About This Section

This is a collection of important questions with complete model answers covering the whole of Chapter 5 - Outcomes of Democracy. Use it to revise the key ideas: how to assess democracy's outcomes; accountable, responsive and legitimate government; economic growth and development; reduction of inequality and poverty; accommodation of social diversity; and the dignity and freedom of citizens. Remember NCERT's central nuance - democracy is clearly better on legitimacy and dignity, but its record on economic outcomes is only mixed.

Questions and Answers

Q1. How does democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government? (5 marks)

Answer:

  • Accountable: Democracy bases decisions on norms and procedures, and gives citizens the right to examine them (transparency), through free elections, open debate and the Right to Information. The government must answer for its actions.
  • Responsive: Democracy is expected to be attentive to the needs and expectations of citizens, who can participate in decisions that affect them.
  • Legitimate: Above all, a democratic government is the people's own government, chosen by them. It may be slow or imperfect, but it enjoys overwhelming support, as South Asian surveys show. This legitimacy is democracy's greatest and most certain strength.

Q2. Are the following statements about democracy true or false, with reasons? (a) Democracy guarantees rapid economic growth. (b) Democracy has reduced economic inequality. (3 marks)

Answer:

  • (a) False. Between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships had a slightly higher average growth rate (4.42 vs 3.95), though among poor countries the difference (4.34 vs 4.28) is negligible. Democracy is not a guarantee of growth, but does not clearly lag behind either.
  • (b) False. Democracies are based on political equality but have not been successful in reducing economic inequality; in some (South Africa, Brazil) the top 20 per cent take over 60 per cent of income. Democracy has given equal votes, not equal wealth.

Q3. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversity? (5 marks)

Answer: Drawing on the example of Sri Lanka, two conditions must be met:

  • First, democracy is not simply majority rule; the majority must work with the minority so that the government represents the general view. Majority and minority opinions are not permanent.
  • Second, rule by majority must not become the rule of one majority community (by religion, race or language). Every citizen must have a chance of being in the majority at some time. If a group is barred by birth, democracy stops being accommodative for it.

Democracies (like Belgium) develop procedures for peaceful competition, so tensions do not turn violent.

Q4. Study the growth-rate table (1950-2000) and answer: which type of regime grew faster overall, and what does the comparison among poor countries show? (3 marks)

Answer: Overall, all dictatorial regimes grew faster (4.42) than all democratic regimes (3.95). However, comparing only poor countries, dictatorships (4.34) and democracies (4.28) grew at almost the same rate - the difference is negligible. So democracy does not lag meaningfully behind dictatorship in the poor countries, and since it offers many other positive outcomes, it is better to prefer democracy.

Q5. 'Democracy is a rule of the majority, and the poor are in the majority; yet it is not a rule of the poor.' Discuss. (5 marks)

Answer: In principle, since the poor form a majority of voters and no party wishes to lose their votes, democracy should serve the poor. In practice, however, elected governments do not appear keen to tackle poverty and inequality. The ultra-rich capture a rising share of income while the poorest see incomes fall. In Bangladesh, over half the population is poor, and some countries depend on others even for food. Thus democracy has delivered political equality but not economic equality - one of its biggest unmet challenges.

Q6. How does democracy promote the dignity and freedom of the individual? Illustrate with the examples of women and caste. (5 marks)

Answer: Democracy is superior in promoting dignity and freedom because it recognises, at least in principle, that all individuals are equal, and gives this legal and moral force.

  • Women: In historically male-dominated societies, long struggles have made respect and equal treatment of women a recognised principle. Even where women are not always treated well, they can now struggle against what is legally and morally unacceptable.
  • Caste: Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of disadvantaged castes for equal status and opportunity; caste atrocities still occur but lack moral and legal foundation.

Q7. 'The public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project.' Explain. (3 marks)

Answer: Complaints show that citizens have gained the awareness and confidence to expect things from government and to question power holders critically. Such open criticism is possible only in a democracy - in a dictatorship, silence reflects fear. So dissatisfaction, publicly voiced, is a sign that democracy has transformed subjects into citizens who hold power to account. It reflects success, not failure.