Discuss how deomocracy and development are related to each other.

 India has made wonderful progress. Her population is growing by leaps and bounds. Soon it may become greatest country in population leaving China far behind. India produces many times more films than U.S.A. and about ten times of other developed countries such as Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada and China etc. and about hundred times more than any other country of Africa, South America and Asia etc. Its film actors and actresses are billionaire i.e. richest in the world.

So far advancement of women is concerned it has most advanced, ultra modern, most powerful ladies in the world. Indira Gandhi probably wielded more power than any other prime minister of the world.

After independence India adopted democratic system of governance, India opted for the Parliamentary form of Government based on universal adult franchise. Other is substantial democracy which cares for people’s participation and benefits to common man by providing them means of livelihood, help in case of distress, and water and electricity, education, medical care etc. As such India lacks substantial democracy.

Democracy and Development: Some scholars think democracy and development are irreconcilable while Amrtya Sen, the Noble Prize winner is of the opinion that democracy and development are complimentary to one another. Perhaps he is right. As U.S.A., U.K., Japan, Germany, France, Canada and Italy are richest countries due to democracy and development. 

Essentials of Democracy

Democracy has been defined as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”, but others have said about democracy “Democracy is a search for a way of life in which the voluntary free intelligence and activity of man can be harmonized and coordinated with the least possible coercion, and it is the belief that way of life is the best way for all mankind, the way most in keeping with the nature of man and the nature of the universe.” As such, “enlightened public opinion is the only guarantee of the successful working of our democratic institutions” and it is perhaps correct.  

Democracy has been praised as well as criticised from the very beginning. Plato criticised it and criticism is continuous even now and even Coker says, “Democracy is, of all form of state, the most unfriendly to liberty and individuality.”

The explanation and appraisal of democracy have been a favourite theme of discussion since the earliest times. We derive the word from the ancient Greeks and there has been little change in formal meaning. Hero-dotus in 5th century B.C. understood democracy mean the “multitude’s rule” or a society in which there is equality of rights and the holders of political office are accountable for what they do there–when they were in power. 

Much has been written on democracy. Perhaps few subjects in political science commanded such an attention of a very large number of thinkers as democracy. But “Democracy has come to mean so many different things, some very hostile to each other, that it needs careful analysis, few words have been more loosely and variously defined than democracy. It has also most literally meant all things to all men.” The confusion is increased because not only Western democracies speak of democracy, but communist countries, like USSR and China also say that they have people’s democracy. Communists say that perfect democracy is to be found in their countries, while Western countries have democracy in which there is exploitation by capitalists and imperialists. It is interesting to note that Ayub Khan has introduced “basic or controlled democracy” in Pakistan while president Sukarno tried to give ‘Guided’ democracy to Indonesia, but failed and democracy has triumphed though in Pakistan there is military dictatorship. The term democracy is drawn from the Greek word Demos (people) and Kratas (government) means power or government of the people. The most popular definition is of Abraham Lincoln. He defined, “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” According to Seeley, “Democracy is a government in which everyone has a share.” Great scholar Prof. A.V. Dicey defines ‘Democracy’ as that form of government in which the governing body is a comparatively large section of the entire nation. 

Political expert Lord Bryce defined democracy. “That form of government in which the ruling power of a state is legally vested not in a particular class or classes but in the members of the community as a whole.”

According to great thinker J.S. Mill, democracy is that form of government in which “The whole people or some numerous portion of them, exercise the governing power through deputies periodically elected by them.” 

Great writer MacIver observes, “Democracy is not a way of governing whether by majority or otherwise but primarily a way of determining, who shall govern and broadly to what ends.” 

Scholar C.C. Maxey’s definition on democracy is of great significance at present. “Democracy as reinterpreted in nineteenth century, thus, seems to be more than a political formula, more than a system of government, more than a social order. It is a search for a way of life in which the voluntary free intelligence and society of men can be harmonised and coordinated with the least possible correction and it is a belief that such a way of life is the best way for all mankind, the way most in keeping with the nature of man and the nature of universe.” 

Different Senses of Democracy 

Democracy has been used in three different senses. It means a form of government, a form of state and a way of life. As a form of government, it means that legal power in the community is vested in the people as a whole and rulers belong to the majority in the electorate in the communities which actually are voting. Thus, democracy is regarded as government by consent or public discussion. Modern democracy stands or falls with the right of discussion and with the existence of a recognised opposition.

Democracy as a Way of Life: Democracy, it is said, is not only a form of government but a way of life. Under a democratic government the dignity of individual personality is recognised. Every individual is free to live in his own way, entertain opinion as likes; express his opinion freely, move about freely, enjoy the company of people he likes and become a member of associations and parties. In a democratic country, individual enjoys equality and liberty etc.

Various Forms of Democracy: Direct democracy according to Garner means “as a form in which the will of the state directly or indirectly is expressed through the people directly.” It was practised in Greek city states and now it is practised in Switzerland that is, to a certain extent it can be put into practice easily only in small states. Indirect or representative democracy means that the government is carried on through the periodically elected representatives. It is of three kinds: presidential, parliamentary and collegiate as practised in Switzerland. Now concepts of people's (communist) democracy and basic or guided democracy have been added to it though it is improper to consider them really a democracy. Real democracy requires people’s participation and it rests on final decision of people.   

Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE

For PDF copy of Solved Assignment

WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)