{"slug":"cbse-class-10-social-science-outcomes-of-democracy","title":"Outcomes of Democracy","description":"What we can reasonably expect from democracy, and how its record compares on governance, growth, equality, diversity and dignity.","board":"CBSE","grade":"Class 10","subject":"Social Science","chapter":"Outcomes of Democracy","url":"https://www.flipnlearn.app/deck/cbse-class-10-social-science-outcomes-of-democracy","studyUrl":"https://www.flipnlearn.app/deck/cbse-class-10-social-science-outcomes-of-democracy/study","cards":[{"id":"why-democracy-is-better-than-alternatives","kind":"concept-question","front":"On what grounds is democracy considered better than dictatorship or other alternatives?","back":"Compared with dictatorship or other alternatives, it treats citizens as equals, respects individual dignity, leads to better decisions, gives a way to settle conflicts, and leaves room to correct mistakes."},{"id":"democracy-only-creates-conditions","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is it a mistake to expect democracy to solve all socio-economic and political problems?","back":"Democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving goals; citizens must use those conditions to achieve them. Blaming the idea of democracy for every unmet expectation ignores this."},{"id":"accountable-and-responsive-government","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is an accountable and responsive government the most basic outcome of democracy?","back":"Democracy exists so that people can choose their rulers, control them, and take part in decisions that affect them. So it should produce a government that answers to citizens and responds to their needs and expectations."},{"id":"is-democratic-government-inefficient","kind":"concept-question","front":"Does the delay in democratic decision-making make democratic government inefficient?","back":"No. Democracy relies on deliberation and negotiation, so some delay is bound to happen. But because procedures are followed, its decisions are more acceptable to people and therefore more effective, while a fast non-democratic decision may be rejected. The cost of time is worth paying."},{"id":"transparency","kind":"term-definition","front":"Transparency","back":"A citizen's right and means to examine whether a government decision was taken through the correct norms and procedures. It is a feature of democratic government that is often missing in non-democratic ones."},{"id":"practices-that-show-accountable-government","kind":"concept-question","front":"Which practices and institutions would you look for to judge whether a democracy is accountable, and what is its record?","back":"Regular, free and fair elections, open public debate on major policies and laws, and citizens' right to information about government. Democracies do well on regular elections and open debate, but fall short on giving everyone a fair chance, debating every decision and sharing information, though they still beat non-democracies."},{"id":"record-on-responsiveness-and-corruption","kind":"concept-question","front":"How good is democracy's record on being responsive to people's needs and free of corruption?","back":"Weak. Democracies often fail to meet people's needs, disregard what most of the population demands, and are not free of corruption. But there is no evidence that non-democratic governments are any cleaner or more attentive to people."},{"id":"democracy-as-legitimate-government","kind":"concept-question","front":"In what respect is democratic government certainly better than its alternatives?","back":"It is legitimate: it may be slow, less efficient and not always responsive or clean, but it is the people's own government. That is why there is overwhelming support for democracy worldwide, even in countries without democratic regimes."},{"id":"democracy-generates-its-own-support","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is democracy's ability to generate its own support considered an important outcome?","back":"People everywhere, including in South Asian countries with and without democratic regimes, wish to be ruled by representatives they elect and believe democracy suits their country. This widespread support is itself an outcome of democracy that cannot be ignored."},{"id":"democracy-and-economic-growth","kind":"concept-question","front":"How does the economic growth of democracies compare with that of dictatorships?","back":"Between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships had a slightly higher growth rate (4.42 vs 3.95 per cent), but among poor countries the difference was negligible. Growth depends on population size, the global situation and national priorities, so democracy does not guarantee development but need not lag behind."},{"id":"inequality-within-democracies","kind":"concept-question","front":"What does evidence show about economic inequality within democracies?","back":"It can be very high. In South Africa and Brazil the top 20 per cent take over 60 per cent of national income while the bottom 20 per cent get under 3 per cent. Countries like Denmark and Hungary do much better, and inequality of opportunity also affects poorer sections."},{"id":"political-equality-vs-economic-inequality","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is it a concern that democracies are based on political equality yet economic inequality is growing?","back":"Every individual has equal weight in electing representatives. Yet a few ultra-rich hold a highly disproportionate and rising share of wealth, while incomes at the bottom decline and some cannot meet basic needs such as food, housing, education and health."},{"id":"why-democracies-fail-to-reduce-poverty","kind":"concept-question","front":"How successful have democracies been in reducing poverty, and why is this surprising?","back":"Not very successful. The poor are a large share of voters in India and no party wants to lose their votes, yet elected governments are less keen to address poverty than expected. Elsewhere it is worse: over half of Bangladesh lives in poverty, and some poor countries depend on rich ones for food."},{"id":"democracy-accommodates-social-diversity","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why are democracies better at handling social differences than non-democratic regimes?","back":"No society can permanently resolve conflicts between groups, but democracies develop procedures for competition that reduce the chance of tensions turning violent, and they help groups respect and negotiate differences, as Belgium did. Non-democratic regimes often ignore or suppress internal social differences."},{"id":"conditions-for-accommodating-diversity","kind":"concept-question","front":"What two conditions must a democracy meet to accommodate social diversity?","back":"First, democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion: the majority must work with the minority, and neither is permanent. Second, majority rule must not become rule by a majority community of religion, race or language; every citizen must have a chance of being in the majority at some time."},{"id":"democracy-promotes-dignity-and-freedom","kind":"concept-question","front":"How does democracy promote the dignity and freedom of individuals?","back":"The passion for respect and freedom is the basis of democracy, which recognises all individuals as equal at least in principle. Once equal treatment of women and disadvantaged castes is legally and morally recognised, it becomes easier to struggle against discrimination, which in a non-democracy would have no such legal basis."},{"id":"democracys-examination-never-ends","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is it said that democracy's examination never gets over?","back":"As democracy passes one test, it produces another: people who gain some benefits ask for more and want democracy improved. That is why they always have new expectations and complaints about how it works."},{"id":"complaints-as-evidence-of-democratic-success","kind":"concept-question","front":"Why is public dissatisfaction with democracy seen as a sign of its success?","back":"Complaints show that people have become aware and able to expect more and look critically at the powerful. Democracy has transformed them from subjects into citizens, most of whom believe their vote makes a difference to how the government is run."}]}