why do we need a democracy? give any four merits and demerits of democracy?
Answers
Merits of democracy :
The following are some of the merits of democracy:
In a democracy, the government is responsible to the people as democracy is a government by popular consent. The government is based on public opinion and is run according to the wishes of the people.
Democracy is based on equality. It pays attention to the interests and welfare of all sections of people without any discrimination on the basis of class, caste, gender, race, etc.
In a democracy, citizens have a sense of participation in the government, as the government is run by the representatives elected by them. It serves as training ground for good citizenship as it generates a sense of national spirit and makes the citizens conscious of their rights and duties.
A democratic society is not prone to revolutions. People can express their opinions freely and redress their grievances through peaceful and constitutional means.
The position of every individual is recognized in a democracy. It ensures the all round development of the personality of every individual and infuses a sense of responsibility in the citizens.
Demerits of democracy:
Some of the demerits of democracy are listed as below:
It is sometimes pointed out that democracy is a government by incompetent persons who are ignorant about the art of governance. Representatives are elected more on the basis of their popularity among the voters than on the basis of their experience and knowledge.
Democracy hinders progress and fosters corruption. The political parties are more interested in grabbing political power. They pursue their own ends and neglect the interests of the state.
Democratic government is very expensive. Every election involves huge expenditure. The numerous bodies of legislature and ministries are also very expensive.
According to some, democracy is incapable of tackling emergency. It is difficult to take prompt decisions in a democracy and still more difficult to promptly enforce those decisions because of the involvement of several bodies and agencies.
Some critics are of the view that as democracy is a rule of the majority, it might turn into tyranny of the majority over the minority. In such a case, the interests of the minority are totally ignored.