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I have heard a different version. Democracy is off the people far (from) the people and (where they) buy the people. Why don't we accept that?
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Let us take Lyngdoh Madam seriously and try to write down the exact definition of some of the simple words that we use all the time: pen, rain and love. e.g., is there a way of defining a pen that distinguishes it clearly from a pencil, a brush, a chalk or crayon?
(i) What have you learnt from this attempt?
(ii) What does it teach no about understanding the meaning of democracy?
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Ribiang went back home and collected some more famous quotations on democracy. This time she did not mention the names of the people who said or wrote these. She wants you to read these and comment on how good or useful these thoughts are
(i)Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
(ii) Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they, have told you what you think it is you want to hear.
(iii) Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.
(iv) Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
(v) All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.
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This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of US and other foreign powers.
(i) What do you think this cartoon is saying?
(ii) Why is 'democracy' written the way it is?
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Syria is a small West Asian country. The ruling Ba'ath Party and some of its small allies are the only parties allowed in that country.
(i) Do you think this cartoon could apply to China or Mexico?
(ii) What does the crown of leaves on democracy signify?
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This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America.
(i) Do you think it applies to the Pakistani situation as well?
(ii) Think of other countries where this could apply?
(iii) Does this happen sometimes in our country as well?
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All this is so remote for me.
(i) Is democracy all about rulers and governments?
(ii) Can we talk about a democratic classroom?
(iii) Or a democratic family?
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This cartoon was titled 'Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American Publication.
(i) What do money bags signify here?
(ii) Could this cartoon be applied to India?
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This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein's regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars.
(i) What is the cartoonist saying here?
(ii) Compare the message of this cartoon with the first cartoon in this chapter.
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(i) Why talk about Zimbabwe?
(ii) I read similar reports from many parts of our own country. Why don't we discuss that?
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Chinese Government blocked free flow of information on the internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like 'Google' and ‘Yahoo'. The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history. Find out about that event.
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Read these five examples of working or denial of democracy. Match each of these with the relevant feature of democracy discussed above.
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EXAMPLE
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FEATURE
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King of Bhutan has declared that in future he will be guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives
Many Tamil workers who migrated from India were not given a right to vote in Sri Lanka
This king of Nepal imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations and rallies
The Indian Supreme Court held that the dissolution of Bihar Assembly was unconstitutional
Political parties in Bangladesh have agreed that a neutral government should rule the country at the time of elections
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I want to be in Lyngdoh Madam's class! That sounds like a democratic classroom, doesn't it?
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This cartoon is from Brazil, a country that has long experience of dictatorship. It is entitled 'The Hidden Side of Dictatorship’
(i) Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict?
(ii) Is it necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side?
(iii) Find this out the dictators discussed in the first chapter and, if possible, about Abacha in Nigeria and Macros in the Philippines.
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What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?
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This cartoon was published in Canada just before its Parliamentary elections of 2005. Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal Party to win once again. When the result came, expected the Liberal Party lost the elections.
In this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?
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Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. The article said that this was great merit of democracy. After reading the essay, Rajesh and Muzaffar had different reactions. Rajesh said that this was not a good argument for democracy. It was just a matter of Chance. It is possible that in future democracies may have wars. Muzaffar said that it could not be a matter of chance. Democracies take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war. Which of the two positions do you agree with and why?
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This famous cartoon by RK Laxman comments on the celebrations of the fifty years of independence.
(i) How many images on the wall do you recognize?
(ii) Do you common people feel the way the common man in this cartoon does?
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In my village, the Gram Sabha never meets. Is that democratic?
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(i) Find out the total number of eligible voters in your Assembly Constituency and your Parliamentary Constituency and your Parliamentary Constituency.
(ii) Find out how may people can fit into the largest stadium in your area.
(iii) Is it possible for all the voters in your Parliamentary or Assembly Constituency to sit together and have a meaningful discussion?
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Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write 'democratic', 'undemocratic' or 'not sure' against each of these,
(a) Country A People who do not accept the country's official religion do not have a right to vote.
(b) Country B The same party has been winning elections for the last twenty years.
(c) Country C Ruling party has lost in the last three elections.
(d) Country D There is no independent election commission.
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Here is some information about four countries. Based on this information, how would you classify each of these countries? Write 'democratic', 'undemocratic' or 'not sure' against each of these.
(a) Country P The Parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the consent of the Chief of Army.
(b) Country Q The Parliament cannot pass a law reducing the powers of the judiciary.
(c) Country R The country's leaders cannot sign any treaty with another country without taking permission from its neighbouring country.
(d) Country S All the major economic decisions about the country are taken by officials of the Central Bank which the ministers cannot change.
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Which of these is not a good argument in favour of democracy? Why?
(a) People feel free and equal in a democracy
(b) Democracies resolve conflict in a better way than others
(c) Democratic government is more accountable to the people
(d) Democracies are more prosperous than others
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Each of these statements contains a democratic and an undemocratic element. Write out the two separately for each statement.
(a) A minister said that some laws have to be passed by the Parliament in order to conform to the regulations decided by the World Trade Organization.
(b) The Election Commission ordered re-polling in a constituency where large scale rigging was reported.
(c)Women's representation in the Parliament has never reached 10 per cent. This led women's organizations to demand 10 one-third seats for women.
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Which of these is not a valid reason for arguing that there is a lesser possibility of famine in a democratic country?
(a) Opposition parties can draw attention to hunger and starvation.
(b) Free press can report suffering from famine, in different parts of the country.
(c) Government fears its defeat in the next elections.
(d) People are free to believe in and practice any religion.
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There are 40 villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and Considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their need. Which of these is not a democratic method?
(a) Filing a case in the courts claiming that water is part of right to life.
(b) Boycotting the next elections to give a message to all parties.
(c) Organizing public meetings against government's policies.
(d) Paying money to government officials to get water,
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Write a response to the following arguments against democracy
(a) Army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organization in the country. Therefore army should rule the country.
(b) Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.
(c) If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.
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Are the following statements in keeping with democracy as a value? Why?
(a) Father to Daughter I don't want to hear your opinion about your marriage. In our family children marry where the parents tell them to.
(b) Teacher to Student Don't disturb my concentration by asking me questions in the classroom.
(c) Employee to the Officer Our working hours must be reduced according to the law.
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Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reasons to support your decision.
(a) All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
(b) The country took loan from international agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 per cent people of that country.
(d) Several organizations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nation wide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders'.
(e) The government owns the radio and television in the country.
All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government's policies and protests.
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In 2004, a report published in USA pointed to the increasing inequalities in that country. Inequalities in income reflected in the participation of people in democracy. It also shaped their abilities to influence the decisions taken by the government. The report highlighted that
•If an average Black family earns $ 100 then the income of average White family is $ 162. A White family has twelve times more wealth than the average Black family.
•In a President's election nearly 9 out of 10 individuals in families with income over $ 75.000 have voted. These people are the top 20% of the population in terms of their income. On the other hand only 5 people out of 10 from families with income less than $ 15,000 have voted. They are the bottom 20% of the population in terms of their income.
•About 95% contribution to the political parties comes from the rich. This gives them opportunity to express their opinions and concerns, which is not available to most citizens.
•As poor sections participate less in politics, the government does not listen to their concerns - coming out of poverty, getting job, education, health care and housing for them. Politicians hear most regularly about the concerns of business persons and the rich.
Write an essay on 'Democracy and Poverty' using the information given in this report by using examples from India.
Most newspapers have an editorial page. On that page, the newspaper publishes its own opinions about current affairs. The paper also publishes the views of other writers and intellectuals and letters written by the readers. Follow any one newspaper for one month and collect editorials, articles and letters on that page that have anything to do with democracy. Classify these into the following categories
•Constitutional and legal aspects of democracy
•Citizens' rights
•Electoral and party politics
•Criticism of democracy
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