SUBMITTED BY

DR. JIWAN DEVI

DEPT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

HMV JALANDHAR

The word ‘democracy’ has a Greek origin.‘Demo’ means ‘people’, whilst ‘cracy’ means‘power’. Thus, a democracy is a type ofgovernment system where the people of thecountry have the power to make decisionsabout their country and the governmentdoesn’t simply impose its decision on thepeople.

A democracy is simply a system of government where thecitizens directly exercise their power, and have the right toelect government representatives who collectively create agovernment body for the entire nation (like, a parliament).Another way to say the same thing is that it’s a type ofgovernment that’s ruled by citizens, or in other words, peoplewho are members of a society. In a democratic government,people have certain basic rights that the government can’ttake away from them, and these rights are internationallyrecognized and guaranteed.

Guarantee of basic Human Rights to every individualperson vis-à-vis the state and its authorities as well as vis-à-vis any social groups (especially religious institutions) andvis-à-vis other persons.

In democratic system adopted as Right to Freedom ofopinion, speech, press and mass media

Religious liberty

General and equal right to vote (one person, one vote)

Good Governance (focus on public interest and absence ofcorruption)

Monarchy Government by a single ruler (king/queen,emperor)

Aristocracy Government by noblemen (hereditary)

Oligarchy Government by few persons

Theocracy "Government by God" (in reality this meansgovernment by religious leaders)

Dictatorship Government by people, that have seized powerby force (often: military dictatorship)

Today, the majority of democratic countries in the world arerepublics, i.e. officials are elected. Some well-establisheddemocratic countries in Europe, however, (the UnitedKingdom, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg etc..

Democracy Form of government, where a constitution guarantees basicpersonal and political rights, fair and free elections, and independent courts oflaw.

Totalitarian regime Government by a little group of leaders on the basis of anideology, that claims general validity for all aspects of life and usually attemptsto replace religion. The regime does not tolerate any deviation from its stateideology. Regime opponents are persecuted, tortured, detained inconcentration camps and members of ethnic minorities are killed in massexecutions (genocide).Historic examples of totalitarian regimes include: National Socialism (Germanyunder Hitler, 1933-1945) and Stalinism.

Theocracy "Government by God": in reality this means government byreligious leaders. Usually a certain interpretation of ancient religious lawsreplaces modern forms of law and is enforced with utmost severity. Like Islamic

.

Democratic State

Democratic Government

Democratic Society

Democratic Economic order

Democratic way of life

The main types/

forms of democracy are:

Direct democracy

Representative democracy

Presidential democracy

Parliamentary democracy

Authoritarian democracy

Participatory democracy

Islamic democracy

Social democracy

Every country interprets the meaning of democracy in their ownparticular way. With a wide range of different geopoliticalatmospheres, we see a large spectrum of democratic governmentsin existence around the globe.

A direct democracy is when citizens get to vote for a policydirectly, without any intermediate representatives or housesof parliament. If the government has to pass a certain law orpolicy, it goes to the people. They vote on the issue anddecide the fate of their own countries. The people can evenbring up issues themselves, as long as they have a substantialconsensus on the issue. Even taxes cannot be raised withoutthe public support.

When the population is small, educated and mostlyhomogeneous (at least politically), a direct democracydoesn’t seem like a bad idea. Switzerland, for example, hashad a long history of a successful direct democracy.

Representative democracy or indirect democracy is whenpeople choose to vote for who will represent them in aparliament. This is the most common form of democracyfound across the world. Its emphasis lies on protecting therights of not only the majority of the people in the state, butalso the minorities. By electing a more qualifiedrepresentative, a minority population would be able tovocalize its grievances in a more efficient manner.

Most of the representative democracies of the world considerthemselves to be liberal democracies. This is because theyvalue the needs of their individual citizens more than that ofthe entire state. This is why in countries like India and theUSA, it is difficult to proclaim a state of emergency.

Under a presidential democracy, the president of a state has asignificant amount of power over the government. He/she iseither directly or indirectly elected by citizens of the state.The president and the executive branch of the governmentare not liable to the legislature, but cannot, under normalcircumstances, dismiss the legislature entirely. Similarly, thelegislature cannot remove the president from his/her officeeither, unless the case is extreme. In a presidentialdemocracy, the head of state is also the head of thegovernment. Countries like the USA, Argentina, and Sudanemploy this kind of democracy.

A democracy that gives more power to the legislature iscalled a parliamentary democracy. The executive branchderives its democratic legitimacy only from the legislature,i.e. the parliament. The head of state is different from thehead of government, and both have varying degrees of power.However, in most cases, the president is either a weakmonarch

(e.g. the United Kingdom) or a ceremonial head (e.g. India).

This is when only the elites are a part of theparliamentary process. The individuals of the state areallowed to vote for their chosen candidate, but “regularpeople” cannot enter the elections. Therefore, in the end,it is only the ruling elite that decide on the variousinterests of the state’s population. Modern-day Russiaunder Vladimir Putin is a classic example of this type ofgovernance. Even Hong Kong generally falls under thesame category.

Popular Sovereignty:

Democracy is based on sovereignty. People can exercise theirpower in democracy. They elect their representatives. Thegovernment remains responsible to the common mass for itsevery omission and commission.

Political Equality:

Democracy is based on political equality. It means all citizensirrespective of caste, creed, religion, race or sex areconsidered to be equal before law and enjoy equal politicalrights. Political equality gives the right to vote to everycitizen.

Majority Rules:

In a democratic set-up actual government is carried out withthe help of the party which obtains the majority of votes.Support of majority is accepted by all.

Federal:

It is another feature of Indian democracy. The Article 1 ofIndian Constitution describes India as a union of states.According to our Constitution, the states are autonomous.They have full freedom in certain matters, and in some othermatters they are dependent on centre.

Collective Responsibility:

In the Indian democracy, the Council of Ministers both instates and centre are collectively responsible to theirrespective legislatives. No minister is alone responsible forany act of the government. The entire council of ministers areresponsible for all the activities.

Formation of Opinion:

Democratic government must provide institutions throughwhich public opinion on various matters can be formed.Legislature provides the most important platform to estimateand express the public opinion.

Rule of Laws:

In democracy there is rule of law. It means supremacy of law over all. Under any circumstance law cannot be compromised.

Respect for Opinion of Minority:

In a democratic set up majority rules but opinions ofminorities are also given respect. They are encouraged to givetheir opinion. Democracy being a government by freediscussion and criticism encourages both the positive andnegative aspects of any proposal. The majority must toleratethe opinion of the minority otherwise democracy willdegenerate into authoritarianism.

Provision for Rights:

Democracy provides the individual dignity by giving variousrights to the individual. For example, the right to freedom ofspeech and expression, right to form association or union,educational and cultural rights.

Government by Compromise:

Democracy is a government by adjustment and compromise.Different opinions are to be considered within the rulingparty and outside of the party. There is plurality of ideas towhich the government has to take into consideration.

It is a welfare Government:

Most of the democratic countries have welfare government.Democracy is a powerful weapon through which all roundwelfare is possible. As a welfare government it retainsindividual’s freedom, liberty, dignity etc.

Independent Judiciary:

Democracy is characterized by independent judiciary. Thejudiciary does not depend on executive or legislature. Nogovernment organ can influence judiciary.

Responsible and accountable Government:

The democratic form of government is run by the electedrepresentatives of the people of the country. It is the peopleof the democratic country who rule the country through theirrepresentatives. Thus, the elected representatives actresponsible for the well-being of citizens of the country.

Equality and fraternity:

Democracy preaches the equality and fraternity of men. Theidea of the equality of man was strengthened by the idea ofnationalism. Every nation felt that it had the right to be free,to throw off foreign domination.. The modern world isdominated by two principles, viz. democracy andnationalism.

Sense of responsibility among common people:

The achievements of democracy are many. Everyone is freeto express his opinions, and although occasionally there maybe restrictions on individuals, personal liberty is the goal ofdemocracy, and there is more freedom is democracy than inany other form of government.

Development and prosperity for all:

Democracy ensures development and prosperity for all.Democracy brings the greatest good for the largest numberof people. Democracy can realize the concept of the welfarestate where every man or women can claim the right to food,to education and to employment. Day by day, through a justdistribution of taxes, through various welfare measures, thedistinction between the rich and poor is being abolished andthe equality of man is being realize.

Popular Sovereignty:

The supreme power vests in the hands of the common-peopleof the country. If the elected representatives actirresponsibly, then they can be dropped in the next election.Hence, democracy ensures sovereignty of the people.

Sense of cooperation and fraternal feeling:

Every citizen, men or women, rich or poor, is consideredequal in the eyes of law. The feeling of unity, oneness, andcooperation is the basis of democracy. The dignity andhonour of every individual is protected without anydiscrimination. The social gap is thus reduced.

Indirect or representative democracy:

As the size of states is becoming larger and larger, we have tocontent ourselves with indirect or representative democracy.We vote for our representatives, and it is they who carry onthe government, and the common man relapses into politicalindolence. So the vast majority of people who form theelectorate are politically active only once or twice in four orfive years. Very often, it is found that the electedrepresentative is a power-loving person. They work for theirpersonal and ignore the interest of the nation.

Expensive Government and Unstable Government

Weak Government during Emergency

Politics become Profession

Equal voting right to both wise, averageand innocent person:

The common people have no political experience. They don’thave the political wisdom. A wise, average, and an innocentperson have equal voting rights. Ignorant people may or maynot vote for the right candidate. It is only likely that acompany of innocent people will elect one among-stthemselves and not the right candidate to represent them. Itcannot, therefore, be the best form of government. At times,average people fail to accept new ideas. They tend to attachto stick to old ideas and select candidates on the basis oftradition. The masses hardly care for logic and reason. Theyeasily react to popular slogans.

Lack of educated and experienced voters:

A large number of uneducated voters participate in theelection process. As they have very little to do in matters ofgovernment except recording their vote, they have nopolitical experience and become victims of powerfulpeople who deceive them with large promises and use themfor their own private ends.

Delay in decision making process:

The power is not centralized which delays the decisionmaking process. A number of formalities are to be observedin decision making and adopting process. At times, itbecomes difficult to take quick measures in the best interestof the country. This acts as an hindrance for economic growthand development

Sound System of Education:Where there is illiteracy, it becomes difficult to make democracy successful because many qualities are needed to make democracy a success.

The citizens can acquire these qualities only through literacy. The people should have the sense of understanding political problems.

They should possess such qualities as sacrifice, sympathy, selfless service of the country discipline, fraternity, etc. As far as possible, education should be free and the rich and the poor should be given equal opportunities for their development.

The citizens should strive for mental and physical development through education

They should be able to earn their livelihood though education. Otherwise unemployment shall prove harmful for democracy. In short, ideal citizens are prepared through education without which democracy cannot become successful.

Enlightened Citizenship:

People should have the knowledge of their rights and duties tomake democracy as success. So long as the citizens do not performtheir duties, the question of the success of democracy cannotarise. If the performance of duties is essential, it is equallyessential for the citizens to become conscious of their rights,without which there is every possibility of the governmentbecoming autocrat. Therefore, it is said that ‘Eternal vigilance isthe price of liberty.’

Political Awakening:

It is essential to inculcate political awakening among the citizensto make democracy a success. Where there is no politicalawakening, the citizens fail to understand the political problems.They are also unable to elect their representatives properly.Political disinterestedness does not help the citizens tounderstand the economic and political problems of the day andcontribute their mite to the implementation of various nationalplans defence efforts of the country.

Freedom:

Democracy guarantees the citizens the freedom ofexpression, freedom of profession, freedom of religionand freedom to form associations. A free and fearlesspress is the basic need of democracy in order to keepunder check the autocratic activities of the government.In the countries where press is not free, citizens cannotcriticize the government with the result that they cannotfully enjoy much freedom. In Russia, China and otherCommunist countries, the press is not free to criticise thegovernment. Press is also not free in the countries wherethere is military dictatorship.

Equality:

Democracy does not recognise class distinctions. It isbased on social, economic and political equality. Indemocracy all are equal before law and there is nodiscrimination on the basis of caste, colour, religion, sexand economic status. Economic equality does not meanthat everybody should be given equal emoluments itmeans equality of opportunity, and a fair and open fieldfor all. This kind of equality ensures social justice whichis the very life-breath of a democracy. Equality thusmeans giving everybody right to vote and contestelection irrespective of caste, religion, property, sex,colour and creed.

Law and Order:

The maintenance of law and order in society by thegovernment is another essential condition for the success ofdemocracy. Anarchy prevails where government fails tomaintain law and order and the people’s faith in governmentis shaken. They look towards dictatorship in order to get ridof anarchy. )

Decentralization of Powers and Local Self-Government:

For the success of a democracy, decentralization of powers isessential. The concentration of power makes the governmentautocratic. With the division of power between the Centreand the provinces, the burden of the Centre is reduced andthe provinces get autonomy which ultimately bringsefficiency in the administration.

High Moral Standard:

The success of democracy also depends upon the highmoral standard of the people as well as of thegovernment. Where there is dishonesty, black-marketing, hoarding and smuggling and where theministers and public servants are corrupt, the questionof the success of democracy does not arise. Peopleshould have the spirit of patriotism, discipline, self-control, honesty in payment of taxes and willingobedience to the laws of the land. The governmentshould follow the ideal of service to the community,because a welfare state and a democracy are twoinseparable things

Social and Economic Security:

Economic security is essential for the success of democracy. Thepeople should be given the right to work and it is the duty of thegovernment to provide them with suitable employment. In casethe government is unable to provide it to the people, it should atleast provide them with shelter, clothing and food. In Russia andin many other Communist countries, the government has giventhis right to the people in their constitution. Our governmentshould also recognize this right of the people for the success ofdemocracy in our country.

Besides, social security is also essential. Now-a-days, thegovernment fixes hours of work, salary, bonus, paid holidays andcompensation for fatal accidents in order to save the labourersfrom exploitation by the capitalists.

The government should provide social security to the people mcase of their being disabled due to old age, illness, accident or anyother cause. Without this provision, democracy shall beconsidered useless. People in Russia have full social security. InIndia, too, some concrete steps have been taken in this direction.

Tolerance and Spirit of Unity:

It is the responsibility of the people to make democracy asuccess. For this, the spirit of tolerance and unity isneeded. In a country like India where we have a numberof religions, languages and castes, and where we find adisparity between the rich and the poor, these qualitiesare very essential. In spite of mutual disagreements, thepeople should join together to face a national crisis. Incase of foreign aggression, the people should forget theirdifferences of caste, religion, language and province andtry to preserve the freedom of their country with a spiritof devotion and sacrifice.

Written Constitution and Independent Judiciary:

For the successful functioning of democracy, people are givenfundamental rights and written constitutions are introducedwith a view to checking autocratic activities of thegovernment. Where there is no written constitutions thegovernment can extend and exercise its powers in anautocratic manner. Judiciary is the guardian of Constitutionand fundamental rights, and the independence of judiciaryfrom the control of executive has been guaranteed. Wherejudiciary is not independent, there is no guarantee of thefundamental rights of the people and the constitutionbecomes useless. This is the condition in Russia, China andmany other Communist countries.

Independent, impartial and periodical elections:

Independent, impartial and periodical elections help inestablishing faith of the people and the opposition indemocracy, otherwise the opposition party will not get anopportunity for forming the government and there will be norespect for public opinion. In the absence of independent,impartial and periodical elections, the opposition partiesshall try to change the government by a revolution with thehelp of military or by the use of violent force. In Pakistan,elections were not held for many years. The result was thatmilitary dictatorship of General Ayub Khan was establishedin 1958 which gave a server blow to democracy and againother military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf saysthe military rule is far better than the democraticgovernments as the army brings the country on the righttrack every time it comes to power.

The Article 1 of Indian Constitution describes India as aunion of states.

A democratic government grants adult citizens the right toelect their representatives and Democracies value theprotection of individual rights.

The exercise of democracy is the election process. Free andfair elections are held at regular intervals for the election ofrepresentatives at all levels of government.

In a free, democratic election, all adult citizens are given theright to cast votes which, in theory, ensures that the will ofthe people will be expressed. It means all citizens irrespectiveof caste, creed, religion, race or sex are considered to be equalpolitical rights.

THANK YOU !