Merits of democracy
Also called: Arguments for democracy · Topic: Democracy: Forms of Government, Principles and Outcomes · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 5 "Outcomes of Democracy"
Meaning
The merits of democracy are the reasons it is judged better than dictatorship and other forms of government. According to Class 10 NCERT, democracy:
- promotes equality among citizens;
- enhances the dignity of the individual;
- improves the quality of decisions;
- gives a way to resolve conflicts;
- allows room to correct mistakes.
These arguments are about what democracy offers in principle.
Example
During the Emergency (1975–77), rights were suspended, the press was censored and leaders were jailed. In 1977, voters defeated the ruling party. The 44th Amendment (1978) then made it harder to misuse emergency powers. This shows democracy's room to correct its mistakes.
Don't confuse with
- Outcomes of democracy: merits are the reasons for preferring democracy. Outcomes are what democracy can fairly be expected to deliver in practice, and they are judged against real evidence.