Democracy

What is it?
 What is “Democracy”?
In Greek: “Demos” (people) + “Kratos”(power) =

“Democratia” (people power).

It means the government where the people help to
decide and direct work of the government.

It is government of the people, by the people and for

the people. (Abraham Lincoln during Gettysburg Address:
November 19, 1863)
Democracy protects human liberties.

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 In the Beginning
• Family the first form of social unit in Old and
Middle Stone Age.
• Family elders decided for family’s welfare.
• Village Chieftain: the earliest form of
government in New Stone Age.
• STATE: group of people deciding for a large
group. (Sumer, Indus Valley Civilizations oldest
forms of democracy).
• Larger settlements of people led to different
forms of governments.

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 Forms of Government
Governme Description
nt
Chiefdom Lifelong governing power to one big
man
Monarchy government by one individual (King)

Aristocrac government by the nobility

y
Dictators government by one individual (Self-
hip proclaimed Authority)
Oligarchy government by a small group of wealthy
and powerful individuals.
Socialism government of elite group owning all
property (capital).
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History of Democracy

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 Democratic Progression

Parliament Frees Declaration of French Revolution 1789

Magna Carta 1st Itself From King Independence 1776
Limits power Parliament
of the King of Meeting
England (1295)

United Nations: 2nd World War 1st World War Lincoln English
Global Democracy against 1914-1918 Abolishes Constitutional Reform
dictatorship Slavery 1863 1832-1867 (Vote for
1939-45 People)

Democracy: A form of Government 6

 Extent of Democracy

Governments identified as democratic.

Not identified as democratic(Vatican, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Fiji,
Tonga and Brunei)
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 Aspects of Democracy
Socio-Economic Political
• Even distribution of wealth
• Social Equality.
Direct Republic
• Equal opportunity within Only in local Govts. People elect
the society People directly representatives
• Equal opportunity to Decide through to carry out
Referendum. their wishes
Education
& decide on
•Equal opportunity to
their behalf.
Amenities viz. health,
infrastructure and other
services.
• Self Government
• Hallmark of socialism.

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 What is Constitution ?
• A written document with a set of rules for
government.
• Explains political rules and functions of the
government.
• Defines the law of the country.
• Defines the privileges and duties of the
citizens of the country.
• The Constitution of India is the longest
written constitution of any sovereign country
in the world.

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 Citizen’s Rights and
Privileges
• Freedom of speech, movement and association.
• Freedom to express ones opinion and views.
• Freedom of press.
• Freedom of religion (secularism)
• Equality before law and other democratic rights.
• Right to access to information to vote wisely.
• Freedom of life.
• Personal property free from unlawful control of
government.

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 Duties and
Responsibilities
Social Action
• Voting
• Abide by the law
• Tolerant of political and cultural differences
• Participate in creating and evaluating public policy
Moral Basis Character
• To be just and lawful
• To be civic-minded (considers one’s own rights and
freedoms as well as the good of the whole
community)

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Status of the Countries

Political ratings of countries according to Freedom House’s

Freedom in the World survey, 2009:
Free
Partly Free
Not Free
Democracy: A form of Government 12
 Democracy Index 2008

Democracy Index as published in January, 2008. The palest blue

countries get a score above 9.5 out of 10 (with Sweden being the most
democratic country at 9.88), while the black countries score below 2 (with
North Korea being the least democratic 0.86). Assessment Parameters:
electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government,
political participation and political culture.
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 Electoral Democracies
2010

Countries highlighted in blue are designated "electoral

democracies" in Freedom House's 2010 survey
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Types of Democracy

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 Criticisms
• Opposition from monarchy, communist
states and Islamic governments.
• Illiterate/ill-informed voters vote in bad
government.
• Islamic and many other religious
communities believe distrust & disrespect of
government will also affect religion and
society.
• Vested interests of the people is reflected in
the representatives leading to morally
corrupt government.

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 Features
• Full and fair representation of people in
government through elections.
• Local Self Government: people participate in
the work of the government.
• Right to personal freedom unlike in
Communist and dictatorship form of
government.
• Collective responsibility for the community.

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 Some Facts
• Oldest democracy in the world: Sumer, Harappa
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-80426,00.html

• Youngest democracy in the world: Bhutan

• Smallest democracy in the world: Niue
• Largest democracy in the world: India
• Best democracy in the world: Norway
• Worst democracy in the world: Pakistan & North
Korea

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Democracy

Thank You

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Acknowledgement

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