Understanding Democracy Flashcards

This flashcard set covers the fundamental definitions, historical roots (particularly in India), features, types, and modern challenges of democracy as discussed in the lecture notes.

Demokratia

The Greek word from which democracy is derived, meaning "rule by people."

Demos

A Greek root word meaning "people."

Kratos

A Greek root word meaning "power."

Sabha & Samiti

Public assemblies from the Vedic period that advised the king and made decisions by participation rather than hereditary rule.

Mahajanapadas

Republics existing between $600$-$400\,\text{BCE}$, such as Vajji and Sakya, characterized by elected rulers and regular assemblies.

Vajji Confederacy

A well-organised system described in Buddhist texts featuring regular assemblies and mutual agreement.

Panchayat System

A council of $5$ respected elders chosen by the community to settle disputes and manage village life.

Gupta Empire Sabhas

Village councils consisting of local landowners and merchants, representing decentralised governance.

Universal Suffrage

A feature of democracy where all adult citizens have the right to vote regardless of caste, religion, or gender.

61st Amendment ($1988$)

The constitutional amendment in India that lowered the voting age from $21$ to $18$.

Rule of Law

The principle that no one is above the law, supported by an independent judiciary and civilian control over the police and military.

Direct Democracy

A type of democracy where citizens directly participate in decision making, such as in Ancient Athens or through referendums in Switzerland.

Representative (Indirect) Democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, suitable for large countries like India, the US, and UK.

Parliamentary Democracy

A form of representative democracy where the executive comes from and is accountable to the legislature; the PM is the real head and the President is the nominal head.

Presidential Democracy

A system where the executive is separate from the legislature and the President serves as both the head of state and the real executive head.

Absolute Monarchy

A form of government where a king or queen has unlimited hereditary rule, such as the Czars of Russia or modern Saudi Arabia.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system where the monarch is the ceremonial head, but real power resides with an elected Prime Minister, as seen in the United Kingdom.

Dictatorship

A government where power is held by one person or group with no accountability, exemplified by Saddam Hussein in Iraq ($1979$-$2003$).

Military Dictatorship

A regime where military leaders hold power and political opposition is suppressed, such as under Idi Amin in Uganda.

Theocracy

A government based on religious law, with Iran as a modern example.

Decolonisation

A process following the Second World War ($1939$-$45$) where colonised countries became independent, contributing to the spread of democracy.

Collapse of Soviet Union ($1991$)

A historical event that led to many former communist states becoming democracies.

Voter Apathy

A challenge to democracy where people stop exercising their voting rights, leading to a loss of faith in democratic institutions.

Coercion and Intimidation

A challenge in weak democracies involving voter suppression.