Class 10SST Civics Challanges to Democracy

Chapter 8 - Challenges to Democracy

Meaning of Challenge:

A challenge is not just any problem. We usually call only those difficulties a ‘challenge’ which are significant and which can be overcome. A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before

Foundational Challenge:

Different countries face different kinds of challenges. At least one fourth of the globe is still not under democratic government. The challenge for democracy in these parts of the world is very stark. These countries face the foundational challenge of making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state. For example, Nepal was under Monarchy till recent times. Now Nepal has changed to a democratic system. Certain mindsets and systems will take years to change as they have taken years to develop. Nepal is a very good example of foundational challenge of democracy.

Challenge of Expansion:

Most of the established democracies face the challenge of expansion. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Ensuring greater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation, inclusion of women and minority groups, etc., falls under this challenge. This also means that less and less decisions should remain outside the arena of democratic control. Most countries including India and other democracies like the US face this challenge. In India certain socio-economically backward groups have yet to get the political powers. Additionally, some north-eastern states have not yet fully integrated with the mainstream India. These are examples of challenge of expansion of democracy

Deepening of Democracy

The third challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy. This should happen in such a way that people can realise their expectations of democracy. But ordinary people have different expectations from democracy in different societies. In the early nineties, when T N Sheshan became the Chief Election Commissioner, he brought about a revolutionary change of disciplining political parties. This in turn ensured fairer elections. This is an example of strengthening a particular political institution.
From above descriptions it is clear that different country face different kinds of challenges to democracy. These challenges depend on what stage of social development the country is. Solutions to these challenges also depend on a particular country’s unique situation. It can be said that there is no pre-prescribed method to tackle the challenge faced by a democracy

What is a challenge?

A challenge is not just any problem. We usually call only those difficulties a ‘challenge’ which are significant and which can be overcome.

A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before.

Different countries face different kinds of challenges.

1.       Foundational challenge -This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.

2.      Challenge of expansion-This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Ensuring greater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation, inclusion of women and minority groups, etc., falls under this challenge.

3.      Deepening of democracy –This is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy by more people’s participation and control.

Some broad guidelines that can be kept in mind while devising ways and means for political reforms in India:

1.    It is legal ways of reforming politics- law has an important role to play in political reform.Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. (But legal-constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.)

2.    Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Laws that give political actors incentives to do good things have more chances of working. The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. (The Right to Information Act is a good example of a law that empowers the people to find out what is happening in government and act as watchdogs of democracy)

3.    Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. Therefore, the main focus of political reforms should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.

4.    Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how. Measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens’ organizations and the media are likely to succeed.

5.    Let us keep these general guidelines in mind and look at some specific instances of challenges to democracy that require some measure of reform.

Old Definition of Democracy

1.      The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions

2.      Elections must offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers

3.      This choice and opportunity should be available to all the people on an equal basis

4.      The exercise of this choice must lead to a government limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens’ rights.

New and modern definition of democracy

1.    Democracy not only should provide political rights but also some social and economic rights that a democracy should offer to its citizens.

2.    Power sharing between governments and social groups is necessary in a democracy.

3.    Respect for minority voice is necessary for democracy.

4.    Eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion and gender is important in a democracy.

5.    Democracy must bring all positive outcomes like accountability, responsive, reducing poverty etc.

I - VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

01. Name any two challenges to the working of democracy in India?
Ans. Social and Economic inequality and casteism are the two challenges being faced by Indian Democracy.


02. What is the challenge of expansion?
Ans. The challenge of expansion, which is present in an established democracy, means applying th principle of democracy across all the regions, different social groups and institutions in the country.

03. Define the term 'Democratic Reform'.
Ans. Any proposal or suggestion about overcoming various challenges of democracy are called democratic reforms.

04. What types of challenges are being faced by democracy?
Ans. Three types of challenges i.e., Foundational challenge, challenge of expansion and deepening of democracy.

05. Give examples of challenge of expansion to democracy.
Ans. To give more powers to local governments and expansion of federal principle to all the units of the federation.

06. How can democratic reforms be carried out?
Ans. Democratic reforms can be carried out by
(a) legally
(b) by good quality of people's participation
(c) Development of democratic movement and the media.

07. What are the legal ways of reforming politics?
Ans. It means changes in the existing laws which can help to discourage wrong practices and encourage good ones or to bring amendments in the constitution.

08. What is the most common form of democracy in today's world?
Ans. Indirect or representative democracy

09. What do you understand by regionalism?
Ans. When the people, living in a particular, region, awaken to their separate existence, due to social, economic or geographical causes, the leaning towards their region, is called regionalism.

10. Mention any two measures to remove poverty in India.
Ans. The ever-increasing population of India should be effectively checked and steps should be taken to increase agricultural production in the country.

Short Answers Type Questions

Q.1: - What are the basic rights of citizens for exercising voting rights?

Ans.:- 1. The rulers elected by the people must take all the major decisions.

          2. Elections must offer a choice and fair opportunity to the people to change the current rulers.

          3. The choice and opportunity should be available to all the people on an equal basis.

          4. The exercise of this choice must lead to a govt. limited by basic rules of the constitution and citizens right.

Q.2: - How is the challenge of deepening of democracy faced by every democracy?

Ans.:- 1. This involves string tuning of the institutions and practices of democracy.

          2. This should happen in such a way that people can realize their expectations of democracy.

          3. In general terms, it usually means string tuning those institutions that help people’s participation and control.

          4. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decisions.

Q.3: - Enumerate there challenges which democracies in the world face today.

Ans.:- 1. Fundamental challenge — Those countries which do not have democratic form of govt. face the fundamental challenge of establishing democracy in the country.

          2. Challenge of Expansion.—Countries having democratic setup face the challenge of expansion.

          3. Deepening of Democracy – This challenge is faced by almost all the democracies. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracies.

Q.4: - What does fundamental challenge to democracy mean? Which two aspects are included in this challenge?

Ans.: - Those countries which do not have democratic form of govt. face the foundational challenge of establishing democracy in the country. This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic govt. to keep the military away from capturing power and establishing a sovereign democratic state.