Concept of democracy

Democracy
by
Mahesh Jaiwantrao Patil
M.A. (Political Science), M.Phil, NET, SET, & Ph.D
(Pursuing)
Assistant Professor,
Narayanrao Chavan Law College, Nanded, Maharashtra,
India

Introduction
 Democracy is not merely a form of
government . It is also a form a state as a
well society. It is closely associated with
participation, competition and civil and
political liberties. It is order of society.
 Democracy is defined as a form of
government in which the supreme power is
vested in the people and exercised by them
directly or indirectly through a system of
representation usually involving periodic
free elections.

Meaning
 Democracy refers to a political system in which
government is form by the people, exercised either directly
or through elected representative.
Main Points:
 People Elected government.
 There is freedom of speech.
 There is no one party government In the country.
 Right to give vote to elect their representatives.
 The common people, considered as the primary source of
political power.
 The principles of social equality and respect for the
individual within a community.

 It defines as government by the people in
which the supreme power is vested in the
people and exercised directly by them or by
their elected agents under a free electoral
system.
 Abraham Lincoln:-Democracy is a
government “of the people, by the people,
and for the people.”
 There is no clear – cut, universal definition
of democracy.
 Most definitions of democracy focus on
qualities, procedures, and institutions

 The word ‘democracy’ itself means ‘rule by the people.
 A democracy is a system where people can change their
rulers in a peaceful manner and the government is given
the right to rule because the people say it may.
 Government by the people, especially- rule of the majority.
 A government in which the supreme power is vested in the
people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through
a system of representation usually involving periodically
held free elections.
 A political unit that has a democratic government.
 The term ‘democracy’ comes from the Greek word
demokratia which means “rule of the people”. It was
coined from two words: demos that means “people” and
Kratos which refers to “power”. That is, in a democracy
the power rests with the people.

Definition
 MacIver : Democracy is a form of state is
merely a mode of appointing, controlling
and dismissing a government
 Gettel: Democracy is that form of
government in which the masses of the
population possesses the right to share in
the exercise of sovereign power.
 Bryce:- Democracy really means nothing
more or less than the rule of the whole
people, expressing their Sovereign will by
their votes.

Principals of democracy
 Constitution.
 Free elections .
 Government by consent of the people.
 Majority Rule.
 Rule of law.
 Guarantees rights and freedoms.
 Change the Government.
 Open Society.
 Political Equality. Freedom to live or travel anywhere in the
country.
 Importance of Public Opinion.
 Participation of people in decision making process.
 Role of opposition party.

Why we prefer Democracy
 To lead the country to development.
 Element of decentralization.
 To rise of political institutions.
 Right to commerce.
 Spread of education.
 Free Media.
 Independent Judiciary.

Conditions necessary for
successful working of
democracy.
 A system can be termed as a genuine and
comprehensive democracy only when it
fulfills both political and socio-economic
aspects of people’ s participation and
satisfaction.
 There may be two major categories:
(a)political conditions, and (b) social and
economic conditions – the fulfillment of the
first leads to political democracy and the
second as social democracy .

 Political Condition: It is essential that for a
system to be democratic, we must adopt a
Constitution and laws that vest supreme
power in the people. The human rights and
fundamental rights, such as equality , liberty
of thought and expression, belief,
movement, communication and association
must be protected by the Constitution. The
democratic system has to have universal
adult franchise as the basis of electing
representatives at various levels of the
government.

 There has to be a responsible government in
which the executive is answerable to the
legislature, the legislature to the people and the
Judiciary to remain independent. Political
institutions like political parties and interest and
pressure groups (associations, various non-
governmental organizations) must be functional for
expressing popular needs, demands and
grievances.
 A democratic system is strengthened if it
maintains an enlightened public opinion in its
various forms through free press and other
communication processes.

 social and economic conditions: A
democratic system has to ensure that the social
development is in tune with democratic values and
norms reflecting equality of social status and
opportunities for development, social security and
social welfare. Citizens must avail opportunities of
universal and compulsory education. They must also
be enabled to utilize means of economic development.
The fruits of economic development must reach all
and especially to the poor and the deprived sections of
the society . Socio-economic development of the
people strengths social democracy .

CHALLENGES BEFORE
INDIAN DEMOCRACY
 Since independence India has been
functioning as a responsible democracy.It
has successfully adapted to the challenging
situations. There have been free and fair
periodic elections for all political offices
from the panchayats to the President. There
has been smooth transfer of political power
from one political party or set of political
parties to others, both at national and state
levels on many occasions.

 The legislative, executive and judicial
organs have been functioning properly. The
Parliament and the State Legislatures
control the Executives effectively through
the means like question hours, etc.
 The mass media, including print and
electronic, have full autonomy and play a
key role in formulating and influencing
public opinion. Significant social change
has taken place in almost all walks of life
and the nation is moving ahead on course of
socio-economic development.

 India is a very large country full of diversities –
linguistically , culturally, religiously. At the time of
independence it was economically
underdeveloped. There were enormous regional
disparities, widespread poverty, illiteracy,
unemployment, and shortage of almost all public
welfare means.
 Yet, there are various challenges that the country
faces in terms of fulfillment of expectations of
various sections of society. The challenges come
both from prevailing domestic and international
conditions as well as lack of adequate prerequisites
for a smooth functioning of democracy. These are
discussed below .

Corruption
 Corruption in public life has been a major
concern in India. In 2011, India was ranked
95(183 countries) defined as corrupt in
Transparency International’ s Corruption
Perceptions Index (CPI).
 In fact, corruption is rampant in all walks
of life, be it land and property , health,
education, commerce and industry,
agriculture, transport, police, armed forces,
even religious institutions or so-called
places of spiritual pursuits.

 Corruption continues to exist in covert and
overt ways at all three levels - political,
bureaucratic and corporate sector. One can
see the relation between the politicians, the
bureaucrats and the industrialists which has
resulted into corruption and corrupt
practices. The corruption have affected all
organs of government, including the
judiciary.
 Corruption in electoral processes and
bribing of voters who participate in
elections at different levels has now become
a common practice.

 In recent years, various scams have been coming
out in our country in quick succession. In fact,
corruption is a sign of political instability and
institutional decay, challenging seriously the
validity and propriety of governance.

Casteism
 The caste system which presumably originated
in the division of labour in the ancient society
has become a more or less rigid group
classification, based on birth. Inhuman aspect
of the caste system is the practice of
untouchability which is continuing in spite of
the constitutional ban imposed on it. This has
led to segregation of so called low castes or
‘Dalits’, depriving them of education and other
social benefits.
 The Dalits have been typically performing
menial labour and some of the hardest physical
work in society. Casteism has played a
negative role even in the democratic political
processes

 In fact, casteism has become notorious as a strategy
of exploitation of caste consciousness for narrow
political gains. The caste system acts against the
roots of democracy . The democratic facilities - like
fundamental rights relating to equality , freedom of
speech, expression and association, participation in
the electoral process, free media and press, and even
legislative forums - are misused for maintaining
casteist identity .
 Casteism has also been contributing towards
continuation of socio-economic inequalities. It is true
that India has been an unequal society from times
immemorial. The Scheduled Castes (SCs), the
Scheduled Tribes (ST s) and the backward classes
have suffered down the ages from socio-economic

 There are enormous inequalities in our
society which are posing serious challenge
to Indian democracy. What is more
alarming is the mixing of caste and politics
resulting into ‘politicization of caste’ and
‘casteization of politics’ in contemporary
Indian polity which has become a grave
challenge to our democracy .
 Despite the era of liberalization and
globalization caste consciousness has not
been eroded in our society and castes are
being increasingly used as vote bank
politics.

Communalism
 Communalism and religious fundamentalism
have acquired a very dangerous form and
alarming proportion in India. Communalism
is an affront to India’ s nationalist identity
and a tragic setback to its evolving secular
culture. It is subversive of our democratic
political stability and destroyer of our
glorious heritage of humanism and composite
culture.
 Quite often, communalism is wrongly used as
a synonym for religion or conservatism.

 communalism is an ideology of political
allegiance to a religious community . It uses
one religious community against other
communities and perceives other religious
communities as its enemies.
 It is opposed to secularism and even
humanism. One of the manifestations of
communalism is communal riots. In recent
past also, communalism has proved to be a
great threat to our social and political life on
several occasions.

Regionalism
 Development process in the country aims at
growth and development of all regions, the
regional disparities and imbalances in terms of
differences in per capita income, literacy rates,
state of health and educational infrastructure
and services, population situation and levels of
industrial and agricultural development
continue to exist.
 Existence and continuation of regional
inequalities both among States and within a
State create a feeling of neglect, deprivation and
discrimination. This situation has led to
regionalism manifested in demands for creation
of new States, autonomy or more powers to
States or even secession from the country.

 It is true that regionalism and sub-regionalism
are unavoidable in a vast and plural country
like India.
 The problem begins when these interests are
politicized and regional movements are
promoted for ulterior political motives. Such
unhealthy regional or sub-regional patriotism is
cancerous and disruptive.
 The continuing regional imbalances have given
rise to militant movements in certain parts of
our country.
 Separatist demands in Jammu and Kashmir or
by ULF A(United Liberation Front of Assam)
in Assam or by different groups in the North-
Eastern region are matters of grave concern for
Indian polity.

Concept of democracy

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