Class 10 Political Science Chapter 7, Outcomes of Democracy, Notes and 10 Plus Q&A
Table of Contents
Overview
Here at Class 10 Political Science Chapter 7, Outcomes of Democracy we take a look at the expected and the actual outcomes of democracy. The over all discussion here at Class 10 Political Science Chapter 7, Outcomes of Democracy, specifically focuses on topics like -How Do We Assess Democracy’s Outcomes? Accountable, Responsive & Legitimate Government, Economic Growth & Development, Reduction of Inequality and Poverty, Accommodation of Social Diversity, and Dignity & Freedom of Citizens in context of democratic form of governance. The whole discussion is in Q&A (question answer) format, which works best when studied in stages –
- First stage: First concentrate on the title of your chapter and imagine what things might be hidden here. This activity will create an interest in you for the topic.
- Second stage: Give a thorough reading of the questions and answers, which are woven here in such a fashion so as to maintain an hierarchy and orderliness. At this stage you should not take any stress. Just enjoy your reading by touching one question after another.
- Third stage: Try to establish links between questions. See how they are inter related. Try to focus on the keywords of a topic and try to reach its underlying meaning.
- Fourth stage: Now give another reading to each question and answer with a purpose to internalise it in your own way.
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How Do We Assess Outcomes of Democracy?
Q.1.What are the expectations from democracy ?
Ans. Democracy is better form of government. From a democratic government, we can expect following :
- equality among citizens,
- assured dignity of its citizens,
- improved quality of decision making,
- development of proper procedures to resolve conflicts, and,
- providing opportunity to correct mistakes.
Accountable, Responsive & Legitimate Government
Q.2. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government ?
Ans. Democratic government follows established norms and procedures in making a decision.
Democracy ensures that the decision making by the government is based on norms and procedures. Any citizen has right and means to examine if a decision was taken through the correct procedures by the government or not. This transparency makes a democratic government accountable for its decisions.
Democratic governments are often responsive to the demands and needs of the people. Though the record of democratic governments is not much impressive, still when compared to non democratic governments: democratic governments are largely free from corruption.
Democratic government is people’s own government and that is why it is a legitimate government which finds overwhelming support all over the world. Support for democracy exists even in non democratic countries. Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is remarkable.
Q.4. Delay in decision making is a drawback in democracy. Does that make democratic governments more inefficient ?
Ans. Democratic governments take more time to follow procedures before arriving decision. But because it has followed the established procedures, its decisions are both more acceptable to the people and more effective.
So the cost of time that democracy pays, it worth it.
Q.5. What does it mean transparency in democracy ?
Ans. In democracy, a citizen has right and means to examine the process of decision making by the government. This is known as transparency.
( A democratic government develops mechanism for citizens to hold the government accountable. On the other hand, transparency is often missing in non democratic governments. )
Note : Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is itself a thing that can not be ignored.
Q.6. How can we make an assessment of the performance of a democracy? Also, on this basis, discuss the performance of democracies in the world.
Ans. In order to assess the performance of democracies on the basis of expectations from it, we need to look for the following :
- If there is regular, free and fair elections.
- If there is open public debate on major policies and legislations and,
- If there is citizen’s right to information about the government and its functioning.
On the above discussed basis, democracies world wide have mixed performance –
- Democracies have shown greater success in holding regular, free and fair elections and setting up conditions for open public debate.
- However, most democracies fall short of holding fair elections that provide fair chance to everyone in decision making process.
- Most democracies have also not done well in creating conditions for public debate in every decision taken by the government.
- Democratic governments also don’t have a very good record regarding information sharing with citizens.
Conclusion : Despite shortcomings, it can safely be said that democratic regimes are much better than any non democratic regime in all these respects.
Economic Growth & Development
Note: Evidences show that many democracies don’t fulfil the expectations of development.
Note : If we compare all democracies and dictatorships for 50 years (1950-2000), we observe that dictatorships have higher rate of economic growth.
Note: The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic growth, worries us. But this alone can not be a reason to reject democracy.
Note: We can not say that – democracy is guarantee of economic development – but – we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorship in this respect.
Q.7. Why democracy is not a guarantee of economic development ?
Ans. Over all we can not say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development. Because, economic development depends on several factors, other than democratic environment. These factors are :
- Country’s population size,
- Global situation,
- Cooperation from other countries,
- Economic priorities adopted by the country.
Q.8. Draw a comparison between democracies and dictatorships regarding economic growth and economic inequalities.
Ans. According to Cambridge University Press study of economic growth rates of democracies and dictatorships for period 1950 – 2000, it has been found that on an average, dictatorial regimes have had a slightly better record of economic growth. But when we compare their record for poor countries only, we find that there is virtually no difference.
It was also observed that within democracies, there can be very high degree of inequalities.
In democratic countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top 20% people take away more than 60% of the national income, leaving less than 3% for the bottom 20% population. Countries like Denmark and Hungry are much better in this respect.
| Name Of Countries | % share of national income, enjoyed by top 20% of population. | % share of national income, enjoyed by bottom 20% of population. |
| South Africa | 64.8 % | 2.9% |
| Brazil | 63% | 2.6% |
| Russia | 53.7% | 4.4% |
| USA | 45% | 6% |
| Denmark | 34.5% | 9.6% |
| Hungary | 34.4% | 10% |
It has also been observed that in both regimes (i.e. both democratic and dictatorship), there exists inequality of opportunities for poor population.
Q.9. Examine the record of democracy regarding economic development (or growth) and economic inequalities.
Ans. Hint: Q.7 + Q.8 (only relevant part related to democratic regimes).
Reduction of Inequality and Poverty
Q.10. Examine the record of democracy in reducing the inequality and poverty.
Ans. Democracy is based on political equality. But parallel to this equality there exists growing economic inequality with in the population of democratic countries.
Even under democratic regimes, a small number of ultra rich people enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. Moreover, their income registers a continuous increase.
On the other hand, those at the bottom of society have very little to depend upon. Moreover, their incomes register a continuous decline. Sometimes, these people find it difficult to meet their basic needs of life such as food, clothing, house, education and health.
In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. In India, poor people constitute a large proportion of our voters, and no party likes to loose their votes. Yet these democratically elected governments in India, are not as keen to address the issue of their poverty.
Accommodation of Social Diversity
Q.11. How do democracies accommodate social diversities?
Ans. (1) Democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion. In democracy, majority always needs to work with minority, so that governments may function to represent the general view.
(2) In democracy, majority community has to address the religious, racial, and linguistic aspirations of minority community.
(3) In democracy, different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Thus in democracy, every citizen has chance to be part of majority at some point of time.
Note: If someone is barred from being in majority on the basis of birth, then the democratic rule ceases to be accommodative for that person or group.
Dignity & Freedom of Citizens
Q.12. Show how democracies have been able to promote dignity and freedom of individual.
Or, Q. Taking examples of dignity of women and dignity of castes, show how democracy in India has been able to promote them.
Ans. Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of the individual.
The passion for dignity and freedom is the basis of democracy. Democracies throughout the world have recognised this at least in principle. And this has helped disadvantaged social groups assert their rights.
For example, when it was recognised in principle in democratic countries that respect to women and gender equality are necessary ingredients of a democratic society; it became easier for women to wedge struggle for their rights.
The same is true for caste inequalities in India. Democracy in India has recognised and strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal opportunity.
Q.13. Expectations of people from democracy also functions as criteria for judging the effectiveness and performance of democracy. How?
Ans. As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more, and want to make democracy even better. Thus people’s demand for more improvements and more benefits from democracy, clearly shows that –
- People have developed awareness and ability to expect and look critically at those in power.
- Status of people has substantially transformed from subjects to citizens.
- People have started to realise that their right to vote will force the governments to hear their complaints.
All these awareness among people, regarding their position as citizen, and their democratic rights, is an indication of success of democracy in their country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this post about Outcomes of Democracy (Class 10 Political Science Chapter 7) highlights that while democracy may not be perfect, it remains the best form of government for ensuring political equality, accountability, and social justice. It provides a framework for resolving conflicts peacefully, accommodating diverse interests, and promoting economic development with dignity and freedom. Though challenges like corruption and inequality persist, continuous public participation and awareness can strengthen democratic values and institutions. Ultimately, the success of democracy depends on the active role of citizens in upholding its principles.
