CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY

POLITICAL SCIENCE : CLASS X

TERM II

Q.1. What is a challenge?

A. Those difficulties that are significant and which we can overcome are called
challenges. A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it, an opportunity of
progress.

Q.2. How different countries face different challenges? Discuss.

Ai)Non-democratic countries (Foundational Challenge) These countries face the

foundational challenge of making the change to democracy as they have to bring
down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling
government and establish a sovereign state. Example-Pakistan.

ii)Established democracies ( Expansion of democracy) These countries face the

challenge of expansion. It applies the basic principle of democratic governments
over all regions and socials groups. It has to give greater power to local govts.,
extension of federation principle to all units of federation and inclusion of women
and minority groups. Example-India.

iii)Challenges faced by every democracy (Deepening of Democracy) Deepening of

democracy involves strengthening of the institutions and practice of democracy. The
ordinary people have different expectations from democracy in different societies.
Therefore, this challenge has different meanings in different parts of the world. It
wants more of peoples participation and control and wants to bring down the
control of rich people in making of the governmental decision.

Q.3. What are political reforms?

A. All suggestions or proposals about overcoming various challenges to democracy

are called democratic reforms or political reforms.

Q.4. Discuss the broad guidelines to be kept in mind while devising ways for political
reforms in India.

i) Just by introducing new laws, we cannot overcome challenges to democracy.

Democratic reforms must be carried out mainly by political activists, parties,
movements and politically conscious citizens.

ii) Any legal change must look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes,
the results may be counter-productive. For example, many states have banned
people who have more than two children from contesting the panchayat elections.
This has resulted in denying opportunity to many poor and women.
iii) The Right to Information Act is a good example of a law that empowers the
people to find out what is happening in the government and acts as watchdogs of
democracy. Such laws help to control corruption.

iv)The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of
political participation by ordinary citizens.

Q.5. What is democracy?(Redefining democracy)

i) The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions.

ii) Elections must offer a choice and opportunity to all the people to change the
current rulers.

iii) This choice and opportunity should be available to all the people on equal basis.

iv) Besides the right to vote, the citizens must be given social and economic rights.

v) The power sharing between the govt. and social groups is necessary in a
democracy.

vi) In a democracy, the ruling party must respect the minority views.

vii)Elimination of discrimination based on caste, religion and gender is important in

democracy