Outcomes of Democracy

Outcomes of Democracy
Democracy is better than Dictatorship or Other Forms of Governments.
We felt democracy was better because;

· Democracy promotes equality among citizens.
· Enhances the dignity of the individual.
· Improves the quality of decision-making.
· Provides methods to resolve conflicts.
· Allows room to correct mistakes.
Political Outcomes: Accountable government.
Responsive government.
Legitimate government
Economic Outcomes: Economic growth and development

Reduction of inequality and poverty.
Social Outcomes: Accommodation of social diversity.

Dignity and freedom of the citizens.
Political Outcomes:
(a) Accountable govt: (Expected to justify actions or decisions)
In a democracy, there must be a govt. which is accountable to the
citizens and responsiveness to the needs and expectations of the
citizens
• People will have the right to choose their representatives (rulers)
and people will have control over the rulers.
• Citizens have the right and the means to examine the process of
decision-making, i.e. the mechanism of transparency .
• Practices and institutions like regular, free and fair elections and
open public debate.
• Citizens’ right to information about the government and its
functioning. (Any citizen of India may request information from a public
authority which is required to reply within thirty days.)
Contradictions:
Democracy produces a less-effective government.
In democracy, decisions are delayed.
Justification:
• Some people think that democracy produces a less-effective
government. Other forms of governments do not have to think about
majority opinions and deliberations (long discussion), but democracy
keeps in mind both. Hence, it cannot be called a less-effective
government.
• Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiations, so

some delay is bound to take place and decisions may be both more
acceptable and more effective. The cost of time that democracy pays
is perhaps worth it.
(b) Responsive govt:
• The democratic govt. should be responsible to the needs and
expectations of the people.
• It promotes the formation of public opinion and cares about the
public opinion. (Parties raise and highlight issues – launch movements
for resolving the problem….)
• It is expected that a democratic governments:
- largely free from corruption.
- often sensitive to the people
(c) Legitimate govt: (A legitimate govt. is a govt. under which law and action of
the govt. are revealed to the people and govt. function in a transparent
manner.)
A democratic govt. is people’s own government. People wish to be

ruled by representatives elected by them. That is;
• Democracy is a government of the people.
• The majority party or group of political parties forms the

government.
• Whenever possible and necessary, citizens should be able to
participate in decision-making that affects them all.

• It generates its own support to itself.
Economic Outcomes:
(a) Economic growth and development (b) Reduction of inequality and poverty
Economic Growth:
• The rate of economic growth in democracy is slow and gradual
• Democracy always seeks welfare and social economic equality.
Contradiction:
If we consider all democracies and all dictatorships between 1950 and 2000, we
will see that dictatorship have slightly higher area of economic growth. The
inability of democracy to achieve higher growth worries us.
Justification:
This alone can not be the reason to reject democracy, as when we find such
significant difference in growth rate, it is better to prefer democracy as it has
several other positive outcomes.
Economic Development:
• In democracies, economic development depends upon the factors

like size of population, global situation, cooperation and economic
priorities
• The difference in the rate of economic development is democracies
and dictatorship is negligible
Contradiction:
• Evidence shows that in practice democracy can not guarantee high
economic development
Justifications
• It is better to prefer democracy as it has several other positive
outcomes
(b) Reduction of Inequality and poverty
It is expected from democracies to reduce economic disparities.
Democracies ensure just distribution of goods, income and
opportunities.
Contradictions:
1. We find growing economic inequalities in democracies. A small
number of ultra – rich (wealthy) enjoy a highly disproportionate
share of wealth and incomes
2. Not only that, their share in the total income of the country has
been increasing
3. In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in
reducing economic inequalities
Social Outcomes:
(a) Accommodation of social diversity:
1. It will be fair expectation that democracy should produce a peaceful and
harmonious social life. (Due to power sharing, secularism, egalitarian society,
accommodating various social divisions, conduct regular elections, resolve
conflicts, etc)
2. Ability to handle social differences, divisions, and conflicts is thus a definite

plus point of democratic regimes (Social difference: Discriminating on the basis of
social, economic and racial inequality)
3. It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority
opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that the govts.
function to represent the general view.

(b) Dignity and freedom of the citizens
Democracy stands much superior to any other form of govt. in promoting dignity
and freedom of the individual. That is;
• The passion of respect and freedom are the basis of democracy
• Democracy ensures dignity of women
• The principle of individual freedom and dignity have legal and moral force in
democracy.
• Equal treatment and equal respect are the ingredients of a democratic society.
• Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged
and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.

Outcomes of Democracy

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Outcomes of Democracy

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Outcomes of Democracy

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Outcomes of Democracy

Democracy is better than Dictatorship or Other Forms of Governments.

We felt democracy was better because;

Economic Outcomes: Economic growth and development

Social Outcomes: Accommodation of social diversity.

• Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiations, so

A democratic govt. is people’s own government. People wish to be

• The majority party or group of political parties forms the

participate in decision-making that affects them all.

• In democracies, economic development depends upon the factors

2. Ability to handle social differences, divisions, and conflicts is thus a definite

3. It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority

function to represent the general view.

and freedom of the individual. That is;

• The passion of respect and freedom are the basis of democracy

• Democracy ensures dignity of women

• Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged

and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.

You might also like