OUTCOMES OF DEMOCRACY
introduction
Chapter deals with the expected and actual outcomes of
democracy in various respects, quality of government, economic well-being,
inequality, social differences and conflict and finally freedom and dignity.
assessment of democracy’s outcomes
Democracy is better because it :
(i) Promotes equality among citizens;
(ii) Enhances the dignity of the individual;
(iii) Improves the quality of decision making;
(iv) Provides a method to resolve conflicts;
and
(v) Allows room to
correct mistakes.
But
not all people would be satisfied with the democracy in practice. So we face a
dilemma : democracy is seen to be good in principle, but felt to be not so good
in its practice.
The
first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to
recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create
conditions for achieving something. The citizens have to take advantage of
those conditions and achieve those goals.
Prudential reasons to support Democracy
accountable and responsIVE government
® The most basic outcome of democracy should be that it
produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of
the citizens.
Is
democratic government effective and efficient?
® Some
people think that democracy produces less effective government. It is, of
course, true that non-democratic rulers do not have to bother about
deliberation in assemblies or worry about majorities and public opinion. So,
they can be very quick and efficient in decision making and implementation.
Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. So, some delay
is bound to take place.
® The
democratic government will take more time to follow procedures before arriving
at a decision. But because it has followed procedures, its decisions may be
both more acceptable to the people and more effective. So, the cost of time
that democracy pays is perhaps worth it.
® A citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through
the correct procedures can find this out. She has the right and the means to
examine the process of decision making. This is known as transparency.
This factor is often missing from a non-democratic government.( RTI Act 2005)
® The democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to
hold the government accountable and mechanisms for citizens to take part in
decision making whenever they think fit.
Some
disadvantages of democracy
® Democracies have had greater success in setting up regular
and free elections and in setting up conditions for open public debate. But
most democracies fall short of elections that provide a fair chance to everyone
and in subjecting every decision to public debate.
® Democratic governments do not have a very good record when it
comes to sharing information with citizens. All one can say in favour of
democratic regimes is that they are much better than any non-democratic regime
in these respects.
® Democracies often frustrate the needs of the people and often
ignore the demands of a majority of its population. The routine tales of
corruption are enough to convince us that democracy is not free to this evil.
Democracy and legitimate government
® There is one respect in which democratic government is
certainly better than its alternative : democratic government is legitimate government.
® That
is why there is an overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the
world.
® The
support exists in countries with democratic regimes as well as countries
without democratic regimes. People wish to be ruled by representatives elected
by them.
® Democracy’s ability to generate its own support is itself an
outcome that cannot be ignored.
economic outcomes of democracy
® All democracies and all dictatorships for the fifty years
between 1950 and 2000, dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic
growth.
® But when compare their record only in poor countries, their
is virtually no difference
Reduction of
inequality and poverty
® Democracies are based on political equality. i.e. one vote
one value. But we find growth in economic inequalities.
® A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate
share of wealth and incomes. Not only that, their share in the total income of
the country has been increasing. The bottom of the society have very little to
depend upon. Their incomes have been declining. Sometimes they find it
difficult to meet their basic needs of life, such as food, clothing, house,
education and health.
® In democratic countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top
20 per cent people take away more than 60 per cent of the national income,
leaving less than 3 per cent for the bottom 20 per cent population. Countries
like Denmark and Hungary are much better in this respect.
® The poor constitute a large proportion of our voters and no
party will like to lose their votes.Democracy is the rule of majority and the poor are in majority.
® The
situation is much worse in some other countries. In Bangladesh, more than half
of its population lives in poverty. People in several poor countries are now
dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies.
accommodation of social diversity
® Democracies
leads to peaceful life among citizens.
® Democracies accommodate various social divisions. Ex. Belgium
has successfully negotiated difference among ethnic populations.
® Ability
to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus
point of democratic regimes. But the example of Sri Lanka reminds us that a
democracy must fulfil two conditions in order to achieve this outcome, namely
harmony and accomodation of minority with majority.
® It
is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority
opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments
function to represent the general view.
® It
is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority
community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group, etc. Rule by
majority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election,
different persons and groups may and can form a majority. Democracy remains
democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at
some point of time.
dignity and freedom of the citizens
® Democracy
stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and
freedom of the individual.
® Democracies throughout the world have recognised this, at
least in principle. This has been achieved in various degrees in various democracies.
® Societies around world have been built for long on the basis
of subordination and domination. For example, dignity of women.
® Most societies across the world were historically Patriarchal
societies. Feminist Movements have created some sensitivity today,
that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a
democratic society.
® Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the
disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal opportunity. There are
instances still to caste-based inequalities and atrocities, but these lack the
moral and legal foundations. People have democratic rights.
® As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more
and want to make democracy even better. That is why, when we ask people about the way democracy functions,
they will always come up with more expectations, and many complaints.
® A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows
the success of the democratic. Most individuals today believe that
their vote makes a difference to the way the government is run and to their own
self-interest.
® In Nepal 75%, India 67%, Bangladesh 66%, Sri Lanka 65%, Pakistan 50%
Voters says that their vote makes a difference.
Voters says that their vote makes a difference.
