What is Democracy? Why Democracy? – Comprehensive Study Notes

Overview

• Chapter explores two core questions:
  • “What is democracy?” – identifying the irreducible or “minimal” features that separate a democratic from a non-democratic form of government.
  • “Why democracy?” – weighing democracy against other forms of rule by examining its merits and limitations.
• Democracy is the most widespread and expanding form of government in the contemporary world; the text probes why this is the case.
• Approach: begin with a very simple, common-sense definition, then refine it through concrete examples, counter-examples, classroom debates, quotations, and cartoons.

Defining Democracy: First Approximations

• Popular quotations frequently cited:
  • Abraham Lincoln: “government of the people, by the people and for the people”.
  • Greek roots: demos (people) + kratia (rule).
• Teacher Lyngdoh discourages accepting definitions purely on authority or etymology; words evolve over time (analogy: the word “computer”).
• Initial classroom activity: students attempt to define everyday words (pen, rain, love) to appreciate difficulty of precise definitions.
• Immediate insight: definitions are needed only when usage becomes contested – many governments self-label as democracies while violating core principles.

Why We Need a Working Definition

• Everyday reasoning precedes formal definitions, but clarity becomes vital when:
  • Different regimes claim the label “democracy” despite major variations.
  • Citizens must distinguish genuine democracy from façade or “demo-cracy” (cartoon on Iraq election under foreign occupation).
• Minimal definition proposed as a starting point:
  • “Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.”
• Problem: if taken literally, almost every regime that holds any kind of election could qualify. Requires refinement.

Feature 1 – Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

• Authentic democratic authority must finally rest with those chosen by the people.
• Counter-example: Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf (1999 coup ➔ self-styled “Chief Executive”, 2002 referendum, Legal Framework Order allowing presidential dismissal of assemblies, military-dominated National Security Council). Elections existed, but decisive power lay with unelected military officers.
• Monarchies (e.g., Saudi Arabia) and military juntas (e.g., Myanmar) similarly fail this test.

Feature 2 – Free & Fair Electoral Competition

• Elections must offer real choice and the ruling party must have a genuine chance of losing.
• China: only candidates approved by the Communist Party (and allied parties) may run for National People’s Congress. No pluralism.
• Mexico (1930–2000): PRI won every presidential election through coercion, media bias, relocation of polling booths, and misuse of state resources.
• Principle distilled: a democracy requires free, fair, and competitive elections where incumbents can be peacefully replaced.

Feature 3 – One Person, One Vote, One Value (Political Equality)

• Universal Adult Franchise is non-negotiable.
• Ongoing violations noted:
  • Saudi Arabia: women disenfranchised until 2015.
  • Estonia: citizenship laws disadvantaging Russian-speaking minority.
  • Fiji: electoral weight of an Indigenous Fijian vote exceeded that of an Indo-Fijian.
• Democratic norm: each adult has exactly one vote of equal worth.

Feature 4 – Rule of Law & Respect for Rights (Constitutional Limits)

• Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe illustrates “elected autocracy”: regular elections, but constitution amended repeatedly, harassment of opposition, suppression of media, court orders ignored.
• Democracy demands:
  • Fundamental civil/political rights (speech, association, protest, minority protections).
  • Independent judiciary empowered to enforce these rights.
  • Government bound by constitutional procedures; even majority decisions must pass legal scrutiny.

Consolidated Minimal Definition

A political system is democratic if:

1. Rulers elected by the people take all major decisions.
2. Elections are free, fair, and competitive, enabling removal of existing rulers.
3. Every adult citizen enjoys equal voting power – 1 \text{ person} : 1 \text{ vote} : 1 \text{ value}.
4. Governmental power operates within constitutional limits and upholds citizens’ rights.

Classroom & Cartoon Illustrations

• Cartoons depict:
  • Foreign-supervised “democracy” in Iraq (word split, letters drooping from helicopter) – commentary on external imposition.
  • Syrian one-party rule, crown of leaves on the word “democracy” symbolising empty victory.
  • Latin American imagery of moneybags “building democracy” – critique of campaign finance and elite dominance.
  • Tank blocking Internet freedom in China – censorship antithetical to democratic information flow.
  • R.K. Laxman’s “Common Man” amid Independence-at-50 celebrations – gap between ideals and lived reality.

Arguments Against Democracy (Common Critiques)

• Instability due to frequent leadership change.
• Politicking & power play undermine morality.
• Decision-making is delayed by consultation requirements.
• Elected leaders may lack expertise, leading to poor policy.
• Electoral competition breeds corruption.
• Ordinary citizens supposedly too ignorant to govern themselves.

Arguments For Democracy (Rebuttals & Merits)

1. Accountability: Rulers answerable to citizens; possibility of peaceful removal.
2. Better Decisions: Consultation, debate, and plurality reduce rash errors.
3. Conflict Management: Offers institutionalised, non-violent mechanisms to reconcile social, linguistic, religious, and regional differences.
4. Dignity & Freedom: Recognises political equality; individuals are citizens, not subjects.
5. Self-Correction: Public scrutiny, free press, and electoral competition expose mistakes and allow course correction.
6. Prevention of Catastrophes: Nobel-winning economists (Amartya Sen, etc.) argue no democracy has suffered a large-scale famine, contrasting India (post-1947) with China’s 1958\text{–}1961 Great Leap Forward famine (≈ 3\,\text{crore} deaths).

Broader Meanings of Democracy Beyond Government

• Democratic ethos can apply to families, classrooms, offices, parties – wherever decisions affect multiple stakeholders.
• Core principle: decision-making through consultation among equals.
• Serves as an ideal benchmark (“true democracy means no one sleeps hungry”), enabling critique of existing democracies and aspiration toward ‘good’ democracy.

Representative vs Direct Democracy

• Modern states adopt representative democracy due to:
  • Large populations; logistics prevent direct deliberation.
  • Citizens’ limited time & expertise.
• In small groups (Gram Sabha, local cooperatives) direct democracy can function.

Continuous Vigilance & Citizen Participation

• No democracy is perfect or final; quality depends on active, informed citizenry.
• Non-democratic regimes often discourage political participation, whereas democracy thrives on it.
• Citizens’ actions—voting, debating, protesting, litigation—shape the evolution from minimal to substantive democracy.

Illustrative Global Cases and Key Facts

• Pakistan (1999–2008): coup ➔ controlled elections.
• China: single-party approval required for all candidates.
• Mexico (PRI dominance): employees compelled to attend party meetings, rigged logistics.
• Saudi Arabia: pre-2015 female disenfranchisement.
• Estonia: restrictive citizenship criteria for Russian minority.
• Fiji: weighted voting favouring indigenous population.
• Zimbabwe: constitutional manipulation, media control, judicial intimidation.
• Bhutan: monarch’s announcement to heed elected representatives.

Ethical & Practical Implications

• Ethics: Equality, autonomy, respect for minorities.
• Practicality: Better at avoiding severe policy disasters (famines), sustaining national unity in diverse societies (e.g., India), and enabling peaceful transfers of power.

Key Take-Away Formulas / Numerical References

• Equality principle: 1 \text{ adult} = 1 \text{ vote}.
• Chinese famine toll: \approx 3 \times 10^{7} people (three crore).
• PRI’s uninterrupted rule: 1930\text{–}2000 \; (70\,\text{years}).
• Women’s share in Indian Parliament: \lt 10\% (spurring demand for \frac{1}{3} reservation).
• Canada cartoon: Liberal Party expected victory → democratic surprise shows unpredictability of free elections.

Connections to Later Chapters

• Chapter 3 delves deeper into electoral systems and how to judge “free & fair”.
• Chapter 4 explains constitutional design and horizontal accountability (executive–legislature–judiciary).
• Chapter 5 elaborates citizens’ rights framework.

Potential Exam Pointers

• Be ready to identify non-examples: military rule with token legislature, single-party states, hereditary monarchies, elections without competition.
• Understand four features thoroughly; be able to match scenarios to each feature.
• Distinguish arguments against democracy (instability, delay) from arguments highlighting its corrective strengths.
• Recognise democracy as both form of government and aspirational value system.
• Cite case studies (Pakistan, China, Mexico, Zimbabwe) to substantiate answers.