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Ch 7 Outcomes Of Democracy
Page No: 99
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Exercises
1. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive
and legitimate government?
Answer
→ Democracy produces an accountable
government: Democracy produces an accountable
governments, as the people has the right in choose their
representatives through the electoral process. These elected
representatives form the government and participate in the
decision making process on behalf of the people. If these
elected representatives not work properly, people have a
chance to not elect them in next election.
→ Democracy Produces Responsive Government: Democratic
governments are elected by the people and are responsible
towards the people and Parliament. These governments
promote the formation of public opinion and take care of the
needs and expectations of the people.
→ Democracy Produces Legitimate Government: A democratic
government is people’s own government. People wish to be
ruled by representatives elected by them. They also believe that
democracy is suitable for their country. Democracy’s ability to
generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be
ignored.
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2. What are the conditions under which democracies
accommodate social diversities?
Answer
Democracies accommodate social diversities when it is well
understood that democracy is not just the rule of the majority,
and that the rule of the majority is not just the rule of a single
religious or social community.
3. 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.
Answer
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This statement is incorrect as can be seen from the examples of
India and Zimbabwe. In 1947, India was included in the Third
World nations, but now, it is one of the fast-growing economies
in the world. On the other hand, Zimbabwe, which was a fairly
prosperous nation, has run into huge international debt with the
progression of Robert Mugabe's regime.
Democracy can't reduce inequality of incomes between
different citizens. This statement is incorrect. The Minimum
Wages Act enacted by the government and other policies which
regulate the basic price at which agricultural producers and
small industries sell their goods, have helped increase the per
capita income of the country, thereby making its citizens more
prosperous.
Government in poor countries should spend less on poverty
reduction, health, education and spend more on industries and
infrastructure. This is not a wise option as in poor countries, the
people cannot afford health and education services.
In democracy all citizens have one vote, which means that there
is absence of any domination and conflict. This is not true as
conflict can be eliminated only in an ideal situation. In real
democracies, though every person has one vote, there are
divisions among the people. These divisions lead to conflict.
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4. 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 allegation of killing of three civilians in Gandwara in a
fake encounter by Jammu and Kashmir police, an enquiry has
been ordered.
Answer
The challenge to democracy in the first statement is to provide
equal status to all its citizens in spite of their caste.
The challenge to democracy in the second instance is providing
farmers with subsidies which will help them to earn profits and
have a satisfactory level of livelihood.
The challenge to democracy is to preserve the people's trust in
government arms like the police.
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5. In the context of democracies, which of the following ideas is
correct - democracies have successfully eliminated:
A. conflicts among people
B. economic inequalities among people
C. differences of opinion about how marginalised sections are to
be treated
D. the idea of political inequality
Answer
D. the idea of political inequality
6. In the context of assessing democracy which among the
following is odd one out. Democracies need to ensure:
A. free and fair elections
B. dignity of the individual
C. majority rule
D. equal treatment before law
Answer
C. majority rule
7. Studies on political and social inequalities in democracy show
that
A. democracy and development go together
B. inequalities exist in democracies
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C. inequalities do not exist under dictatorship
D. dictatorship is better than democracy
Answer
B. inequalities exist in democracies
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