Class 10 Political Science · Chapter 5 NotesOutcomes of Democracy

Democracy is considered a better form of government than dictatorship because it promotes equality among 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. But these are expectations, not automatic results. The chapter makes an important point: democracy is only a form of government. It can create the conditions for achieving something, but citizens must take advantage of those conditions to achieve their goals. When we compare democracies around the world, we find that what is achieved under each democracy differs because their social situations, economic achievements and cultures are different. So we need to ask whether there is something we can expect from every democracy simply because it is a democracy.

• Democracy is a form of government, not a guarantee of all outcomes
• Expectations from democracyequality, dignity, better decisions, conflict resolution, room to correct mistakes
• Different democracies achieve different outcomes because of different social and economic conditions

The most basic outcome of democracy is that it produces a government that is accountable to citizens and responsive to their needs and expectations. In a democracy, citizens have the right to choose their rulers and to control them. Democracy also ensures that decision making follows norms and procedures, so a citizen can find out how and why a decision was taken. This is called transparency, and it is often missing in non-democratic governments. Some people argue that democracy is less efficient because deliberation and negotiation cause delays. But the cost of time is worth it, because decisions taken after following procedures are more acceptable to people and more effective. Democracies have been more successful in setting up regular, free and fair elections and in creating conditions for open public debate. However, they do not have a very good record in sharing information with citizens. In substantive terms, democracies are not very impressive in being attentive to people's needs or in being free of corruption. Still, democratic government is legitimate government — it is people's own government — and that is why there is overwhelming support for democracy all over the world.

• Accountabilitycitizens have the right to choose and control rulers
• Transparencycitizens can examine the process of decision making
• Legitimacydemocratic government is people's own government
• Democracies are better than non-democracies in these respects, though not perfect

If democracy is expected to produce good government, it is fair to ask whether it also produces development. Evidence from 1950 to 2000 shows that dictatorships had a slightly higher rate of economic growth than democracies. However, when we compare only poor countries, the difference between dictatorships and democracies is negligible. Economic development depends on many factors — population size, global situation, cooperation from other countries, and the economic priorities adopted by the country. So democracy cannot be called a guarantee of economic development. But we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorships in this respect. The chapter concludes that the small difference in growth rates is not a good reason to reject democracy, because democracy has several other positive outcomes.

• 1950–2000dictatorships had a slightly higher growth rate than democracies
• In poor countries, the difference in growth rates is virtually nil
• Economic development depends on many factors besides the form of government

Democracies are based on political equality — all individuals have equal weight in electing representatives. But alongside this political equality, economic inequalities have been growing. A small number of ultra-rich people enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and income, and their share has been increasing. Those at the bottom have very little to depend upon, and their incomes have been declining. Sometimes they find it difficult to meet basic needs like food, clothing, house, education and health. In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. In countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top 20 per cent of people take away more than 60 per cent of national income, leaving less than 3 per cent for the bottom 20 per cent. The poor constitute a large proportion of voters, yet democratically elected governments do not appear as keen to address poverty as one would expect.

• Political equality exists alongside growing economic inequality
• Top 20% in South Africa and Brazil take over 60% of national income
• Democracies have not been very successful in reducing economic inequalities

Democracy is expected to produce a harmonious social life. Democracies usually develop procedures to conduct competition among different groups, which reduces the possibility of tensions becoming explosive or violent. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts, but democracy is best suited to respect differences and negotiate them. Non-democratic regimes often suppress internal social differences. The chapter gives two conditions that a democracy must fulfil to achieve this outcome. First, democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion — the majority always needs to work with the minority so that government represents the general view. Majority and minority opinions are not permanent. Second, rule by majority must not become rule by majority community in terms of religion, race or linguistic group. Rule by majority means that in every election, different persons and groups may form a majority. If someone is barred from being in majority on the basis of birth, then democratic rule ceases to be accommodative for that person or group.

• Democracy develops procedures to conduct competition among groups
• Condition 1majority must work with minority, not rule by majority opinion alone
• Condition 2rule by majority must not become rule by majority community

Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of the individual. Every individual wants respect from fellow beings, and conflicts often arise when people feel they are not treated with due respect. The passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this principle. Take the dignity of women: most societies were historically male dominated, and long struggles by women have created sensitivity that respect and equal treatment of women are necessary in a democracy. Once the principle is recognised, it becomes easier for women to wage a struggle against what is now unacceptable legally and morally. The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity. Instances of caste-based inequalities and atrocities still exist, but they lack moral and legal foundations.

• Democracy promotes dignity and freedom of the individual
• Recognition of the principle makes struggle against inequality easier
• Democracy in India has strengthened claims of disadvantaged castes

What is most distinctive about democracy is that its examination never gets over. As democracy passes one test, it produces another test. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make democracy even better. That is why when we ask people about how democracy functions, they always come up with more expectations and many complaints. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy. It shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to expect and to look critically at power holders and the high and the mighty. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project: it transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen. Most individuals today believe that their vote makes a difference to the way the government is run and to their own self-interest.

• Democracy's examination never gets over — each test produces another test
• Complaints about democracy show people's awareness and critical ability
• Democracy transforms people from subjects into citizens