CBSE Class 9 Civics - 2 || What is Democracy Why Democracy || Full Chapter || By Shiksha House

Summary

This video explains the concept of democracy by examining its key features and various forms, such as representative and direct democracy. It contrasts democracies with non-democracies, like military dictatorships and monarchies, using examples from Myanmar, Chile, Saudi Arabia, and others. The importance of free and fair elections, political equality, and the rule of law in a democracy are emphasized. It also highlights challenges to democracy, such as limited choice in elections and autocratic leaders, while presenting arguments for democracy, including better decision-making, accountability, and respect for citizens' rights and dignity.

Takeaways

• 📜 Democracy originated from the Greek word meaning 'rule of the people', as reflected in Abraham Lincoln's famous definition.
• ⚖️ Democracies are distinct from non-democracies where the rulers are not elected by the people, such as military regimes or monarchies like Myanmar and Saudi Arabia.
• 🏛️ Representative democracy, like in India, involves citizens electing individuals to make decisions on their behalf, whereas direct democracy, seen in Switzerland, allows citizens to vote on decisions directly.
• 🎯 Free and fair elections are essential for a true democracy, where the ruling party must have a real chance of losing, unlike in countries where elections are controlled, like China or Mexico.
• 👥 In democracies, all adult citizens should have the right to vote, and each vote must carry equal weight. Countries that restrict voting rights, such as Saudi Arabia and Fiji, lack true political equality.
• 🛑 Popular approval of leaders is not enough for democracy if those leaders restrict rights and control media, as seen in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe.
• 📚 In a democracy, the government is bound by constitutional laws and must respect citizens' rights and consult on major decisions, unlike autocracies or dictatorships.
• 💬 Democracies promote freedom of speech, allow for public debate, and respect political opposition, which helps to safeguard the system and promote citizen engagement.
• 👨‍⚖️ An independent judiciary is crucial in a democracy to protect citizen rights and hold the government accountable without political interference.
• 🌱 Although democracy can be slow and prone to instability due to political competition, it ensures better decision-making, greater accountability, and the ability to correct mistakes compared to other systems of government.

Q & A

What is the basic definition of democracy according to the script?

Democracy is defined as the rule of the people, by the people, and for the people, where rulers are elected by the people.

What distinguishes democracies from non-democracies, according to the script?

Democracies allow the people to elect their rulers, while non-democracies, such as Myanmar under military rule or monarchies like Saudi Arabia, do not let the people elect their leaders.

What is the difference between representative and direct democracy?

In representative democracy, people elect individuals to represent them in government (e.g., India), while in direct democracy, citizens directly participate in decision-making (e.g., Switzerland).

Why can’t all governments that hold elections be considered democracies?

Not all elections are free or fair, and in some cases, like in China or under Pakistan’s General Musharraf, elected representatives do not hold real power, meaning these countries are not true democracies.

What are the main features of a democracy outlined in the script?

The four main features of democracy include: 1) elected representatives hold decision-making power, 2) free and fair elections, 3) political equality for all citizens, and 4) a government that operates within constitutional limits.

How does the example of China demonstrate a lack of true democracy?

In China, while elections are held every five years, all candidates must be approved by the Communist Party, meaning the election process is not free or open, and power remains with the party.

What are some arguments against democracy presented in the script?

Some arguments against democracy include its potential to cause instability, slow decision-making, increased chances for corruption, and the possibility that elected leaders may not be qualified to rule.

What are some arguments in favor of democracy mentioned in the script?

Democracy is more accountable to the people, ensures better decision-making, allows peaceful resolution of conflicts, enhances the dignity of citizens, and provides opportunities to correct mistakes.

Why does the script emphasize the importance of political equality in a democracy?

Political equality is crucial because all citizens should have the right to vote, and each vote should have equal value, as seen in examples where political rights are denied or restricted, such as in Saudi Arabia or Estonia.

How does the script define the broader meaning of democracy beyond government?

Democracy goes beyond government functions to include public participation, consultation, and representation in other areas of life, such as families and schools, where decisions should involve all affected members.

Outlines

00:00

📖 The Essence of Democracy

This paragraph introduces the concept of democracy by exploring its etymology, tracing it back to its Greek origins, meaning 'rule of the people.' It aligns with Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy as 'government of the people, by the people, for the people.' It contrasts democracy with non-democratic governments, citing examples like Myanmar's military rule and Chile's dictatorship under General Pinochet. The paragraph further discusses monarchies, such as Saudi Arabia and Nepal (before 2008), highlighting the hereditary rule in monarchies where the people's will doesn't influence leadership. It concludes by distinguishing between representative and direct democracy, using India as an example of the former and Switzerland for the latter.

05:04

🎖️ Military Coups and the Limits of Democracy

The focus here is on the distinction between democratically elected governments and those that seize power through military coups. Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf, who led a coup in 1999, is explored. Although elections were held, the real power was controlled by the military, not the elected representatives, showing the limits of democracy in such situations. The paragraph also touches on other cases like the USSR, communist Poland, and contemporary Iraq, where foreign powers or internal elites controlled the government, bypassing true democratic rule.

10:04

🔍 Elections Without Real Choice

This section examines how elections, even when held regularly, do not always equate to democracy. Using Mexico's PRI party as an example, it discusses how the party stayed in power for decades through manipulation, coercion, and corruption. In China, elections take place every five years, but only candidates approved by the Communist Party can contest, ensuring the party’s continued dominance. The paragraph underscores the importance of genuine electoral competition and highlights how elections in some countries fail to meet the criteria of free and fair democratic processes.

15:05

👥 Political Equality and Citizen Participation

Political equality and the right to vote are key aspects of a democracy. This paragraph outlines examples where political equality is denied, such as Saudi Arabia, where women couldn't vote, Estonia, where ethnic Russians face challenges in gaining citizenship, and Fiji, where voting rights differ based on ethnicity. The text argues that in a democracy, every adult citizen should have an equal right to vote, regardless of background. It also notes that even popular leaders, such as Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, can undermine democracy by curbing freedoms and controlling institutions, highlighting the need for ongoing citizen participation and equality.

20:07

📜 Constitutional Limits on Power

This paragraph discusses how a democratic government must operate within the framework of the law and respect citizens' rights. Elected leaders cannot have unlimited power and must adhere to constitutional limits. The government is accountable not just to the public but also to other independent institutions. This accountability, along with respect for minorities and democratic checks, ensures that a democracy functions properly. The paragraph ends with a reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of democracy, advocating for democracy's ability to balance power and protect rights better than other forms of government.

Keywords

💡Democracy

Democracy is a form of government where the power lies in the hands of the people, either directly or through elected representatives. In the video, democracy is described as 'rule of the people, by the people, for the people,' emphasizing that the citizens have a say in who governs them. The script contrasts democratic systems like India with non-democratic regimes like Myanmar.

💡Representative Democracy

In a representative democracy, citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. This form of democracy is common in larger nations where direct participation in every decision is impractical. The video cites India as an example, where elected officials rule the country, representing the people's will.

💡Direct Democracy

Direct democracy allows citizens to participate directly in decision-making, without intermediaries. The script mentions Switzerland as an example, where citizens vote on important national issues through referendums, ensuring they have direct control over laws and policies.

💡Elections

Elections are a key feature of democratic systems, enabling citizens to choose their leaders. However, the script stresses that not all elections ensure democracy, citing examples like China and Pakistan, where elections exist but do not provide real power to the people. Free and fair elections are essential for true democracy.

💡Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which the electorate is asked to accept or reject a specific proposal, such as a new law or policy. The video uses Switzerland's frequent referendums as an example of direct democracy, where citizens directly shape the nation's governance.

💡Military Coup

A military coup is the sudden and unconstitutional overthrow of a legitimate government by military forces. The script references the 1999 coup in Pakistan led by General Pervez Musharraf, where he seized power from the elected government, showcasing a clear contrast to democratic processes.

💡Monarchy

A monarchy is a system of government where a single ruler, typically a king or queen, holds power, often inherited through birthright. The video mentions Saudi Arabia as an example of a monarchy, where rulers are not elected but born into royal families, thus lacking the democratic principle of rule by the people.

💡Dictatorship

A dictatorship is a form of government where absolute power is concentrated in the hands of one individual or a small group. The video references General Pinochet in Chile as an example of a dictator, highlighting the absence of public participation in decision-making and the lack of democratic governance.

💡Free and Fair Elections

Free and fair elections are essential to a functioning democracy, ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities to vote, and the process is transparent. The script contrasts democratic nations with places like Mexico (before 2000), where elections were manipulated by the ruling party, preventing true democracy.

💡Political Equality

Political equality refers to the principle that all citizens have equal rights in the political process, particularly the right to vote. The script gives examples of countries like Saudi Arabia and Fiji, where certain groups (e.g., women in Saudi Arabia) are denied equal voting rights, thus challenging the democratic nature of these systems.

Highlights

Democracy originated from a Greek word meaning 'rule of the people,' aligning with Abraham Lincoln's definition: rule of the people, by the people, for the people.

Myanmar and Chile under General Pinochet are examples of non-democracies because rulers were not elected by the people, highlighting the distinction between democracies and dictatorships.

Monarchies like Saudi Arabia and Nepal before 2008 are not democracies because rulers are born into royalty, not elected by the people.

Representative democracy involves electing individuals to make decisions on behalf of the people, as seen in India, unlike direct democracy where citizens participate directly, exemplified by Switzerland.

Elections alone do not make a government democratic. For example, in China, candidates must be approved by the Communist Party, limiting true electoral competition.

The PRI party's long-standing control in Mexico through electoral manipulation illustrates how regular elections do not necessarily ensure democracy.

A key feature of democracy is free and fair elections where the ruling party has a genuine chance of losing, which distinguishes it from flawed elections like those in China and Mexico.

Political equality, where every citizen’s vote has equal value, is essential in a democracy, unlike in countries like Saudi Arabia, Estonia, and Fiji, where voting rights are restricted.

Even popular governments can be undemocratic if they suppress opposition and control media, as seen in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe.

A fundamental aspect of democracy is that elected representatives have the final decision-making power, unlike in pseudo-democracies where power lies outside the elected government.

A democratic government must operate within constitutional limits and respect citizens' rights, ensuring checks and balances on power.

Common criticisms of democracy include instability due to frequent leadership changes, slow decision-making, and the potential for corruption and unqualified leadership.

Arguments for democracy include greater government accountability, better decision-making through consultation, and the peaceful resolution of social conflicts.

Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens by providing political equality and allowing them to govern themselves through elected representatives.

A broader understanding of democracy extends beyond government to everyday life, where democratic principles can apply in families, schools, and communities.

Transcripts

what is your understanding of democracy

what does it mean let's first look at

some commonly known definitions of

democracy we already know that the word

democracy originated from a Greek word

that means the rule of the people this

isn't lined with Abraham Lincoln's

definition of democracy

democracy is a rule of the people

by the people bother people

from this simple definition

you can clearly distinguish democracies

from non democracies

for example

we know that Mayan mod is being ruled by

the army

that is

those who are in control of the army are

making the decisions for the country

the people of Myanmar have not elected

these rulers

this clearly shows that mine Mart is not

a democracy

general pinochet

led the coup in Chile

was also not elected by the people

his rule can be called dictatorship

some countries are ruled by one person

who is holy set apart from all other

members of the state

were called is subjects

the win of the people has nothing to do

with the selection of the ruler

these countries are not democracies

but monarchies for example

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy

Kings have ruled because they are born

into the royal family

you know India's neighbor

NEPA

was also a monarchy for about 239 years

in 2005

king Gyanendra to complete control of

the government

is missing the elected parliament

following opposition to its direct rule

he was peacefully to post in 2008

does

Naples newly elected Constituent

Assembly abolished the monarchy after

the elections in April 2008

Nepal is now

Federal Republic

democracy can be of several types

however the two main types of

democracies are representative democracy

and direct democracy

in representative democracy

the people elect individuals to

represent them

these representatives are given the

authority to rule the country

India is a representative democracy

contrast a representative democracy is

direct democracy

in a direct democracy the citizens

participate in the decision-making

personally rather than relying on

intermediaries or representatives

Switzerland is an example of direct

democracy in Switzerland five million

voters decide on important national

issues through referendums and

initiatives two to four times a year

a referendum involves direct voting the

entire electorate is asked to either

accept or reject a particular proposal

the proposal maybe for the adoption of a

new constitution a law or a specific

governmental policy the simple

definition of democracy that has evolved

so far tells us that democracy is the

people's rule

however this definition cannot be used

blindly

for example we cannot assume that all

governments that hold elections are

democratic

for example elections are conducted in

Pakistan and China

but the real power is not necessarily

vest in the people who are elected

you

in the next module we will explore the

definition of democracy father and

arrive at an understanding of the

features of a true democracy through

some case studies

in the previous chapter we discussed a

simple definition of democracy

democracy is a form of government in

which the rulers are elected by the

people

let's first analyze the word rulers

Pakistan has a democratically elected

government till October 1999

when general pervez musharraf led a

military coup

okuu is the sudden

unconstitutional deposition of a

legitimate government

a coup is usually led by a small group

of the existing state establishment

typically the military

to replace the deposed government with

another either civil or military

after the coup in October 1999 General

Moshe

declared himself the chief executive of

the country

later he changed his own designation to

president

and to

he held a referendum that granted him a

five-year extension

however

it was alleged that there had been a

fraud in the referendum

a referendum is a direct vote in which

the electorate is asked to either accept

or reject a proposal

to further strengthen his paw

but raise Musharraf next step was to

amend the Constitution of Pakistan

he did this by issuing a legal framework

order that gave the president the

authority to dismiss the national or

provincial assemblies

elections were then held to the national

and state assemblies

thus Pakistan had elected

representatives with some pars

however the work of the civilian cabinet

provide by a national security council

dominated by military officers

the military officers

and General Musharraf himself

had the power to override any decisions

made by the civilian cabinet

thus the elected representatives were

not the real rulers of Pakistan

similarly many dictatorships and

monarchies have an elected parliament

and government

with the real bar vesting in the people

not elected

if you recall the power of the USSR in

communist Poland and that of the u.s. in

contemporary Iraq the real power vested

with another country in these cases

therefore these also cannot be regarded

as people's rule or democracies

from all these examples it is clear that

in a democracy

the elected representatives of the

people should have the final

decision-making power

this is the first feature of democracy

let's move on to another keyword

elections

will analyze the example of a country

where elections are held regularly China

China has elections every five years

every time the people elect the

country's parliament called Chung Gow

Renmin die Bo

dolly or the National People's Congress

this Parliament has almost three

thousand members from various parts of

China and holds the power to appoint the

presidency of the country

some members are elected by the army

so far it sounds like a democracy

however not everyone can contest in

these elections

every candidate before contesting

needs to be approved by the Chinese

Communist Party

in 2002-2003 to contest elections

candidates needed to be members of the

Chinese Communist Party or one of the

eight smaller allied parties

result the communist party forms the

government every time

similarly every six years

Mexico holds elections to elect its

president

until 2000

every election was won by a party called

the PRI or the Institutional

Revolutionary Party

this was not because the PRI was the

most popular party the PRI won by using

a number of dirty tricks for example

employees

and the teachers and parents of students

in government schools were compelled to

attend PRI meetings and vote for them

the media was also in cahoots with the

PRI

reporting activities of opposition

parties only to criticize them the PRI

even shifted polling boots and used

large amounts of money for its

candidates

so

in effect

though Mexico has never been under

military or a dictators rule the

Mexicans didn't really have a proper

choice in selecting their

representatives

neither of the cases we just examined

can be considered examples of people

electing their rulers

the foundation of a democracy is free

and fair elections in which the ruling

party also faces a bad chance of losing

that is the second feature of a

democracy let's move on to the third and

the most important keyword people

even today

there are many places where the equal

right to vote is denied we look at some

examples here

the first example is Saudi Arabia where

women are not allowed to vote

another example is Estonia where the

citizenship rules make it difficult for

people belonging to the Russian minority

to gain the right to vote

finally let's look at Fiji

we're the electoral system gives more

value to the vote of an ethnic PG and

less to that of an Indian Fijian

these countries cannot really be

qualified as democracies because

political equality for citizens is

lacking

does in a democracy all adults who are

citizens of the country should be

allowed to vote

each vote having equal value

what happens if the popular government

turns out to be undemocratic

you

it is possible for popular leaders to be

autocratic as well

as has been seen in a number of case

studies Zimbabwe was under white

minority rule till it attained

independence in 1980

Zimbabwe African National Union

Patriotic Front zanu-pf

the party that led the freedom struggle

has ruled Zimbabwe since then

the leader of the Patriotic Front is

Robert Mugabe

changed the Constitution banned protests

Avast the opposition control the media

and influence the judiciary

thus though elections were held

regularly they were always won by the

Patriotic Front

clearly popular approval of the rulers

is necessary in a democracy

but it is not enough to categorize a

country as a democracy in a democracy

before the elections adequate leave a

needs to be given for normal political

activity and opposition the citizens

should be free to think and form

opinions

to be able to express these opinions in

public form associations and take other

political actions

additionally all rights should apply to

everyone equally

finally there should be an independent

judiciary to protect the rights of the

citizens without any political pressure

now let's consider the conditions that

apply to the way a government is run

after an election winning an election

does not entitle a democratic government

to do whatever it likes

the government in power needs to respect

and honor the guarantees to the

minorities

additionally major decisions cannot be

taken without going through a number of

consultations at every step all office

bearers are assigned certain rights and

responsibilities by the Constitution as

well as the law they are accountable for

fulfilling their responsibilities to the

public as well as to other independent

officials thus we can deduce that a

democratic government rules within the

limits set by the constitutional law and

the citizens rights

that is the fourth and final feature of

a democracy

we all need to introspect weigh the pros

and cons of democracy

and arrive at our own personal views on

the subject

let's start with the review of the main

arguments typically presented against

democracy democracy can lead to

instability as the leaders keep changing

in a democratic government

quick action is not possible in

democracy

because many people need to be consulted

before making any kind of decision

politicians are not too concerned about

morality in a democracy

because this form of government is all

about political competition and power

play

in fact electoral competition provides a

lot of scope for corruption

elected leaders may not necessarily be

qualified to understand the best

interests of the people this can lead to

bad decisions

finally it can be said that ordinary

people are not qualified to select a

good leader and so should not be given

that power

many of these arguments are indeed valid

however some of the points mentioned

could apply to any form of government

where power is misused

the above arguments against democracy

meishuu case it is not the ideal form of

government

I ain't here is whether democracy is

better than other forms of governments

that we are over off

to resolve this dilemma let's look at

the other side of the coin

the arguments for democracy

China recorded the worst famine from

1958 to 1961 in the history of the world

with the tool of more than three crore

whereas India

in spite of worse economic conditions

did not have such an acute famine

economists think it was because the

government's policies in India were

different

India being a democracy had multi-party

elections an opposition party looking

over the government's shoulder and a

press free to criticize the government

therefore

the Indian government responded to the

food scarcity in a manner very different

from that of the Chinese government

in a non democracy the rulers may or may

not respond to the needs and wishes of

the people

thus we arrived at our first argument in

favor of democracy

a democratic government is more

accountable to its people

as mentioned earlier Democratic

decisions involve a series of

consultations meetings and discussions

among many persons

granted

that such a decision-making process is

time-consuming

this helps a democracy guard against

rash or irresponsible decisions

that's our second argument in favor of

democracy

a democratic government can ensure

better decisions

during our earlier discussions on

democracy you learned that all

individuals may have different ideas

ideals and values

this is especially true in a country of

vast social diversity such as India

however in a democracy no one can be

regarded as a winner or loser

permanently

therefore democracy enables people to

deal with differences and conflicts in a

peaceful manner

this was the some of the arguments about

the effects of democracy on the quality

of government and social life

however the more important aspect of

democracy is the effect of democracy on

citizens in enforcing political equality

democracy enhances the dignity of

citizens

the same status to all people regardless

of wealth or education

rather than being subservient to a ruler

the citizens rule themselves through

elected representatives when they make

mistakes they assume responsibility for

their own mistakes as well

thus democracy is better than other

forms of government because it allows us

to correct our own mistakes

no form of government can guarantee

perfection

however democracy as a form of

government allows for relatively more

transparency public discussion and

correction of mistakes

Hoss is a representative democracy

people rule through their elected

representatives the limited

understanding of representative

democracy is

firstly it is not physically possible

for all of them to sit together and make

collective decisions

secondly all citizens may not have the

time skill or inclination to take part

in the decision-making process

it also limits us to democracy in a

government

for an understanding of the operations

of a democracy beyond government

functions we need to look at the broader

meaning of democracy

for example families and schools can be

democratic as well

kradic family

the opinion of each family member is

given equal importance in making a

decision

similarly

better scoop for democracy in schools as

well

students like teachers who encourage

them to be curious learners

a decision is democratic if it is made

after consultation of everyone likely to

be affected by it for example

in relatively small communities like a

gram sabha all the members can sit

together and make decisions directly

the features of democracy that we

discussed in earlier modules provided a

basic foundation for our understanding

of democracy

and also what an ideal democracy should

be like

thus broadly speaking democracy involves

public participation consultation and

representation

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

you