NCERT CLASS 9 DEMOCRATIC POLITICS CHAPTER 1
- TPP
- Jul 10
- 16 min read
CHAPTER 1
1. What is Democracy? Why Democracy?
Democracy is the most common form of government today.
This chapter begins with a simple definition of democracy.
We will understand the meaning of key terms in the definition.
The goal is to learn the basic features of democratic government.
We should be able to tell democracy from non-democracy.
Later, we go beyond the basic meaning of democracy.
We will also explore a broader idea of democracy.
Democracy is spreading to more countries.
We ask: why is democracy so popular?
What makes democracy better than other governments?
These are the key questions of this chapter.
2. Why Discussion and Use Come Before Definition
We use words in daily life without defining them
– We talk about things like love, rain, or pen before we define them.
– Understanding grows through use and real examples.
Meaning becomes clearer through experience
– As we see how a word is used in real situations, we understand it better.
– A dry definition can be confusing if we don’t see examples first.
Definitions are needed only when confusion arises
– If there’s no confusion, we don’t stop to define things.
– We define only when we need to explain differences (e.g., rain vs drizzle).
A word’s origin is not always its present meaning
– Example: ‘Computer’ once meant a calculator.
– Now, we use it for writing, music, and movies.
– So, we can’t rely only on the root meaning.
3. Why This is Especially True for Democracy
Democracy is used in many different ways – Many governments claim to be democratic. – But their actions may not match true democracy.
Democracy is both a simple idea and a complex system – Saying “rule by the people” is easy. – But applying it in real life is full of details and challenges.
It’s often misused as a label – Even dictatorships may call themselves democracies. – So we must look deeper than the label.
Discussion builds understanding – By comparing examples (India vs North Korea), we learn what is actually democratic. – This way, we discover what features must be present in a democracy.
Thinking together sharpens our definition – Class discussions, debates, and examples help us arrive at a better, sharper definition. – It becomes our understanding, not just a memorized line.
We don’t need to start with a definition of democracy. We start by using, discussing, and questioning it. This helps us understand what democracy really means—beyond just a dictionary definition.
4. A Simple Definition of Democracy
Let’s go back to comparing different governments.
All democracies have one thing in common.
The government is chosen by the people.
So, a simple definition is:
Democracy is a form of government in which rulers are elected by the people.
5. Why This Definition Helps
This is a good starting point.
It helps us separate democracy from non-democracies.
Example: In Myanmar, army rulers were not elected by people.
They came to power using military control, not people’s choice.
Example: In Chile, dictator Pinochet was not elected by citizens.
Kings of Saudi Arabia rule by birth, not by public vote.
So, these are not democratic governments.
6. Why This Definition is Not Enough
The definition reminds us democracy means people’s rule.
But we must not use it blindly.
If we do, then even fake elections would look like democracy.
That would be wrong and misleading.
As you will read in Chapter 3, many governments pretend to be democracies.
They hold elections but are not truly democratic.
7. What We Need to Do Next
So, we must be careful with the definition.
We need to understand each word in it:
– "rulers"
– "elected"
– "by the people"
Then, we must list the true features of a democratic government.
8. Understanding Democracy Through Famous Quotes
"Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor."
In democracy, people freely choose their leaders—but sometimes they choose leaders who harm their own interests.
This is a sarcastic but useful reminder that voters must think wisely. Democracy gives power to the people—but also responsibility.
"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear."
Politicians often say what people want to hear during elections, but once elected, they may act like dictators.
This quote highlights the danger of manipulation and false promises in democratic politics. It warns citizens to be alert and informed.
"Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary."
Humans can be fair, so democracy can work. But because humans can also be unjust, we need democracy to keep power in check.
This is a deep and balanced insight. It shows that democracy is built on hope and caution—it trusts people, but also protects against their misuse of power.
"Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
In democracy, the quality of leaders reflects the quality of the voters. If people vote carelessly, they get bad governments.
A very useful warning. Democracy works only if citizens are aware, active, and responsible.
"All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy."
The problems within democracy (corruption, bad leaders, apathy) can be solved by deepening democracy—more participation, transparency, and accountability.
This is an optimistic and powerful idea. Instead of giving up on democracy, we should improve it by involving people more fully.
9. Key Questions That Define a True Democracy
Syria is a small country in West Asia.
Only the ruling Ba'ath Party and its allies are allowed.
There is no real political opposition.
Elections may happen, but people have no real choice.
This makes the system undemocratic.
Similar situations may exist in other countries too.
We started with a simple definition of democracy.
Democracy means rulers are elected by the people.
But this simple idea raises many questions.
Who are the rulers in a democracy?
Which officials must be elected?
What makes an election truly democratic?
Who can vote or become a candidate?
Can some citizens be denied these rights?
Can elected rulers do anything they want?
Should there be limits on their power?
Must a democracy protect citizens’ rights?
We must answer these to understand real democracy.
10 FEATURES OF DEMOCRACY
10.1 Feature 1 of Democracy: Final Decision-Making Power Must Rest with Elected Leaders
Case Study: Pakistan Under General Pervez Musharraf
In October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in Pakistan.
He removed the democratically elected government.
He declared himself the ‘Chief Executive’ and later became President.
In 2002, he held a referendum to extend his rule by five years.
Human rights groups and media claimed the referendum was full of fraud.
How Democratic Institutions Were Weakened
In August 2002, Musharraf issued the ‘Legal Framework Order’.
It changed Pakistan’s Constitution.
The President got the power to dismiss national and provincial assemblies.
A National Security Council was formed to supervise the civilian cabinet.
This council was dominated by military officers.
Why This Was Not a True Democracy
Elections were held after these changes.
People elected representatives to the national and provincial assemblies.
But real power stayed with the army and General Musharraf.
The elected representatives could not take final decisions.
Power was in the hands of unelected military officials.
Similar Cases in Other Non-Democracies
Many dictatorships and monarchies conduct elections.
But real power remains with those not chosen by the people.
In some places, even foreign powers control local governments.
These systems cannot be called democratic.
Key Democratic Feature
In a real democracy, final decision-making power must rest with elected representatives.
Without this, elections become meaningless.
True people’s rule is only possible when elected leaders hold real power.
10.2 Feature 2 of Democracy: Free and Fair Electoral Competition
Elections in China – Only One Party Allowed
In China, elections are held every five years.
These are for the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s parliament.
The NPC has the power to appoint the President.
It has around 3,000 members elected from across the country.
Some members are also elected by the army.
Every candidate must be approved by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Only CCP members or members of eight allied smaller parties can contest.
The ruling Communist Party always forms the government.
So, people can vote, but they can only choose CCP-approved candidates.
This means people have no real choice.
Elections in Mexico – Dominance of One Party
Mexico holds Presidential elections every six years since 1930.
The country has never been under military rule.
But till 2000, one party—the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party)—always won.
Opposition parties did contest but could never win.
The PRI used unfair methods to keep winning.
Government employees were forced to attend PRI meetings.
Government teachers pressured parents to vote for PRI.
Media ignored or criticised the opposition.
Polling booths were shifted at the last moment.
Voters faced trouble in casting their votes.
The PRI spent huge amounts on its election campaigns.
This made it very hard for opposition to compete fairly.
So, elections existed, but real competition did not.
Can These Elections Be Called Democratic?
Both countries held regular elections.
But voters had no real power to change rulers.
In China, all candidates were from the ruling party or approved by it.
So, there was no genuine political choice.
In Mexico, people could vote, but could not defeat the ruling party.
The elections were not free or fair.
So, we cannot call these democratic elections.
Key Democratic Feature
Elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives.
People should be able to remove existing rulers if they wish.
Elections must be free and fair.
Those in power must have a fair chance of losing.
Only then can elections be called truly democratic.
10.3 Feature 3 of Democracy: One Person, One Vote, One Value
Democracy and the Right to Vote
The fight for democracy was closely linked to the demand for voting rights.
The idea of universal adult franchise is now accepted in most countries.
It means every adult should have the right to vote.
But in reality, this right is still denied or restricted in some places.
Examples of Unequal Voting Rights
Saudi Arabia: Until 2015, women were not allowed to vote.
Estonia: Citizenship laws make it hard for the Russian minority to get voting rights.
Fiji: The voting system gives more value to the vote of indigenous Fijians than to Indian-Fijians.
Key Democratic Feature
Democracy is based on political equality.
Every adult citizen must have one vote.
And each vote must carry equal value.
Without this, true democracy does not exist.
We will explore this principle further in Chapter 3.
10.4 Feature 4 of Democracy: Rule of Law and Respect for Rights
The Case of Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe
Zimbabwe became independent in 1980.
Since then, it was ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle.
Robert Mugabe, its leader, remained in power from 1980 to 2017.
Elections were held regularly but always won by ZANU-PF.
Mugabe was popular but used unfair election practices.
The Constitution was changed many times to increase presidential powers.
These changes made the President less accountable.
Opposition party workers were harassed.
Their meetings were disrupted.
Public protests and demonstrations were declared illegal.
A law limited people’s right to criticise the President.
Government controlled radio and television.
These only showed the ruling party’s views.
Independent newspapers existed but journalists were harassed.
Court judgments against the government were ignored.
Judges were pressured by the government.
Mugabe was finally forced to resign in 2017.
Key Lessons from Zimbabwe
A ruler being popular is not enough for democracy.
A government elected by the people can still become undemocratic.
A popular leader can become autocratic.
To judge a democracy, elections are important—
But we must also look at how the government functions before and after elections.
What Must a True Democracy Ensure?
Citizens should have freedom of thought and expression.
People should be free to form associations and protest peacefully.
There should be space for opposition and criticism.
All citizens must be equal before the law.
These basic rights must be protected by an independent judiciary.
A Student’s Concern
A student asks: “Why only talk about Zimbabwe?”
Similar problems exist in parts of our own country too.
This reminds us that no democracy is perfect.
Constant vigilance and public awareness are needed to protect democratic rights.
What is Democracy?
We began with a simple idea:Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people.
But we saw that this basic definition is not enough unless we understand the key terms involved.
Using various examples, we discovered four essential features that make a government truly democratic:
Four Key Features of Democracy
Elected rulers take all major decisions→ The final decision-making power must rest with leaders elected by the people.
Free and fair elections with real choices→ Elections must offer genuine competition and a fair chance to replace current rulers.
Equal voting rights for all citizens→ Every adult should have one vote, and every vote should carry equal value.
Government limited by law and respect for rights→ The government must follow constitutional rules and respect citizens’ basic rights.
Match the Examples with Features
Example | Feature of Democracy |
King of Bhutan has declared that in future he will be guided by the advice of elected reps. | Major decisions by elected leaders |
Many Tamil workers who migrated from India were not given voting rights in Sri Lanka. | One person, one vote, one value |
The king imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations and rallies. | Respect for rights |
The Indian Supreme Court held that the dissolution of Bihar Assembly was unconstitutional. | Rule of law |
Political parties in Bangladesh agreed on neutral govt during elections. | Free and fair electoral competition |
11. Why Democracy? – Understanding Its Importance Through Debate
Democracy is Popular, But Must Be Questioned
Democracy is widely accepted around the world.
Many non-democratic countries have become democratic.
Famous leaders and thinkers praise democracy.
But popularity alone does not prove it is the best.
Critical thinking means we should question everything, even democracy.
Concerns About Democracy’s Performance
Some people feel democracy has not solved big problems.
India has been democratic for over seventy years.
Still, poverty and inequality are widespread.
This leads to doubts about democracy’s effectiveness.
Some believe democracy causes delays, instability, and corruption.
Politicians often fight for power instead of helping people.
Is Democracy to Blame?
Others say these problems exist despite democracy, not because of it.
Democracy may be slow, but it gives space for reform.
We must not blame democracy for all national issues.
The Demand for a Strong Ruler
Some people want a strong leader with full control.
They think such a leader can act fast and fix problems.
They believe elections and parliament slow things down.
But this idea supports dictatorship.
In dictatorship, one person holds all power.
There are no limits or public checks.
The Danger of Dictatorship
Dictators may look efficient in the beginning.
But many become corrupt and selfish.
People cannot remove dictators easily.
Comparing a real democracy with an ideal dictator is unfair.
We should compare real systems with real systems.
History shows dictatorships are often unjust and harmful.
What Democracy Protects
Democracy gives people the right to express their views.
It allows free discussion, debate, and protest.
The classroom debate itself shows this freedom.
In non-democratic countries, such open talk may be punished.
Free speech is a basic right protected in democracy.
Conclusion
Democracy has problems, but it also has strengths.
It respects rights, allows correction, and prevents abuse of power.
This makes democracy a better and safer choice than dictatorship.
12. Arguments Against Democracy – Understanding the Criticism
Common Criticisms of Democracy
In a democracy, leaders keep changing.
This creates instability in government.
Democracy involves constant political competition.
This leads to power struggles and a lack of morality.
Too many people must be consulted before decisions are made.
This causes delay and slows down the process.
Elected leaders may not understand what is best for the people.
This can result in poor decisions.
Democracy encourages corruption due to constant elections and vote-seeking.
Ordinary citizens may lack political knowledge.
Some feel common people should not be allowed to make important decisions.
Important Questions to Consider
Can you think of any more arguments against democracy?
Which arguments apply only to democracy?
Which arguments apply to other systems as well?
Do you agree with any of these criticisms?
Recognizing the Limits of Democracy
Democracy is not a perfect or magical solution.
It has not ended poverty in India or in many other countries.
It only ensures that people make their own decisions.
It does not guarantee that people will make correct decisions.
Mistakes can happen even in democratic choices.
Involving people leads to slow decision-making.
Frequent leadership changes can interrupt major policies.
This can reduce government efficiency.
Final Reflection
These criticisms show that democracy has real flaws.
But we must ask a different question in real life:
Is democracy better than other forms of government available to us?
That is the real question citizens must consider.
13. Arguments for Democracy – Why It Is the Best Form of Government
1. Democracy Prevents Disasters Like Famines
China had a terrible famine between 1958 and 1961.
Around 3 crore people died.
At that time, India was also a poor country.
But India did not face such a famine.
Economists say this difference came from government policies.
India had democracy, China did not.
In India, the government had to respond to public needs.
In China, there was no free press or opposition.
The government was not pressured to act quickly.
In a democracy, rulers are forced to listen to people.
This makes them more responsive.
So, democracy is better at responding to people’s needs.
A non-democratic ruler may act, but only if they wish to.
In democracy, rulers must act in public interest.
This makes democracy more accountable.
2. Democracy Leads to Better Decision-Making
In democracy, decisions involve discussions and debates.
Many people are consulted before a big decision is taken.
This helps identify possible mistakes in advance.
It may take more time, but it prevents rash decisions.
Careful decision-making improves the quality of governance.
So, democracy results in more informed and thoughtful decisions.
3. Democracy Helps Resolve Conflicts Peacefully
In every society, people have different views and interests.
In India, we have huge diversity—languages, regions, religions, castes.
These differences often lead to conflicts.
In a non-democratic system, the stronger group may force its will.
This leads to anger, violence, and unrest.
Democracy allows peaceful dialogue and negotiation.
No group is always in power or always excluded.
Everyone gets a chance to be heard and to rule.
This helps maintain unity in a diverse country like India.
Democracy helps different groups live together peacefully.
4. Democracy Gives Dignity to Citizens
Democracy is based on political equality.
Every citizen has equal status—rich or poor, educated or not.
People are not ruled; they are the rulers.
Even if they make mistakes, they are responsible for their choices.
This builds dignity and self-respect.
No other form of government gives citizens this much honour and equality.
5. Democracy Allows Correction of Mistakes
Mistakes can happen in any government.
Democracy does not prevent all mistakes.
But it gives space for public discussion of mistakes.
People can raise their voices and demand changes.
Leaders can change their decisions under public pressure.
If they don’t, people can change the leaders through elections.
In non-democratic systems, mistakes are often hidden and uncorrected.
Democracy is not perfect and doesn’t solve all problems.
But it is better than any other system we know.
It offers a greater chance of good decisions.
It respects people’s choices and needs.
It helps diverse groups live together.
It gives space to correct mistakes.
Most importantly, it gives dignity to all citizens.
That is why democracy is considered the best form of government.
Democracy and War: Does It Promote Peace?
No democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy.
Wars have occurred only when at least one country was non-democratic.
This is seen as a strong merit of democracy.
Some believe this is just a coincidence, not a reliable rule.
They argue that future wars between democracies are still possible.
So, the absence of war may not be a solid argument for democracy.
Others believe this pattern is not accidental.
Democratic governments rely on public discussion and debate.
They take decisions slowly and with wider consultation.
This process lowers the chances of aggressive or sudden war decisions.
Democracies are more likely to seek peaceful solutions.
This makes war between democracies less likely.
NCERT EXTRAS --- Democratic Peace Theory Core Idea
Contribution of Michael Doyle
Key Features of the Theory
Criticisms
|
Broader Meanings of Democracy
From Definition to Understanding
In this chapter, democracy is explained in a limited and descriptive way.
It is described as a form of government.
This helps identify the minimum features a democracy must have.
Representative Democracy in Practice
The most common form today is representative democracy.
In this system, all people do not rule directly.
A majority makes decisions on behalf of all.
Even the majority does not rule directly, but through elected representatives.
This is necessary because countries have large populations.
It is not possible for all citizens to sit together and decide everything.
Citizens may not have the time, interest, or skills for daily decision-making.
Limits of the Minimal Definition
This gives a clear but limited idea of democracy.
It helps differentiate democracy from non-democracy.
But it does not help distinguish a good democracy from a weak one.
It does not explain how democracy works beyond government.
Democracy as a Principle in Everyday Life
Democracy is also used outside of government.
Examples include families, classrooms, and political parties.
Statements like “we are a democratic family” reflect this.
In such uses, democracy means equal say and consultation in decisions.
Everyone, whether powerful or not, has an equal role.
Democracy becomes a universal principle for any group or organisation.
Democracy as an Ideal
Sometimes democracy is used to express a vision or goal.
Statements like “true democracy means no one sleeps hungry” show this.
Others say democracy needs not just voting but equality in education, resources, and awareness.
If taken seriously, no country is a complete democracy.
But this ideal helps judge existing systems and spot weaknesses.
It distinguishes minimal democracy from ideal democracy.
Different Forms of Democratic Decision-Making
This book focuses on democratic institutions in government.
In the next class, you’ll study democratic society and evaluation.
For now, note that democracy applies in many areas of life.
Democracy can take various forms.
Any system with equal consultation is democratic.
The most common form is rule through elected representatives.
In smaller groups, people can take decisions directly.
Gram Sabhas in villages are one such example.
There are other democratic methods too.
Can you think of any?
Democracy Requires Ongoing Effort
No country is a perfect democracy.
The features discussed here are only the minimum conditions.
Ideal democracy is something to work towards continuously.
It takes constant effort to protect and improve democracy.
What citizens do matters more than what rulers do.
This is democracy’s strength and weakness.
What Makes Democracy Unique
Other systems like monarchy and dictatorship avoid citizen participation.
Non-democratic governments prefer silent citizens.
Democracy needs active participation from all citizens.
That is why the study of democracy focuses on democratic politics.
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