Q8 of 11 Page 253

Write a response to the following arguments against democracy:

A. The army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country.


Therefore the army should rule the country.


B. Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.


C. If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

A. The army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country.


Therefore the army should rule the country.


Although the army is the most disciplined and corruption free organization in the country. It should not be allowed to rule over the country. Firstly it is not elected by the people. Secondly, the people will not have the right to voice their opinion over the fundamental rights. Finally, there is no guarantee that the army would not turn into a dictator.


B. Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.


Democracy is based on the idea of a Universal adult franchise. According to this, every person above 18 years in our country has the right to vote irrespective of religion, caste, gender etc. Everyone has an equal right to decide the formation of the government. So we cannot ignore certain sections of society.


C. If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.


Bringing religion into politics is not a wise choice. India is a multi-religious country. If the religious leaders are elected as political leaders as well, it might create a serious situation of conflict due to the difference in their ideology. Most of them do not have any experience in matters related to political administration.


More from this chapter

All 11 →
6

Here is some information about six countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write ‘democratic’, ‘undemocratic’ or ‘not sure’ against each of these.

Country A: People who do not accept the country’s official religion do not have a right to vote


Country B: The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years


Country C: Ruling party has lost in the last elections


Country D: The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army


Country E: The parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary


Country F: All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the central bank which the ministers cannot change.

7

Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element.

Write out the two separately for each statement.


A. A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organisation


B. The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large scale rigging was reported


C. Women’s representation in the parliament has never reached 10 percent. This led women’ organizations to demand one-third seats for women.

9

Locate the following countries in the world map.

10

Read the first two paragraphs under the subheading ‘Dignity and freedom of the citizens’ and answer the following question.

Write about the dignity and freedom of the citizens in a democratic country.