Understanding Social Science

Given: Brief descriptions of four countries.
Concept: A democracy must ensure universal adult franchise (right to vote for all citizens), free and fair elections conducted by an independent body, and the possibility of change of government through elections.

a. Country A — Undemocratic
Denying the right to vote on the basis of religion violates the principle of universal adult franchise. Every citizen must have an equal right to vote regardless of religion. Hence, Country A is undemocratic.

b. Country B — Not Sure
The same party winning elections for twenty years does not by itself make a country undemocratic. It is possible that people genuinely prefer that party. However, it raises suspicion about whether elections are truly free and fair. Hence, Country B is not sure.

c. Country C — Democratic
The ruling party has lost in the last three elections, which means elections are being held regularly and people are able to change the government through the ballot. This is a key feature of democracy. Hence, Country C is democratic.

d. Country D — Undemocratic
An independent election commission is essential to conduct free and fair elections. Without it, the ruling party can manipulate elections. Hence, Country D is undemocratic.

Given: Brief descriptions of four countries.
Concept: In a democracy, the elected government must have supreme authority. It should not be controlled by non-elected bodies (army, foreign powers, unaccountable institutions). However, checks and balances within the constitutional framework (like an independent judiciary) are acceptable.

a. Country P — Undemocratic
In a democracy, the elected parliament must have control over the military. If the army chief can veto parliamentary decisions, it means the military has power over the elected government. This is a feature of military rule, not democracy. Hence, Country P is undemocratic.

b. Country Q — Democratic
An independent judiciary is a constitutional safeguard in a democracy. Parliament not being able to arbitrarily reduce judicial powers protects citizens' rights and maintains the rule of law. This is a healthy check and balance. Hence, Country Q is democratic.

c. Country R — Undemocratic
A sovereign democratic country must be free to take its own foreign policy decisions. If it requires permission from a neighbouring country to sign treaties, it is not truly sovereign or self-governing. Hence, Country R is undemocratic.

d. Country S — Not Sure
Central banks in many democracies are given independence to manage monetary policy without political interference, which can be a legitimate arrangement. However, if *all* major economic decisions are beyond the reach of elected ministers, it undermines democratic accountability. Hence, Country S is not sure (leaning undemocratic).

Answer: Option (d) — 'Democracies are more prosperous than others' is NOT a good argument in favour of democracy.

Reason:
Prosperity (economic development) is not an exclusive feature of democracy. Many non-democratic countries (for example, some oil-rich monarchies or authoritarian states like China in certain periods) have also achieved high economic growth. Economic prosperity depends on many factors such as natural resources, policies, geography, and global trade — not just the form of government.

Therefore, claiming that democracies are *more* prosperous than others is not a reliable or universally valid argument. It is not a defining or guaranteed feature of democracy.

The other three options — (a), (b), and (c) — are valid arguments because they relate to the core values and functioning of democracy: freedom, equality, conflict resolution, and accountability to citizens.

Concept: Democracy requires that laws be made by elected representatives, elections be free and fair, and all sections of society be represented.

a. WTO and Parliament:
- Democratic element: Laws have to be passed by the parliament — this means the elected legislature has the authority to make laws, which is democratic.
- Undemocratic element: The laws are being passed to conform to regulations decided by the WTO, an international body that is not elected by the people of that country. The parliament is not acting freely but under external pressure, which undermines the sovereignty of the elected body.

b. Election Commission and Re-polling:
- Democratic element: The Election Commission ordered re-polling — this shows that an independent constitutional body is working to ensure free and fair elections, which is a democratic feature.
- Undemocratic element: Large-scale rigging was reported in the constituency — electoral rigging is a violation of democratic principles as it denies citizens their genuine right to vote.

c. Women's Representation:
- Democratic element: Women's organisations are demanding one-third seats for women in parliament — this demand for greater representation and equality is democratic in spirit.
- Undemocratic element: Women's representation has barely reached 10 per cent — this shows that half the population is grossly under-represented in the legislature, which is contrary to the democratic principle of equal political participation for all.

Answer: Option (d) — 'People are free to believe in and practise any religion' is NOT a valid reason.

Reason:
Freedom of religion has no direct connection with the prevention of famine. Famine is prevented in a democracy because:
- The opposition (option a) can highlight food shortages and pressurise the government.
- A free press (option b) can report starvation and create public awareness.
- The government (option c) is accountable to voters and fears electoral defeat if it fails to address hunger.

Religious freedom is a valuable democratic right, but it does not contribute to preventing famine. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.