What is Democracy? Why Democracy? Class 9 Civics NCERT Solutions & Notes

Ans: Democracy is based on consultation and discussion. A democratic decision always involves many persons, discussions, and meetings. When a number of people put their heads together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision. This takes time, but this extensive debate reduces the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions.

Ans: The major arguments against democracy are:
1. Instability: Leaders keep changing in a democracy, leading to unstable policies.
2. Lack of Morality: Democracy is all about political competition and power play, leaving little room for morality.
3. Delays in Decision Making: So many people have to be consulted before making a decision that it leads to massive delays.
4. Bad Decisions: Elected leaders do not always know the best interests of the people.
5. Corruption: Since it is based on electoral competition, it often leads to corruption and vote-buying.

Ans: Democracy is considered the best form of government because:
1. Accountable Government: A democratic government is a better government because it is legally and constitutionally accountable to the citizens.
2. Improves Decision-Making: Decisions involve extensive consultation, reducing rash actions.
3. Deals with Differences: It provides a peaceful method to deal with differences and conflicts, especially in a diverse country like India.
4. Enhances Dignity: Democracy is based on political equality, enhancing the dignity of all citizens.
5. Corrects Mistakes: It allows us to correct our own mistakes through public discussion and changing the rulers.

Ans: During 1958-1961, China faced a massive famine, killing nearly 3 crore people. India's economic condition was similar, yet India did not face such a disaster. Economists argue this happened because India was a multi-party democracy. The Indian government responded to food scarcity due to pressure from opposition parties and a free press. In China, the lack of an opposition party and a free press meant the government felt no pressure to change its disastrous policies.

Ans: In October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup and overthrew the democratically elected government. He declared himself the 'Chief Executive' of the country. Later, he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five-year extension, which was largely based on fraud and malpractices.

Ans: In August 2002, Musharraf issued a 'Legal Framework Order' that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President could dismiss the national and provincial assemblies. Furthermore, the work of the civilian cabinet was supervised by a National Security Council which was dominated by military officers.

Ans: In China, elections are held regularly every five years to elect the country's parliament. However, before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. Only members of this party or its eight smaller allied parties are allowed to contest. Thus, the people are not given a real choice, and the government is always formed by the Communist Party.

Ans: The PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) used many dirty tricks. All government employees had to attend party meetings. Teachers of government schools forced parents to vote for the PRI. The media largely ignored the opposition parties except to criticize them. Sometimes polling booths were shifted at the last minute to prevent people from casting their votes.

Ans: This principle means that in a true democracy, every adult citizen must have one vote and every vote must have an equal weight. Examples of its denial include Saudi Arabia, where women did not have the right to vote until 2015, and Fiji, where the vote of an indigenous Fijian had more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

Ans: Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF, forced opposition party workers and disrupted their meetings. Public demonstrations and protests were declared illegal. There was a law that limited the right to criticize the President. Television and radio were controlled by the government and only gave the ruling party's version.

Ans: In any society, people are bound to have differences in opinions and interests, especially in a diverse country like India. Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to this because no one is a permanent winner or loser. Different groups can live with one another peacefully because decisions are made through consensus and majority rule, rather than brute force.

Ans: A democratic government is accountable because it has to respond to the needs of the people. Unlike a dictator who can choose to ignore public needs, leaders in a democracy have to face the public in the next elections. They are legally and constitutionally bound to answer to the parliament and the citizens.

Ans: Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. It recognizes that the poorest and least educated citizen has the exact same status as the rich and educated. People are not subjects of a ruler; they are the rulers themselves. Even when they make mistakes, they are responsible for their conduct.

Ans: No government is immune to making mistakes. However, in a democracy, mistakes cannot be hidden for long because there is a space for public discussion. Once a mistake is identified, there is room for correction. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the public can change the rulers in the next election.

Ans: Representative democracy is a system where the majority of people rule through their elected representatives. It is necessary today because modern democracies involve millions of people, making it physically impossible for them to sit together and take collective decisions directly. Also, citizens do not have the time, desire, or skills to take part in all decisions.

Ans: The word Democracy comes from a Greek word ‘Demokratia’. In Greek, ‘Demos’ means people and ‘Kratia’ means rule. So, democracy literally means rule by the people.

Ans: A simple democracy is merely a system where rulers are elected by the people. However, a good democracy goes further; it ensures true political equality, lack of discrimination, social justice, and conditions where no person goes to bed hungry. Every citizen must have equal information, basic education, and equal resources.

Ans: Under Robert Mugabe, the government completely controlled television and radio, ensuring they only broadcasted the ruling party's version of events. There were independent newspapers, but the government harassed journalists who wrote against it, effectively destroying the freedom of the press.

Ans: The broader meaning of democracy applies to any sphere of life, such as a family, a classroom, or an organization. A democratic decision involves consultation with and the consent of all those affected by that decision. It means taking the views of the weak as seriously as the views of the powerful.