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Lecture 10 - Merits and Demerits of Democracy

The document outlines the merits and demerits of democracy, highlighting its responsible governance, peaceful change, and promotion of political education, while also noting issues like inefficiency, potential for corruption, and majority rule overshadowing minority interests. It contrasts these points with the demerits of dictatorship, which include the suppression of freedoms, reliance on force, and the potential for long-term instability. Overall, the document presents a balanced view of the strengths and weaknesses of both democratic and dictatorial systems.

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8 views

Lecture 10 - Merits and Demerits of Democracy

The document outlines the merits and demerits of democracy, highlighting its responsible governance, peaceful change, and promotion of political education, while also noting issues like inefficiency, potential for corruption, and majority rule overshadowing minority interests. It contrasts these points with the demerits of dictatorship, which include the suppression of freedoms, reliance on force, and the potential for long-term instability. Overall, the document presents a balanced view of the strengths and weaknesses of both democratic and dictatorial systems.

Uploaded by

quantizedguy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Merits and Demerits of

Democracy
Merits of Democracy
• Democratic government is a responsible government. The party
which is in power has the fear of the opposition parties and hence is
very careful in its functioning.
• Due weightage is given to the opinions and valuable suggestions of
intellectuals, statesmen, scholars, etc.
• The Democratic government gives political education to the people
through the political parties. The political parties hence play a vital
role in democracy.
• Democracy provides for peaceful change. Elections are held
periodically and people can vote to power the party which they like.
Government can be changed through the constitutional methods in a
peaceful manner. It averts bloodshed, wars and revolution.
• Democracy is a government by consent and criticism, debates and
discussions. Hence policies and programmes are undertaken only
after obtaining the consent and cooperation of the people or their
representatives.
• Democracy is not based on force or violence, it believes in peaceful
methods, in non-violence, co-operation and persuasion.
• In democracy, people are supreme and the rulers are only their
elected representatives. Hence the rulers are responsible and
answerable to the governed.
• Democracy requires active participation of the people. Hence, people
will be alert regarding the political actions of their rulers.
• Democracy strengthens nationalism and fosters patriotism.
Demerits of Democracy
• There is no guarantee that a democratic government works
efficiently. The possibility of a democratic government being
dominated by unscrupulous and dishonest legislators cannot be ruled
out.
• Democracy gives more importance to quantity rather than to the
quality. Sometimes the ruling party rejects the valuable suggestions of
the opposition by its brute majority.
• The political parties instead of serving the people become tyrannical
in the nature. They may give wrong versions of the issues and confuse
and mislead the people. They may politicise even the non-political
issues.
• Democracy is criticised as a costly government. It results in high
expenses and wastes in the form of salaries and allowances to the
legislators and ministers and also in the form of elections.
• Democracy is a slow and a time-consuming process. Hence it
becomes difficult for the government to deal effectively with
emergencies and crises. Democracy necessarily entails delay.
• Democracy is often denounced as inefficient and corrupt. Money
plays a vital role here. In a democratic nation like India votes are
purchased and legislators bribed.
• Democracy gives scope for politicians to become prosperous. As Lord
Bryce has pointed out, it contributes to “the tendency to make
politics a gainful profession”.
• Democracy is the rule by the majority. With a brute majority in the
Parliament it may ignore and even suppress the interests of the
minority.
• Democracy indicates the existence of party system. Parties may often
mislead and confuse the people.
Demerits of Dictatorship
• The greatest demerit of dictatorship is that it does not grant freedom
and fundamental rights to the people.
• Dictatorship is based on force and fear. Dictators create terror and
horror in the minds of the people. Hitler and Mussolini, for example,
terrorised people into submission.
• Dictatorship makes the people its slaves. It buries their sense of self-
prestige and self respect.
• A government which is based on force cannot last long. Hence,
dictatorship may not last for a long time.
• The dictatorial government suppresses the freedom of the people.
This may damage the creativity and adventurous spirit of the people.
• Dictatorship glorifies the state and goes to the extent of sacrificing
the interests of the individual in the name of the state.
• Dictatorship does not prescribe peaceful means of changing the
government. In it, ambitious men and groups will be preparing
grounds to seize the reins of administration into their hands by
violent methods.
• Dictatorship is opposed to world peace, because, dictators believe
that wars are necessary for the nations. It builds its military strength
more for waging wars than for self-reliance.
• Dictatorship strikes at the very root of the self-reliance of the people.
It makes the people to become dependants on the state.
• Finally, by imposing unwanted and unwarranted discipline at the gun
point, dictatorship causes incalculable damage to the personality of
its own subjects.

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