Advantages and Disadvantages of Democracy
Introduction: We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Democracy in this article. In the modern world, Democracy is the most widely accepted form of government.
What is Democracy? Democracy refers to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In simple terms, democracy means that the people should rule themselves.
Democracy has very ancient origin. The primitive people probably elected the headman that ruled over them, but there is no doubt that there were democratic forms of government in ancient India. But these democracies did not last long.
Advantages
1. Responsible and accountable Government: The democratic form of government is run by the elected representatives of the people of the country. It is the people of the democratic country who rule the country through their representatives. Thus, the elected representatives act responsible for the well-being of citizens of the country. Democracy ensures popular control and popular responsibility and the elected representatives remains accountable to them.
2. Equality and fraternity: Democracy preaches the equality and fraternity of men. The idea of the equality of man was strengthened by the idea of nationalism. Every nation felt that it had the right to be free, to throw off foreign domination. If that is so, if a nation has the right of self-determination, it follows logically that every man has the right to determine how he will be governed. The modern world is dominated by two principles, viz. democracy and nationalism.
3. Sense of responsibility among common people: The achievements of democracy are many. It has infused into the common people a sense for responsibility and power. It has enriched the life of the people who take a warm interest in the affairs of their country and of the world. With greater and greater democracy has come greater and greater freedom. Everyone is free to express his opinions, and although occasionally there may be restrictions on individuals, personal liberty is the goal of democracy, and there is more freedom is democracy than in any other form of government.
4. Self-government: Democracy has gradually become universal because it is inevitable. Man is born with an innate tendency to be free, and he cannot help feeling that he should govern himself. He may be more effectively governed by others, but he will say that good government is no substitute for self-government, and in actual practice, democracy has improved the lot of the common man beyond the dreams of his forefathers who lived under kingship or feudalism. The common man is now not only freer, but he is more educated and wealthier and happier than he used to be in the part.
5. Development and prosperity for all: Democracy ensures development and prosperity for all. Democracy brings the greatest good for the largest number of people. Democracy can realize the concept of the welfare state where every man or women can claim the right to food, to education and to employment. Day by day, through a just distribution of taxes, through various welfare measures, the distinction between the rich and poor is being abolished and the equality of man is being realized.
6. Popular Sovereignty: The supreme power vests in the hands of the common-people of the country. If the elected representatives act irresponsibly, then they can be dropped in the next election. Hence, democracy ensures sovereignty of the people.
7. Sense of cooperation and fraternal feeling: Every citizen, men or women, rich or poor, is considered equal in the eyes of law. The feeling of unity, oneness, and cooperation is the basis of democracy. The dignity and honour of every individual is protected without any discrimination. The social gap is thus reduced.
Disadvantages
Democracy is the best form of government so far found, but democracy is not without its defects and its critics. In ancient times when states were small, men would gather in a particular place and decide everything by vote. Here democracy was direct.
1. Indirect or representative democracy: As the size of states is becoming larger and larger, we have to content ourselves with indirect or representative democracy. We vote for our representatives, and it is they who carry on the government, and the common man relapses into political indolence. So the vast majority of people who form the electorate are politically active only once or twice in four or five years. Very often, it is found that the elected representative is a power-loving person. They work for their personal and ignore the interest of the nation.
2. Lack of educated and experienced voters: A large number of uneducated voters participate in the election process. As they have very little to do in matters of government except recording their vote, they have no political experience and become victims of powerful people who deceive them with large promises and use them for their own private ends.
3. Equal voting right to both wise, average and innocent person: The common people have no political experience. They don’t have the political wisdom. A wise, average, and an innocent person have equal voting rights. Ignorant people may or may not vote for the right candidate. It is only likely that a company of innocent people will elect one among-st themselves and not the right candidate to represent them. It cannot, therefore, be the best form of government. At times, average people fail to accept new ideas. They tend to attach to stick to old ideas and select candidates on the basis of tradition. The masses hardly care for logic and reason. They easily react to popular slogans.
4. Freedom to all shades of opinion: Another charge against democracy is that as it gives freedom of expression to all shades of opinion. It easily leads to the formation of parties, and party government only means talk and talk and talk, democratic parliaments being more or less dignified debating societies.
5. Delay in decision making process: The power is not centralized which delays the decision making process. A number of formalities are to be observed in decision making and adopting process. At times, it becomes difficult to take quick measures in the best interest of the country. This acts as an hindrance for economic growth and development.
Conclusion
The arguments against democracy have only a temporary significance. The electorates do, indeed, vote once in a few years, but they can take an intelligent interest in the daily affairs of their countries. Democracy is becoming more and more effective as education is becoming more and more widespread.
It is, indeed, true that democracy means discussion, opposition and thus it slows down movement. But that is a blessing rather than a curse. It is desirable that all measures be examined thoroughly before they are put into practice.