Download CBSE Notes Class 10 Political Science Chapter 7 – Outcomes of Democracy PDF

What are the main principles of democracy?

• One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.
• In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-governance.
• In a democracy, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.
• Everyone has a voice in the shaping up of public policies.

The three main social outcomes of democracy include :

• It ends caste discrimination like untoucahability and promotes equality.
• It supports and protects the vulnerable sections of society like lower castes, religious and other minorities.
• It gives equal political and economic opportunities to all the people of society.

• 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.

According to American political scientist Larry Diamond, democracy consists of four key elements: a political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life; protection of the human rights of all citizens; …

How Do We Assess Democracy’s Outcomes?

1. Promotes equality among citizens.
2. Enhances the dignity of the individual.
3. Improves the quality of decision-making.
4. Provides a method to resolve conflicts.
5. Allows room for correction.

1 Answer. Democracy is accountable and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens because: (i) In a democracy, people have the right to choose their representatives and the people will have control over them. (ii) Citizens have the right to participate in decisionmaking that affects them all.

It aims at giving equal rights and opportunities to all the citizens. Democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work for minority. Democracy does not believe in any kind of discrimination among citizens on grounds of caste, religion, colour, sex, race, etc.

The majority always needs to work with minority so that governments function to represent the general view. (ii) It is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group. The exception is Sri Lanka where majoritarianism is followed.