Outcomes of Democracy

The concluding chapter of Class 10 Political Science (Democratic Politics-II) steps back to ask a sweeping question: what does democracy actually deliver? It first clarifies how to assess democracy's outcomes, insisting that democracy is just a form of government that creates conditions which citizens must use, and that we value it for both moral and prudential reasons. It then tests democracy against several expectations. Democracy produces an accountable, responsive and, above all, legitimate government - the people's own - even if it is slower and its record on corruption is mixed. On economic growth (1950-2000 data) and on the reduction of inequality and poverty, democracy is no guarantee: dictatorships grew slightly faster overall, and political equality has coexisted with deep economic inequality. Democracy is strongest in accommodating social diversity (Belgium, and the two conditions from Sri Lanka) and in promoting the dignity and freedom of citizens, strengthening the claims of women and disadvantaged castes. The chapter closes with the striking idea that democracy's examination never ends, and that citizens' complaints are themselves a testimony to its success, transforming subjects into citizens. A high-scoring, evaluation-heavy Board chapter.