Explain how the economic and social equality is the basis for succes of democracy
Answers
Answer:
Accommodation of social diversity by democracy: 1) No society can fully and permanently resolve the conflicts among different groups but democracy is best suited to respect these differences and can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences.
2) Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or try to supress internal social differences. Ability to handle social differences, divisions, conflicts is thus definitely a plus point of democratic regimes.
3) For accommodation of social diversity: it is necesssary 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. Majority and minority opinions are not permanent.
4) It is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic groups etc. Rule by majoority means that in case of every decision or in case of every election, different groups and persons may and can form a majority.
5) Democracy remains democracy as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time. If someone is barred from being in majority on the basis of birth, then the democratic rule ceases to be accomodative for that person or group.
Reduction of economic inequality by democracy: 1) In most of the democracies a small number of ultra rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of health of wealth and income.
2) The share of rich class is increasing whereas those who are at the bottom of the society have very little to depend upon.
3) Even in India, the poor constitute a large propotion of our voters, and no party would like to lose its votes. Yet, democratically elected governmentsdo not appear to be as keen to adress the question of poverty as one would expect them to.
4) The situation is much worse in some other countires. 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 the food supplies.
5) Even the indian democracy has also failed to tackle the issue of inequality. Even after more than 65 years of independence more than 30% of people survive only with $1.25 per day.