citizens have the right to information about the government and its functioning.
- A democratic government is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption.
- Democratic government is a legitimate government. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clean, but it is people’s own government. That is why there is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected by them.
→ Economic growth and development
- Dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth. This cannot be the only reason to reject democracy.
- Economic development depends on several factors, such as country’s population, size,
global situation, cooperation from other countries, economic priorities adopted by the country, etc. - The difference in the rates of economic development between less developed countries with dictatorships and democracies is negligible.
→ Reduction of inequality and poverty
- Democracies are based on political equality. However, there are economic inequalities. The share of the total income enjoyed by the ultra-rich has been increasing. Those at the bottom of the society have very little to depend on.
- Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities.
→ Accommodation of social diversity
- Democracies accommodate various social divisions/ Belgium has successfully negotiated differences among ethnic populations. Democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct their competition.
- Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is a plus point of democratic regimes. Democracy must fulfil two conditions in order to achieve this outcome:
- The majority always needs’ to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.
- Rule by the majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group, etc.
- Democracy remains a democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point in time.
→ Dignity and freedom of the citizens
- Democracy promotes dignity and freedom of the individual. The passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies.
- Long, struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and
equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society. - What is most distinctive about democracy is that its examination never gets over.