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Chapter Analysis
Intermediate12 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
This chapter explores the expected outcomes of democracy, questioning if it truly meets these expectations in real life. It delves into how democracy contributes to the quality of government, economic well-being, and social equality. The text also discusses the limitations and criticisms of democratic governance, including economic disparities and inefficiencies. Moreover, it highlights the unique way democracies handle social divisions and foster freedom and dignity.
Key Topics
- •Accountability and legitimacy in democracy
- •Democratic accommodation of social diversity
- •Economic development and inequality in democracies
- •Dignity and freedom under democratic governance
- •Critiques of democracy: efficiency and corruption
- •Role of public opinion and expectations in democracy
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the relationship between democracy and economic development.
- ✓Analyze how democracies handle social diversity and ensure inclusivity.
- ✓Evaluate the effectiveness of democratic governance in promoting public welfare.
- ✓Critically examine the challenges faced by democracies, such as corruption and inefficiency.
- ✓Assess the role of citizen participation and transparency in democratic processes.
Questions in Chapter
How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
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What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities?
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Give arguments to support or oppose the following assertions: Industrialised countries can afford democracy but the poor need dictatorship to become rich. Democracy can’t reduce inequality of incomes between different citizens. Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and infrastructure. In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there is absence of any domination and conflict.
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Identify the challenges to democracy in the following descriptions. Also suggest policy/institutional mechanism to deepen democracy in the given situations: Following a High Court directive, a temple in Orissa that had separate entry doors for dalits and non-dalits allowed entry for all from the same door. A large number of farmers are committing suicide in different states of India. Following an allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has been ordered.
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In the context of democracies, which of the following ideas is correct– democracies have successfully eliminated: conflicts among people, economic inequalities among people, differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to be treated, the idea of political inequality.
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In the context of assessing democracy, which among the following is the odd one out. Democracies need to ensure: free and fair elections, dignity of the individual, majority rule, equal treatment before law.
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Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show that: democracy and development go together, inequalities exist in democracies, inequalities do not exist under dictatorship, dictatorship is better than democracy.
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Additional Practice Questions
Explain how democratic government is described as a legitimate government.
mediumAnswer: A democratic government is considered legitimate because it is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is accountable to its citizens, as they elect their representatives. This connection through elections gives governments legitimacy as it reflects the will of the people.
Discuss the role of economic disparities in the assessment of democratic outcomes.
hardAnswer: The assessment of democratic outcomes often includes examining how effectively economic disparities are addressed. Democracies ideally should foster economic equality, but in practice, they often witness growing income differences. The challenge for democracies is to ensure equitable distribution of wealth while maintaining growth and development.
Why is transparency in decision-making essential in a democracy?
mediumAnswer: Transparency in decision-making is crucial in a democracy because it allows citizens to see how decisions are made, ensuring accountability and trust in governance. It helps prevent corruption, as decisions are open to public scrutiny, and ensures that the government is responsive and responsible to the needs of the people.
How does democracy accommodate social diversity?
mediumAnswer: Democracy accommodates social diversity by ensuring that majority rule is balanced with minority rights. Through mechanisms like proportional representation, federal structures, and affirmative action, democracies work to include diverse groups, respecting cultural, ethnic, and social differences while avoiding dominance by any one group.
Assess the impact of citizens' rights to information on democratic governance.
easyAnswer: Citizens' rights to information empower them to hold the government accountable, participate meaningfully in democratic processes, and ensure transparency. This right enhances informed decision-making by citizens and helps in combating corruption, as it requires government actions and decisions to be accessible to the public.