Understanding Democracy

• This chapter builds on a simple definition of democracy to understand the bare minimum features of a democratic form of government.
• It aims to allow distinguishing between democratic and non-democratic governments and introduces a broader idea of democracy.
• Democracy is the most prevalent form of government which is expanding to countries worldwide.
• The chapter explores the features of democracy and the reasons why it is better than other forms of government.

What Is Democracy?

• Democracy distinguishes from other forms of government and helps to write down common features of both democratic and non-democratic governments.
• A definition is needed when there is difficulty in the use of a word, as people use democracy for different purposes.
• Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as "government of the people, by the people, and for the people".

A Simple Definition

• Democracy is defined as a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.
• This definition separates democracy from non-democratic governments, like army rulers or dictatorships.
• Kings of Saudi Arabia rule because they were born into the royal family and not by the choice of the people.

Inadequate Definition

• The simple definition is not adequate because almost every government that holds an election wants to be called a democracy.
• It is essential to distinguish between a true democracy and a government that only pretends to be one.

Key Features for a Democratic Government

• Who are the rulers, and what officials must be elected?
• What kind of election constitutes a democratic election?
• Who are the people who can elect the rulers or get elected as rulers?
• What kind of government is democracy, and can rulers do whatever they want?

Decisions By Elected Leaders

• General Pervez Musharraf, in Pakistan, led a military coup in 1999, overthrew a democratically elected government.
• He declared himself the 'Chief Executive' and later became President through a referendum in 2002, granting him an extension.
• Media and human rights organizations questioned the referendum.

Free & Fair Electoral Competition

• In China, elections occur every five years for the country's parliament (National People's Congress).
• The National People's Congress appoints the President.
• Candidates need approval from the Chinese Communist Party.
• The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
• In Mexico, until 2000, elections were won by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party).
• The PRI used tactics to win elections, and government employees had to attend party meetings.

One Person, One Vote, One Value

• Democracy demands for universal adult franchise, which is now accepted globally.
• Until 2015, women in Saudi Arabia did not have the right to vote.
• In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.
• Democracy is based on political equality and each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value.

Rule Of Law & Respect For Rights

• Zimbabwe attained independence in 1980 and has been ruled by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF since independence.
• Elections were held regularly with unfair practices, and the government changed the constitution multiple times to increase the President's powers.
• Opposition party workers were harassed, and public protests were declared illegal.
• Television and radio were controlled by the government.

Democratic Essentials Prior to Elections

• There should be sufficient room for normal political activity and political opposition.
• The state should respect basic rights of the citizen, including freedom of thought, expression, and association.
• Everyone should be equal in the eyes of law and have their rights protected by an independent judiciary.

Summary Definition

• Democracy is defined as a form of government where the rulers are elected by the people.
• Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
• Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity for the people to change the current rulers.
• This choice and opportunity are available to all people on an equal basis.
• The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens' rights.

Why Democracy

• Democracy ensures that people take their own decisions. Involving the people in these decisions does lead to delays in decision making.
• Democracy leads to frequent changes in leadership, which can also set back big decisions.
• China's famine of 1958-1961 was the worst recorded famine in world history, with three crore people that died.
• India's economic condition was not much better than China, however, India did not have a famine.

Different Government Policies

• The existence of democracy in India made the Indian government respond to food scarcity unlike China.
• No large-scale famine has ever taken place in an independent and democratic country
• Democracy is better than any other government in responding to the needs of the people.

Consultation And Discussion

• Democracy improves the quality of decision-making through consultation and discussion.
• People are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision-making process.
• The amount of time that is taken is beneficial as it reduces rash and irresponsible decisions.

Method to Deal With Differences & Conflicts

• Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts in any society.
• Differences and opinions exist due to regions, languages, religions, and castes.
• Democracy is the only peaceful solution, where no one is a permanent winner or loser.

Political Equality

• Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
• Democracy is based on political equality and on recognizing that the poorest and the least educated has the same status as the rich and the educated.
• People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.

Correct Its Own Mistakes

• Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows for these mistakes to be corrected.
• Mistakes cannot be hidden for long, there is space for public discussion, and there is room for correction.
• Rulers are required to change their decisions or be changed themselves.

Broader Meanings Of Democracy

• Democracy in a limited and descriptive sense is that democracy is a form of government.
• The most common form that democracy takes in our times is that of a representative democracy.
• The citizen does not have the time, the desire or the skills to take part in all the decisions.

Democracy As An Ideal

• An understanding of democracy as an ideal reminds us of why we value democracy enabling judging an existing democracy and identify its weaknesses.
• True democracy will come to this country only when no one goes hungry to bed.
• In a democracy every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision making.
• Every citizen need to have equal information, basic education, equal resources and a lot of commitment."