CIVICS

WHAT IS DEMOCRACY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is a form of government where rulers are elected by the people.

Or

Democracy is a way of governing a country where the people choose their leaders through voting.

FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY

1. leaders are chosen through free and fair elections.

2. Decisions are made based on the majority's will.
3. Everyone, including leaders, follows the law.
4. Citizens have fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and equality before the
law.
5. These rights are protected by the government.
6. Elections are conducted in a way that is fair and everyone has an equal chance to vote.
7. People can express their opinions freely.
8. If leaders do not perform well, they can be voted out in the next election.
9. Elections are held regularly, allowing citizens to choose their leaders and change them if
needed.

PAKISTAN UNDER GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF

A. In October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup and overthrew the elected
government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
B. He declared himself the Chief Executive of Pakistan.
C. Then, Musharraf suspended the constitution of Pakistan
D. In 2001, Musharraf declared himself the President of Pakistan and imposed martial law.
E. To extend his rule for five more years, In 2002 he held a referendum.
F. He limited political competition and participation, therefore, political parties and leaders faced
restrictions.
G. In starting, Musharraf allowed some freedom to the press and media but later on he imposed
restrictions on media as he was facing problems because of his own rules and work.
H. Musharraf declared emergency rule in 2007, leading to further protests.
I. He resigned in 2008 due to political pressure

FREE AND FAIR ELECTORAL COMPETITIONS

(CHINA)

a) Elections are held every five years to elect the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s
parliament.
b) The NPC has nearly 3,000 members representing various regions and sectors, including the
army.
 c) The NPC has the authority to appoint the President of China.
d) It plays a important role in the country's legislative and executive functions.
e) Candidates must receive approval from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) before they can
contest elections.
f) Independent candidates and parties outside the CCP are not allowed to participate.
g) This restricts true electoral competition and maintains the CCP’s control over the government.
h) The government is always formed by the Communist Party, which dominates the political
landscape.
i) This ensures that the CCP remains the central authority in China’s political system.

(MEXICO)

a) Mexico held presidential elections every six years since its independence in 1930.
b) The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) won every election until 2000.
c) Mexico has never been under military or dictator’s rule.
d) opposition parties contested elections but never managed to win.
e) The PRI used various unfair practices to maintain power.
f) Government employees were forced to attend PRI meetings.
g) Government school teachers pressured parents to vote for the PRI.
h) The media largely ignored or criticized opposition parties.
i) The PRI spent large sums on election campaigns to promote its candidates.

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE

SAUDI ARABIA (UNTIL 2015)

 Women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to vote until 2015.

 This meant that half the population had no right in electing leaders or influencing government
decisions.

ESTONIA

 Estonia’s citizenship rules make it difficult for the Russian minority to become citizens.
 Without citizenship, these individuals cannot vote, which excluded them from the electoral
process.
 Without citizenship, these individuals cannot vote, effectively excluding them from the electoral
process.

FIJI

 The electoral system in Fiji values the vote of indigenous Fijians more than that of Indian-Fijians.
 This creates an unequal system where some votes have more influence than others based on
ethnicity.

POLITICAL SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE / RULE OF LAW & RESPECT FOR RIGHTS

1. Independence and initial leadership

 2. Leadership of Robert Mugabe
3. Unfair electoral practices
4. Changes to the constitution
5. Restrictions on freedom
6. Control of media
7. End of Mugabe’s rule

A. Zimbabwe gained independence from White minority rule in 1980.

B. The country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle, since
independence.
C. Robert Mugabe, the leader of ZANU-PF, became the President of Zimbabwe and ruled the
country from 1980 until 2017.
D. Although elections were held regularly, ZANU-PF always won, using unfair practices.
E. Mugabe was popular but ensured his party's victory through unfair means.
F. The government harassed opposition party workers and disrupted their meetings.
G. Over the years, Mugabe's government changed the constitution multiple times.
H. These changes increased the President's powers and made him less accountable to the people.
I. Public protests and demonstrations against the government were declared illegal.
J. There was a law that limited the right to criticize the President.
K. Television and radio were controlled by the government and only presented the ruling party’s
perspective.
L. Independent newspapers existed but journalists who criticized the government were harassed.
M. Judges were pressurized to rule in favor of the government.
N. Despite his long rule, Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017.

MERITS OF DEMOCRACY

 Leaders are accountable to the people and can be voted out if they do not perform well.
 Government actions are open and transparent, allowing citizens to stay informed.
 Democracy ensures protection of fundamental rights and freedoms for all individuals.
 All citizens are equal under the law and have equal opportunities to influence government
decisions.
 Decisions are improved by considering diverse opinions and through public debate.
 Democracy respects and upholds the dignity and freedom of every individual.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST DEMOCRACY

1. Democratic processes can be slow and inefficient due to extensive debates and discussions.
2. Frequent elections and changes in leadership can lead to political instability.
3. Democracy can sometimes ignore the rights and needs of minority groups.
4. Running elections and maintaining democratic institutions can be very expensive.
5. Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality.
6. Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decisions.
7. Elected officials may engage in corrupt practices to stay in power or benefit personally.

ARGUMENTS FOR DEMOCRACY

 1. A democratic government is a better government because it is a more accountable form of
government.
2. Democracy improves the quality of decision-making.
3. Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts.
4. Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
5. Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own
mistakes.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC AND NON-DEMOCRATIC GOVT.

DEMOCRATIC GOVT. NON-DEMOCRATIC GOVT.

Leaders are elected by the people through free
and fair elections.
Citizens have the right to vote and participate in
decision-making.
Government actions are transparent and
accountable to the people.
Protects individual rights and freedoms, such as
freedom of speech and equality before the law.
Encourages political competition and debate
among different parties and viewpoints.
laws apply equally to all citizens and leaders.
Allows for independent media and freedom of
information to inform citizens.
Leaders come to power through force,
inheritance, or appointment without the people's
direct choice.
Citizens have no right in government decisions
and leadership.
Government actions may lack transparency and
accountability to the public.
May violate individual rights to maintain control
and power.
Political opposition is suppressed or controlled to
maintain authority.
Leaders modifies the law of country according to
their requirement
Controls media to restrict access to information
and shape public opinion.

QUESTIONS

1. Write a note on democracy.

2. Mention some features of democracy.
3. Give arguments in favour of democracy. Describe.
4. What are the major challenges of democracy?
Ans:

 Corruption and inefficiency: Political leaders and officers can be corrupt, dishonest, and
inefficient.

 Casteism and communalism: Political parties may try to brainwash people when handing out
election tickets, and representatives chosen based on caste or community may only promote
the well-being of their own group.

 Free and fair elections: Elections are the foundation of a democratic nation, so it's important to
conduct them regularly and fairly.

 Gender inequality: Gender inequality violates human rights and can lead to violence, bullying,
harassment, and unequal access to education, healthcare, and politics.