Chapter 1 What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Overview

This chapter introduces the concept of democracy, starting with a basic definition and gradually elaborating on its essential features. It aims to help readers distinguish democratic governments from non-democratic ones. The chapter also delves into the reasons why democracy is considered a prevalent and often preferred form of government, exploring its merits and addressing common criticisms. Finally, it touches upon broader interpretations of democracy beyond just a system of government.

What Is Democracy?

Democracy, derived from the Greek words 'demos' (people) and 'kratia' (rule), fundamentally means 'rule by the people.' However, a simple definition is insufficient because governments often claim to be democratic without genuinely being so. A more refined understanding requires examining the key features of democracy.

A Simple Definition

A starting point for defining democracy is: a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This helps differentiate democracies from non-democratic regimes like military dictatorships (Myanmar) or absolute monarchies (Saudi Arabia), where rulers are not chosen by the people.

Why Define Democracy?

Defining democracy is necessary because the term is used broadly, and not all governments that hold elections are truly democratic. Understanding the specific features helps distinguish genuine democracies from those that merely pretend to be. The discussion emphasizes the need for independent thought rather than blindly accepting popular notions.

Features Of Democracy

Based on the simple definition and examples, four key features of democracy emerge:

Major Decisions By Elected Leaders

In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with elected representatives. Even if elections are held, if ultimate power lies with unelected officials (like military officers in Pakistan under General Musharraf) or external powers, the government is not truly democratic.

Free And Fair Electoral Competition

Elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives, and people must be able to use this choice to remove the current rulers. This requires free and fair elections where those in power have a fair chance of losing. Countries like China (where only the Communist Party and allied parties can contest) and Mexico (where the PRI consistently won through unfair practices) fail this test.

One Person, One Vote, One Value

Democracy is founded on the principle of political equality. Each adult citizen should have one vote, and each vote must have equal value. Instances of denying equal voting rights, such as restrictions based on citizenship (Estonia), or giving disproportionate weight to certain votes (Fiji), are undemocratic.

Rule Of Law And Respect For Rights

A democratic government operates within limits set by constitutional law and respects citizens' basic rights. These include freedom of speech, opinion, association, protest, and equality before the law. The government must be accountable, and its decisions subject to checks by an independent judiciary. Countries like Zimbabwe, under Robert Mugabe, which manipulated laws, harassed opposition, and limited freedoms despite popular support and elections, are not truly democratic.

Why Democracy?

Democracy is often considered the best form of government, despite its imperfections. The arguments supporting democracy include:

Debating Merits Of Democracy

The chapter presents a classroom debate where students discuss democracy's benefits and drawbacks. While some argue for its superiority due to popular participation and the possibility of correcting mistakes, others criticize it for instability, corruption, and delays. The discussion highlights the need to compare real-world democracies with real-world alternatives rather than idealized versions.

Arguments Against Democracy

Common criticisms include instability due to frequent leadership changes, lack of morality in political competition, delays in decision-making due to consultation, potential for bad decisions by uninformed people, and susceptibility to corruption.

Arguments For Democracy

Democracy is argued to be better because:

• Responsiveness to People's Needs: Democratic governments are more accountable and tend to respond better to people's needs compared to non-democratic regimes. The example of famine prevention in democratic India versus China illustrates this.
• Better Decision-Making: Consultation and discussion in democracy lead to more considered and less rash decisions, improving the quality of governance.
• Conflict Resolution: Democracy provides a peaceful mechanism to manage differences and conflicts in diverse societies, preventing the dominance of one group over others and fostering peaceful coexistence.
• Dignity and Freedom: Democracy enhances citizens' dignity by recognizing everyone's equal status, regardless of wealth or education. It allows people to be rulers themselves and provides a way to correct mistakes through public discussion and accountability.

While democracy may not solve all problems, it offers the best chances for good decisions, respects people's wishes, allows diverse groups to live together, and provides mechanisms for self-correction and greater dignity for all citizens.

Broader Meanings Of Democracy

Democracy can be understood in broader terms beyond just a form of government:

Representative Democracy

In most modern democracies, people rule through their elected representatives due to the large population size and the impracticality of direct participation in all decisions. This is the most common form of democracy.

Democracy Beyond Government

The principles of democracy—consultation, consent, equality, and preventing the dominance of the powerful—can be applied to other organizations like families or classrooms, fostering a democratic temperament.

Democracy As An Ideal

Democracy also serves as an ideal standard—a goal to strive for. True democracy might involve eliminating hunger, ensuring equal participation through information and resources, and achieving social justice. While no country perfectly embodies this ideal, it helps in judging existing democracies and identifying areas for improvement.

Ultimately, the strength of democracy lies in active citizen participation. What citizens do significantly influences how democratic their country is.

Exercises

The chapter's exercises test understanding of democracy's definition and features. Questions involve classifying countries based on democratic or undemocratic characteristics, identifying features of democracy in given scenarios, evaluating arguments for and against democracy, distinguishing between democratic and undemocratic elements in statements, analyzing reasons for famine prevention in democracies, identifying undemocratic methods of protest, responding to arguments against democracy, assessing statements against democratic values, and evaluating a country's democratic status based on various facts. An activity encourages students to analyze newspaper articles related to democracy and classify them.