Outcomes of Democracy – Notes
How Do We Assess Democracy’s Outcomes?
Democracy is a better form of government than dictatorship in the following respects:
• Promotes equality among citizens.
• Enhances the dignity of the individual.
• Improves the quality of decision-making.
• Provides a method to resolve conflicts.
• Allows room to correct mistakes.
There is often a gap between the principle and practice of democracy.
Democracy is practiced in over a hundred countries, each with different
outcomes based on their social, economic, and cultural contexts.
• Democracy is just a form of government that creates conditions for achieving goals;
it requires active citizen participation to achieve these goals.
Democracy Produces Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate Government
• People have the right to choose their rulers, and they have control over their rulers.
Citizens can participate in decision-making. Thus, democracy produces a government
that is accountable to the citizens and responsive to the needs and expectations of
the citizens (Accountability and Responsiveness)
• While non-democratic rulers can make quick decisions, democracy involves
deliberation and negotiation, which can take time but lead to more acceptable and
effective decisions (Efficiency and Effectiveness)
• Democracy ensures that decision-making is based on norms and procedures. So, a
citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures
can find out this information. Citizens can take part in decision-making whenever
they want (Transparency),
• A democratic government is the people’s own government. People wish to be ruled
by representatives elected by them.
• To measure the effectiveness of Democracy based on the above outcomes, We look
into the following institutions and practices:
Regular, free, and fair elections; open public debate on policies and legislations; and
citizens' right to information about the government.
Performance Record: Democracies have had success in regular free elections and open
public debate but often fall short in ensuring fair elections and public debate on every
decision.
Substantive Expectations: Democracies should be attentive to the needs of the people and
free of corruption, but records show democracies often struggle with these issues.
Economic Growth and Development
• Economic development depends on several factors:
the country’s population size
global situation, cooperation from other countries
economic priorities adopted by the country, etc.
• The difference in economic development rates between less developed democracies
and dictatorships is negligible.
• So, democracy is preferred as it has several positive outcomes despite having lower
economic growth.
Economic Outcomes of Democracy
The following points show the relationship of democracy with economic growth and
economic inequalities.
1. The dictatorial regime has had a slightly better record of economic growth. But when
we compare their record only in poor countries, there is virtually no difference.
2. There can be a very high degree of inequality within democracies.
3. There is often inequality of opportunities available to the poorer sections of the
society.
Reduction of Inequality and Poverty
Democracies are based on political equality. All individuals have equal weight in electing
representatives. In the process of bringing individuals into the political arena on an equal
footing, we find growing economic inequalities.
• A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly disproportionate share of wealth and
incomes. Their share in the total income of the country has been increasing.
• Those at the bottom strata of society have very little to depend upon. Their incomes
have been declining.
In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic
inequalities.
The poor constitute a large proportion of India’s voters and no party will like to lose their
votes. Yet democratically elected governments do not appear to be as keen to address the
question of poverty as you would expect them to.
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 food supplies.
Accommodation of Social Diversity
• It will be a fair expectation that democracy should produce a harmonious social life.
• No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups.
• However, we can learn to respect these differences and we can evolve mechanisms
to negotiate the differences.
• Democracy is best suited to produce this outcome. The ability to handle social
differences, divisions and conflicts is a plus point of democratic regimes.
Democracy must fulfil 2 conditions in order to achieve this outcome:
1. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function
to represent the general view (No opinion should be permeant)
2. Rule by majority means that in the case of every decision or in the case of every
election, different persons and groups may and can form a majority.
Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in
majority at some of time. If someone is barred from being in majority on the basis of birth,
then the democratic rule ceases to be accommodative for that person or group
Dignity and Freedom of the Citizens
• Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting the
dignity and freedom of the individual. The passion for respect and freedom is the
basis of democracy.
• Let’s take the case of the dignity of women. Historically, societies have been male-
dominated.
• The long struggles of women have created some sensitivity that respect and equal
treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.
• Recognition of these principles makes it easier for women to fight against legal and
moral injustices.
• In non-democratic setups, such struggles lack legal and moral support.
• The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the
claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and equal
opportunity.
• Caste-based inequalities and atrocities still exist but lack moral and legal justification.
• Recognition of equality makes citizens value their democratic rights.
• Most individuals today believe that their vote makes a difference in the way the
government is run and in their own self-interest.
• Democratic examination never gets over. As it passes one test, it produces another
test.
• As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more and want to make
democracy even better.
• The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of
democracy.
• Public dissatisfaction reflects the transformation from subjects to citizens, showing
active participation in democracy.
• Complaints show that citizens have developed awareness and the ability to critically
evaluate power holders.
