TEACHERS ORIENTATION (SEGMENT)

Subject: DEMOCRATIC POLITICS Topic : Outcomes Class : X Concept: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. How do we assess democracys outcomes? Accountable, responsive and legitimate government Economic growth and development Reduction of inequality and poverty Accommodation of social diversity Dignity and freedom of the citizens

of Democracy

CONCEPT DETAIL CONCEPT-1 How do we assess democracys outcomes?

Democracy was better because it: 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; and 5. Allows room to correct mistakes.

CONCEPT-2 Accountable, responsive and legitimate government

1. The most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. 2. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. 3. Democratic government develops mechanisms for citizens to hold the government accountable and mechanisms for citizens to take part in decision making whenever they think fit. 4. Regular, free and fair elections; open public debate on major policies and legislations; and citizens right to information about the government and its functioning. 5. Government that is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption. 6. Democratic government is legitimate government. Democracys ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.

CONCEPT-3 Economic growth and development

1. The inability of democracy to achieve higher economic development worries us. But this alone cannot be reason to reject democracy. 2. We cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development, but we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorships in this respect. 3. When we find such significant difference in the rates of economic growth between countries under dictatorship and democracy, it is better to prefer democracy as it has several other positive outcomes. The Rich Get Buff

Poor Kids

Rates of economic growth for different countries, 1950-2000

3.95 All dictatorial regimes Poor countries under dictatorship Poor countries under democracy 4.42 4.34 4.28 Type of regimes and countries All democratic regimes

What would be your verdict on democracy if you had to base it purely on economic performance of democratic regimes in terms of growth and equal distribution?

CONCEPT- 4 Reduction of inequality and poverty

1. In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. 2. People in several poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies. Voice of the Poor Worlds Wealth Owned by a Few

CONCEPT- 5 Accommodation of social diversity

1. No society can fully and permanently resolve conflicts among different groups. But we can certainly learn to respect these differences and we can also evolve mechanisms to negotiate the differences. Democracy is best suited to produce this outcome. 2. Two conditions in order to achieve accommodation of social diversity are:a) The majority always needs to work with the minority. b) Democracy remains democracy only as long as every citizen has a chance of being in majority at some point of time. Enemies Greeting

CONCEPT- 6 Dignity and freedom of the citizens

1. Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. 2. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. 3. Respect to and equal treatment of women is necessary ingredients of a democratic society. 4. In a non-democratic set up freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force. 5. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project: it transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen. Rosa Parks Still Inspires

Dignity and freedom of the citizens

STUDENTS ORIENTATION (SEGMENT)

Subject: DEMOCRATIC POLITICS Topic Class :

Outcomes of Democracy

:X

Concept: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. How do we assess democracys outcomes? Accountable, responsive and legitimate government Economic growth and development Reduction of inequality and poverty Accommodation of social diversity Dignity and freedom of the citizens

CONCEPT DETAIL
CONCEPT-1 How do we assess democracys outcomes? Democracy was better because it: 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, and 5. Allows room to correct mistakes.

LEVEL -1
1. Write any two points which proves democracy better than other forms

of government. 2. How democracies are different from each other?

LEVEL -2
1. What are the expectations of democracy? 2. Why many are not satisfied with democracy in practice?

LEVEL -3
1. Democracy is seen to be good in principle, but felt to be not so good

in its practice. Discuss. 2. What is the first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy?

CONCEPT-2 Accountable, responsive and legitimate government

The most basic outcome of democracy should be that it produces a government that is accountable to the citizens, and responsive to the needs and expectations of the citizens. Democracy is based on the idea of deliberation and negotiation. Government that is attentive to the needs and demands of the people and is largely free of corruption. Democratic government is legitimate government. Democracys ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.

LEVEL -1
1. What should be ensured by an accountable, responsive and legitimate government? 2. Democratic government is a legitimate government . Explain.

LEVEL -2
1. How does a democracy produce an accountable, responsive and legitimate government? 2. Decision - making in a democratic government is slow. Comment.

LEVEL -3
1. What has been the actual outcome of democracy in practice in producing efficient and accountable government? 2. In spite of the fact that democracies have failed to produce accountable and responsive governments, why is it that democracy is a preferred system of governance?

CONCEPT-3 Economic growth and development

We cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development, but we can expect democracy not to lag behind dictatorships in this respect. When we find such significant difference in the rates of economic growth between countries under dictatorship and democracy, it is better to prefer democracy as it has several other positive outcomes.

LEVEL -1
1. What are the several factors on which the economic development depends? 2. Why dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth?

LEVEL -2
1. We cannot say that democracy is a guarantee of economic development. Why? 2. Why is it to prefer democracy, inspite of non-democracies higher rate of economic growth? 1. Give any three points differentiating Democracy and Dictatorship. Which one will you prefer from the point of ability to deliver fast economic growth? 2. What would be your verdict on democracy if you had to base it purely on economic performance of democratic regimes in terms of growth and equal distribution?

LEVEL -3

CONCEPT- 4 Reduction of inequality and poverty

In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. People in several poor countries are now dependent on the rich countries even for food supplies.

LEVEL -1
1. Mention any two issues on which democracy has failed. 2. Why the share of rich in the total income of the country has been increasing in democracies?

LEVEL -2
1. What are the growing inequalities in most of the democracies? 2. In actual life, democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities. Why?

LEVEL -3
1. Explain the outcome of democracies in terms of equal distribution of income and removal of poverty. 2. Democracys ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored. Discuss.

CONCEPT- 5 Accommodation of social diversity

LEVEL -1
1. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social

diversities? 2. Do democracies lead to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens?

LEVEL -2
1. Why majority and minority should work together?

2. Why all groups in the society should be allowed to have political equality?

LEVEL -3
1. What are the conditions under which democracies accommodate social diversities? 2. To accommodate social diversities, democracy must fulfil some basic conditions. Explain the basic conditions.

CONCEPT- 6 Dignity and freedom of the citizens

Every individual wants to receive respect from fellow beings. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy. Respect to and equal treatment of women is necessary ingredients of a democratic society. In a non-democratic set up freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force. A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project: it transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen.

LEVEL -1
1. Why do people prefer democracy? 2. What is the basis of democracy?

LEVEL -2
1. In democracy, all citizens have one vote, which means that there is

absence of any domination and conflict. Give your arguments. 2. How do women get equal treatment and freedom in democracies?

LEVEL -3
1. The cost of time that democracy pays perhaps worth it. Explain.

2. Evaluate the outcome of democracy in terms of dignity and freedom of the citizens.

PROJECTS:
1. Prepare a project report on Womens Reservation Bill. 2. Prepare a slide show showing how women are still discriminated in India. 3. Prepare an assignment on the topics: (any one) a) Social and religious diversity of India. b) Instances showing dignity and freedom of citizens. c) Power sharing among different social groups. d) Role of Civil Societies in guiding democratic principles. e) Power sharing between Political Parties, movements and Pressure Groups. Prepared By: -

Mukesh Kumar
TGT (SS) K.V.HISAR CANTT