What is Democracy? | Class 9 Civics Notes | CBSE 2025-26 Exam Prep

Overview of Democracy

The chapter aims to clarify the meaning of democracy, its features, and why it is considered a better form of government. It starts with a simple definition and then elaborates on the terms involved to understand the minimum features of a democratic government, enabling one to distinguish it from non-democratic forms. The chapter also introduces a broader idea of democracy towards its end.

1. What is Democracy?

• Initial Simple Definition: A starting point for understanding democracy is that it is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. This definition helps to differentiate democracies from clearly non-democratic governments like military rule (e.g., Myanmar, Pinochet in Chile) or monarchies (e.g., Saudi Arabia), where rulers are not chosen by the people.
• Limitations of the Simple Definition: The simple definition is not sufficient because many governments that are not truly democratic hold elections and call themselves democracies, which can be misleading. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully define each word in the definition and specify the features of a democratic government.
• The Origin of the Word "Democracy": The word "democracy" comes from the Greek word "Demokratia," where "demos" means people and "kratia" means rule, suggesting "rule by the people".
• Why Origin is Not Always Useful: A word's meaning can evolve and does not always remain tied to its origin. For example, computers were originally used for calculating, but now have many other uses like writing, designing, and entertainment. Similarly, the meaning of "democracy" can change over time, making it not always useful to rely solely on its origin.
• The Need for a Clear Definition: Definitions are needed when there is difficulty in using a word or when different entities claim the same label for varying purposes. For democracy, a clear definition is essential because many different kinds of governments claim to be democratic, necessitating a way to distinguish a true democracy from one that merely pretends to be so.

2. Features of Democracy

Based on a detailed examination, the sources outline four key features of a democratic government:

• Major Decisions by Elected Leaders

  • Core Principle: In a democracy, the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.
  • Example (Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf): In October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup, overthrowing a democratically elected government and declaring himself 'Chief Executive,' later President. Although he held a referendum for a five-year extension and elections were held for national and provincial assemblies, Pakistani media, human rights organizations, and democracy activists stated the referendum was fraudulent. The Legal Framework Order he issued allowed the President to dismiss assemblies, and the civilian cabinet's work was supervised by a military-dominated National Security Council. Even with elected representatives, the real power to make final decisions remained with unelected military officers and General Musharraf himself. This scenario demonstrates that having elected representatives is not enough; they must hold the final decision-making power for a government to be considered democratic.

• Free and Fair Electoral Competition

  • Core Principle: A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing. Elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives, allowing people to remove existing rulers if they wish.
  • Example (China): Elections are held every five years for the National People’s Congress, which appoints the President. However, candidates need approval from the Chinese Communist Party, and only members of this party or its eight smaller allied parties are allowed to contest. The government is always formed by the Communist Party, meaning elections do not offer people a serious choice.
  • Example (Mexico): Mexico has held regular elections every six years since 1930 without military or dictator rule. However, until 2000, every election was won by the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). The PRI used various "dirty tricks" to win, such as forcing government employees and school teachers to attend party meetings and vote for them, largely ignoring opposition parties in the media except to criticize them, and shifting polling booths last minute. While people seemingly had a choice, in practice, the ruling party could not be defeated, indicating unfair elections.

• One Person, One Vote, One Value

  • Core Principle: Democracy is based on the fundamental principle of political equality. In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote, and each vote must have one value. This principle is linked to the demand for universal adult franchise.
  • Instances of Denial of Equal Right to Vote:
    • Saudi Arabia: Women did not have the right to vote until 2015.
    • Estonia: Citizenship rules are designed such that people belonging to the Russian minority find it difficult to obtain voting rights.
    • Fiji: The electoral system gives the vote of an indigenous Fijian more value than that of an Indian-Fijian. These examples show a denial of the "one person, one vote, one value" principle.

• Rule of Law and Respect for Rights

  • Core Principle: A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights. It must respect basic rules and guarantees to minorities.
  • Example (Zimbabwe): After gaining independence in 1980, Zimbabwe was ruled by Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF. While elections were held regularly and won by ZANU-PF, Mugabe used unfair practices. His government amended the constitution multiple times to increase presidential powers and reduce accountability. Opposition workers were harassed, public protests were illegal, and a law limited criticism of the President. State-controlled media only presented the ruling party's view, and the government harassed independent journalists and ignored unfavorable court judgments, pressurizing judges. Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017. This case illustrates that popular approval is not enough; a democracy must also ensure the rule of law, respect for citizens' basic rights (like freedom of thought, expression, association, protest), and an independent judiciary.

3. Summary Definition of Democracy

Combining these four features, democracy is defined as a form of government in which:

• Rulers elected by the people take all the major decisions.
• Elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.
• This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on an equal basis.
• The exercise of this choice leads to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights.

4. Why Democracy? (Arguments for and against Democracy)

• Arguments Against Democracy:

  • Instability: Leaders frequently change, leading to instability.
  • No Morality: It's seen as purely about political competition and power play, lacking moral scope.
  • Delays: Consultation with many people causes delays in decision-making.
  • Bad Decisions: Elected leaders may not know the best interests of the people, leading to poor decisions.
  • Corruption: Electoral competition can lead to corruption.
  • Ignorance of Ordinary People: Ordinary people are perceived as not knowing what is good for them and should not decide anything.
  • It is acknowledged that democracy is not a "magical solution" and doesn't guarantee good decisions or an end to poverty, and can involve frequent leadership changes.

• Arguments For Democracy:

  • Accountability and Responsiveness: Democracy is better than other forms of government in responding to the needs of the people. A non-democratic government's response depends on the rulers' wishes, whereas a democracy requires rulers to attend to people's needs, making it a more accountable form of government. The example of China's famine (1958-1961) where three crore people died, compared to India which did not suffer such a famine despite similar economic conditions, highlights this point. Economists suggest that India's democracy, with multiparty elections, an opposition, and a free press, made its government respond effectively to food scarcity, preventing a large-scale famine.
  • Improved Quality of Decision-Making: Democratic decisions involve consultation, discussion, and meetings among many people. This collective deliberation helps to identify possible mistakes, reducing the chances of rash or irresponsible decisions, thereby improving the quality of decision-making.
  • Method to Deal with Differences and Conflicts: Democracy provides the only peaceful solution to societal differences and conflicts, especially in diverse countries like India. It ensures that no one is a permanent winner or loser, allowing different groups to coexist peacefully and keeping the country together.
  • Enhances Dignity of Citizens: Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens by being based on the principle of political equality, where the poorest and least educated have the same status as the rich and educated. Citizens are not subjects but are themselves the rulers, responsible for their actions.
  • Allows Correction of Own Mistakes: Democracy provides a way to correct its own mistakes. Mistakes cannot be hidden for long due to public discussion, and there is room for correction either by changing decisions or changing the rulers. This capability is absent in non-democratic governments.

5. Broader Meanings of Democracy

Beyond a minimal definition of government, democracy has broader applications and ideals:

• Representative Democracy: The most common form of democracy today is representative democracy, where a majority takes decisions on behalf of all people through elected representatives. This is necessary because:
  • Modern democracies involve too many people for direct collective decision-making.
  • Citizens may lack the time, desire, or skills to participate in all decisions directly.
• Democracy Beyond Government: The term "democracy" can apply to various organizations and spheres of life, such as families, classrooms, or political parties. A democratic decision in this broader sense involves consultation with and consent of all affected individuals, where everyone has an equal say, regardless of power. This means democracy is also a principle applicable to any sphere of life.
• Democracy as an Ideal Standard: "Democracy" can also refer to an ideal standard that existing democracies should strive for. Examples include statements like "True democracy will come...when no one goes hungry to bed" or "every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision making...with equal information, basic education, equal resources and a lot of commitment". While no country perfectly meets these ideals, understanding democracy as an ideal helps evaluate existing democracies, identify weaknesses, and distinguish between a "minimal democracy" and a "good democracy".
• Direct Democracy in Small Communities: In small communities, direct democratic decision-making is possible, where all people can sit together and make decisions directly, such as how a Gram Sabha (village council) should work.

6. Key Takeaways

• No country is a perfect democracy; the features discussed are minimum conditions.
• Achieving an ideal democracy requires constant effort to strengthen democratic decision-making.
• The fate of a democratic country depends largely on the active political participation of its citizens, not just on the rulers. This active participation distinguishes democracy from other forms of government where citizens are often discouraged from political involvement.
  

Key words:

• Meaning of democracy

• Democratic government

• Class 9 social science civics

• Characteristics of democracy

• Examples of democracy

• Indian democracy

• Participatory government

• Elected government

• People's rule

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