NCERT Explained: Class IX Political Science, Chapter 1 - What is Democracy? Why Democracy?

Introduction to the Topic

Democracy is the most prevalent form of government in the world today, and it is expanding to more countries than ever before. But what makes it so popular? Why do we value it? In Class IX Political Science, Chapter 1 - What is Democracy? Why Democracy?, we move beyond simple definitions to understand the core principles that distinguish a truly democratic system from its non-democratic counterparts. This chapter is fundamental for every student as it builds the foundation for understanding how modern governments function and why the 'rule of the people' is considered the most humane and effective way to govern a society.

The chapter starts by addressing a very basic question: What is democracy? While many of us know the famous definition by Abraham Lincoln—"Democracy is government of the people, by the people, and for the people"—the NCERT syllabus encourages students to look deeper. We explore the 'minimum' requirements of a democracy and eventually move toward a 'broader' understanding of the concept. By looking at real-world examples from countries like Pakistan, China, Mexico, and Zimbabwe, we learn that simply holding elections does not make a country a democracy. There are specific characteristics that must be met for a government to be truly called democratic.

Key Concepts Explained

1. The Simple Definition and Its Limitations

The word democracy comes from the Greek word 'Demokratia'. In Greek, 'demos' means people and 'kratia' means rule. So, democracy is essentially 'rule by the people.' This simple definition helps us distinguish democracy from forms of government that are clearly not democratic, such as the army rule in Myanmar or the absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia where the people have no say in choosing their rulers.

However, this definition is not sufficient. If we use it literally, every government that holds an election would be called a democracy. This would be misleading. As we will see, many dictatorships and one-party states hold sham elections to give the appearance of democracy. Therefore, we need to look at the features of democracy.

2. Feature 1: Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people. To understand this, let's look at the example of Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf. In 1999, he led a military coup and later designated himself as the President. In 2002, he held a referendum that granted him a five-year \textension, but it was based on fraud and malpractices. Even though there were elected representatives in the national and provincial assemblies, the final power rested with military officers and General Musharraf himself.

The Lesson: A country where elected representatives cannot take final decisions cannot be called a democracy. The people must have the power to choose who makes the laws and policies.

3. Feature 2: Free and Fair Electoral Competition

For a government to be democratic, elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives. Let's look at China and Mexico:

• China: Elections are held every five years for the National People's Congress. However, only members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it are allowed to contest. The government is always formed by the Communist Party. There is no real choice for the voters.
• Mexico: Since its independence in 1930, Mexico held elections every six years. But until 2000, every election was won by a party called the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). The PRI used many dirty tricks to win, such as moving polling booths at the last minute, forcing government employees to attend party meetings, and using large sums of money for campaigning.

The Lesson: A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing.

4. Feature 3: One Person, One Vote, One Value

Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. This means every adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. Historically, many countries denied this. For example:

• In Saudi Arabia, women did not have the right to vote until 2015.
• In Estonia, citizenship rules made it difficult for the Russian minority to get the right to vote.
• In Fiji, the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

The Lesson: True democracy ensures that every citizen has an equal voice in the governance of the country, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or religion.

5. Feature 4: Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

A democratic government cannot do whatever it likes simply because it has won an election. It must respect certain basic rules and the rights of citizens. The case of Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe is a classic example. Mugabe was popular but used unfair practices to win elections. He changed the constitution multiple times to increase his power, harassed opposition party workers, and suppressed protests against the government. Public protests were declared illegal, and the media was controlled by the government.

The Lesson: A democratic government must rule within limits set by constitutional law and respect the rights of citizens, including the right to express opinions, to form associations, and to protest.

6. Why Democracy? The Arguments Against It

Critics of democracy often point out several flaws. It is important to acknowledge these to have a balanced view:

• Instability: Leaders keep changing in a democracy, which can lead to frequent shifts in policy.
• Delays: Because so many people have to be consulted, the decision-making process is often very slow.
• Corruption: Since democracy is based on electoral competition, it often leads to political parties using money and muscle power to win.
• Bad Decisions: Sometimes, ordinary people do not know what is good for them, and elected leaders might not know the best interests of the people, leading to poor choices.

7. Why Democracy? The Arguments For It

Despite the criticisms, democracy is considered the best form of government for the following reasons:

• Accountability: A democratic government is more accountable to the people. Consider the famine in China (1958-1961) vs. the situation in India. India’s democratic setup allowed for free media and opposition, which forced the government to respond to food scarcity. China, lacking these, suffered millions of deaths.
• Quality of Decision-Making: Since democracy involves consultations and discussions, the chances of making rash or irresponsible decisions are reduced.
• Dignity of Citizens: Democracy is based on the principle of political equality. It recognizes that even the poorest and the least educated have the same status as the rich and the educated.
• Correction of Mistakes: In a democracy, there is space for public discussion on mistakes, and there is a way to correct them. Either the rulers have to change their decisions, or the rulers themselves can be changed in the next election.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways for Students:

• Definition: Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.
• Major Decisions: Only elected representatives must have the final power to make major decisions.
• Fair Elections: Elections must offer a real choice and a fair chance for the current rulers to be ousted.
• Universal Suffrage: The principle of 'one person, one vote, one value' must be upheld.
• Constitutional Limits: The government must respect the rule of law and the fundamental rights of the citizens.
• Superiority: Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows for the correction of mistakes and protects the dignity of individuals.
• Broader View: Democracy is not just about the government; it is a principle that can be applied to any sphere of life—family, school, or organizations—where decisions are made through consultation and consent.

By understanding these principles, students can look at current events around the world and critically analyze whether a country is a true democracy or just a 'hollow' one. This chapter reminds us that democracy is a journey, not a destination, and it requires constant vigilance from the citizens to protect and improve it.