NCERT Class 10 Political Science Outcomes of Democracy

How do we assess democracy’s outcomes? Do you remember how students in Madam Lyngdoh’s class argued about democracy? This was in Chapter 2 of Class IX textbook. It emerged from that conversation that democracy is a better form of government when compared with dictatorship or any other alternative. We felt that democracy was better because it:

1. Promotes equality among citizens;
2. Enhances the dignity of the individual;
3. Improves the quality of decisionmaking;
4. Provides a method to resolve conflicts; and
5. Allows room to correct mistakes.

Are these expectations realised under democracies? When we talk to people around us, most of them support democracy against other alternatives, such as rule by a monarch or military or religious leaders. But not so many of them would be satisfied with the democracy in practice. So we face a dilemma: democracy is seen to be good in principle, but felt to be not so good in its practice. This dilemma invites us to think hard about the outcomes of democracy. Do we prefer democracy only for moral reasons? Or are there some prudential reasons to support democracy too?

Over a hundred countries of the world today claim and practice some kind of democratic politics: they have formal constitutions, they hold elections, they have parties and they guarantee rights of citizens. While these features are common to most of them, these democracies are very much different from each other in terms of their social situations, their economic achievements and their cultures. Clearly, what may be achieved or not achieved under each of these democracies will be very different. But is there something that we can expect from every democracy, just because it is democracy?

Our interest in and fascination for democracy often pushes us into taking a position that democracy can address all socio-economic and political problems. If some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of democracy. Or, we start doubting if we are living in a democracy. The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something. The citizens have to take advantage of those conditions and achieve those goals. Let us examine some of the things we can reasonably expect from democracy and examine the record of democracy.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Question. Democracy is considered as a better form of government because
A. It ensures economic development.
B. It guarantees economic equality
C. It provides a method to resolve conflict.
D. Option A and B
Answer. C

Question. Identify the correct statement about democracy.
A. It is free from corruption
B. Democracy is free from social conflict.
C. It is successful in eradicating poverty.
D. It respects the individual dignity of citizens.
Answer. D

Question.

The given image shows the effect of democratic politics on social differences. Which options are more appropriate in context of democracy?
A. Democracy suppresses internal social differences.
B. Democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among Citizens
C. Democracies accommodate various social divisions
D. Option B and C
Answer. D

Question. A democratic government is elected by citizens and enjoys the confidence and trust of the citizens. This is known as
A. A legitimate government,
B. A transparent government
C. A secular government
D. A stable government.
Answer. A

Question.
Table 1
Rates of economic growth for different countries (1950-2000)

Type of regimes and countries     Growth Rate
All democratic regimes                    3.95
All dictatorial regimes                     4.42
Poor countries under                      4.34
dictatorship        
Poor countries under democracy     4.28

Read the given table carefully and select the correct statements from the given options:
A. Dictatorial regimes have a slightly better record of economic growth.
B. Democratic regimes have better economic growth.
C. Poor countries under democracy have more economic growth.
D. It is better to prefer dictatorship as it has better economic development.
Answer. A

Question. Choose the correctly matched pair from the following
A Pakistan Democracy is preferred over dictatorship
B Bangladesh More than half of its population lives in poverty
C Belgium Has failed in negotiating differences among ethnic populations
D Sri Lanka Here majority worked with the minority to produce a harmonious social life
Answer. B

ASSERTION AND REASON TYPE QUESTIONS

In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct code.
Question. Assertion (A): Democracies are based on political equality.
Reason (R): All individuals have equal weight in electing representatives.
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is correct but R is wrong.
D. A is wrong but R is correct
Answer. A

Question. Assertion (A): Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences.
Reason (R): They accommodate various social divisions.
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is correct but R is wrong.
D. A is wrong but R is correct
Answer. B

Question. Assertion (A) Democracy transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen.
Reason (R) Most individuals believe that their vote makes a difference to the way the governments run and to their own self-interest
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is correct but R is wrong.
D. A is wrong but R is correct
Answer. A

SOURCE BASED MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

14 Read the case/source given and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct option.

If you wanted to measure democracies on the basis of this expected outcome, you would look for the following practices and institutions:
regular, free and fair elections; open public debate on major policies and legislations; and citizens’ right to information about the government and its functioning. The actual performance of democracies shows a mixed record on this. Democracies have had greater success in setting up regular and free elections and in setting up conditions for open public debate. But most democracies fall short of elections that provide a fair chance to everyone and in subjecting every decision to public debate. Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it comes to sharing information with citizens.

Question. To measure democracies on the basis of expected outcomes which of the following practices and institutions would one look for?
A. Regular, free and fair elections
B. Open public debate on major policies
C. Citizens’ right to information about the government.
D. All of the above.
Answer. D

Question. If a government is sharing information with citizens, then we get which type of government?
A. An unstable government
B. A democratic government
C. A stable government
D. A transparent government
Answer. D

Question. Which among the following out comes do democracies have greater success?
A. Regular and free elections
B. Elections that provide a fair chance to everyone
C. Sharing information with citizens.
D All of the above.
Answer. A

Question. Which of the following statements is correct?
A. Democratic governments are very good in sharing information with citizens.
B. Most democracies succeeded in subjecting every decision to public debate.
C The actual performance of democracies shows a mixed record in outcomes of democracy.
E. All the above.
Answer. C

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question. “Democratic system is better than any other form of government.” Support the statement with examples
Answer. Democratic system is better than any other form of government because of following reasons.
(i) It promotes equality among citizens. E.g. Rule of law
(ii) It enhances the dignity of the individual. E.g. Fundamental rights.
(iv) It improves the quality of decision making. E.g. Discussion and debate in various platforms
(v) It provides a method to resolve conflicts.
(vi) If allows room to correct mistakes.

Question. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government?
Answer. Democracy produces an accountable government because it provides regular, free and fair elections regularly. Open discussions are held on all major issues and legislations.
Democracy gives its citizens the right to information about the government and its functioning.
Democracy provides a responsive government as it is formed by elected representatives of the people. These representatives discuss the problems of the society and make policies and programmes accordingly. The representatives also ensure that the programmes are implemented.
Democracies follow a constitution, so they are legitimate. The laws of the country are applicable to everyone, even to the government members. Free and fair elections are held in democracies and the people have the power to eliminate parties they are not happy with, in the next election.

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 10 Political Science Outcomes of Democracy