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13 views10 pages

NOS - POL 101 - Lecture 6 (1p)

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tahsinitsepic
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Introduction to Political Science (POL 101)

Lecture 06:
Democracy

Dr. Noor Mohammad Sarker


Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science and Sociology
North South University, Dhaka
Email: noor.sarker@northsouth.edu
Introduction

 Democracy is one of the oldest concepts in Political Science.


 On 25 September 1991, Greece celebrated 2500 years of
democracy.
 One can safely divide today’s world into Democratic countries
and non-democratic countries.
 Where there is no democracy, people are struggling to get
democracy and where there is democracy, people are asking for
more democracy.
 All over the world, democracy has become the most favored form
of government.
 Even Hitler and Mussolini insisted that theirs is a democratic set-
up.
The Concept of ‘Democracy’

Democracy is ‘government of the people, by the people, and


for the people’

[Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863)]

 First, the stress on ‘of the people’ implies political equality, an


equal distribution of political power and influence.
 Second, government ‘by the people’ emphasizes the importance of
popular participation.
 Third, government ‘for the people’ highlights the fact that
democracy suggests ruling in the public interest.
The Concept of ‘Democracy’

 Robert A. Dahl offers a relatively comprehensive definition of the


term:

What we call a democracy is composed of both values and


institutions. By that, democracies have a cluster of values that
include voting equality, effective participation, enlightened
understanding, control of the agenda, and inclusion. Each of
these values also needs institutions, such as a free press, voting
mechanisms, and other instruments to make democracy work.

[Robert A. Dahl, Democracy and Its Critics


(New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1989)]
Forms of Democracy
Strength and Weakness of Representative
Democracy
Prerequisites of an Ideal Democracy

 Popular Accountability of Government


 Political Competition
 Alternation in Power
 Uncertain Electoral Outcomes
 Popular Representation
 Majority Decision
Prerequisites of an Ideal Democracy

 Right of Dissent and Disobedience


 Political Equality
 Popular Consultation
 Welfare State
 Free Press
 Independence of Judiciary
Contemporary Challenges to Democracy

 Communalism and Religious Fundamentalism: This challenge is


faced by many democracies. Examples: India faces communalism
which results into communal riots. In Pakistan, there are sectarian
riots like Shia-Sunni fights. There are Catholic-Protestant fights in
the UK.
 Terrorism and Militancy: After 9/11, USA declared that terrorism is
the global enemy. India has been facing this problem for many
years in Jammu & Kashmir, and in some North-East states.
 Managing Civil-Military Relations: Keeping military under the
democratic control is challenging for many countries in Asia and
Africa. For example, in Pakistan, the danger of military take-over is
always present.
Contemporary Challenges to Democracy

 Criminalization of Politics: Increasing criminalization of politics is


the real threat to democracy. Here law breakers become law
makers. As a result we often witness breakdown of law and order.
Many political parties have contacts with gangs of criminals. Such
gangs are often used during elections.
 Corruption: Whether developed or developing country, corruption
is noticed at all levels. Political leaders use political power to collect
illegal wealth. They use police dept. to grant undue favors.
 Poverty and illiteracy: These are unique to Asia and Africa. Here
even today many people are illiterate and are quite poor. For a poor
person, what matters is satisfaction of his basic needs- food,
shelter, clothes. He is not much worried about democracy. Similarly
an illiterate person cannot understand the basics of democratic
government.

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