2. Democracy in Athens
The earliest democracy in the world began in
Athens, Greece, in 510 BC. Initially, Athens was a
monarchy. Later, soldiers handpicked a new leader
and put him in power. The leader would do what
was best for himself and the soldiers. This system,
which is known as a tyranny,
was quite often unjust
and oppressive.
Athens
3. By 800 BC, another form of government was
established in Athens. It was the rule by a few
rich and powerful families, and this system,
known as an oligarchy, was not fair either. The
Athenians decided that they wanted a just and
fair means of
government,
and so,
democracy was
born.
Oligarch
4. In Athens, democracy meant that the
administration was in the hands of the many
and not the few, with equal justice given to
all. Each year, 500 names were drawn from all
the citizens of Athens. Those 500 citizens had
to serve for one
year as the
law makers
of ancient
Athens.
5. All the citizens of Athens were required to
vote on any new law that this body of 500
citizens created. Each man had one vote, and
the majority ruled. However, women, children
and slaves were not citizens, and thus, could
not vote.
6. Direct Democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in
which the citizens make policies and laws
themselves. All citizens are required to vote
on any new law. This was the system followed
in ancient Athens.
7. Need for the Transition from Direct
Democracy to Indirect Democracy
In a state, especially one having high
population, it is not possible for each and
every citizen to get involved in this law making
process each time. The process would become
very time consuming and hence governance
will become inefficient.
So it became necessary to elect some
representatives which can take care of the
issues citizens.
8. Indirect Democracy
Indirect democracy is a form of government in
which the citizens elect representatives to make
laws and policies on their behalf, but the ultimate
power lies with the citizens. Elections are held
after a fixed number of years to elect the
representatives.
Most of the democracies in the world today
follow indirect democracy.
However, when the opinion of all the citizens is
required for some key issue, a referendum is
held.
9. Referendum
A direct vote in which an entire electorate is
asked to either accept or reject a particular
proposal is known as a referendum. This may be
the adoption of a new constitution, a law or a
specific governmental policy.
For example, in 1975, a referendum, the first of
its kind, was held asking the electorate whether
Britain should be part of the Common Market.
10. In other words, though democratic nations
are now adopting indirect democracy to be
more efficient in providing effective
governance, direct democracy in form of
referendum is used to get the opinion of all
citizens as and when required.
11. American Revolution
The American Revolution (1775-1783) was the
struggle of thirteen American colonies against
Great Britain which laid the foundation of the
largest democracy in the world today. Its major
causes were:
1- The Stamp Act (1765): It was the first serious
attempt to assert British authority over the
thirteen American colonies by granting and
applying certain stamp duties in the British
occupied colonies.
12. 2- The Townshend Acts: The Townshend Acts
were a series of acts passed in January 1767,
by the British Parliament. The sole purpose of
these acts was to raise the revenue in
American colonies and establish the
precedent that the British Parliament had the
right to tax them. The Townshend Acts met
with a huge resistance from the colonies, thus
prompting the occupation of Boston, by
British troops in 1768.
13. 3- The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party: The
Boston Tea Party was an outcome of the Tea Act
imposed by British Parliament to restore the East
India Company's full refund on the 25% duty
imposed for importing tea into Britain. It also
permitted the company to export tea to the
American colonies on its own account and led to
a number of protests from the colonies. On
December 16, 1773, a group of colonists boarded
the three shiploads of taxed tea in Boston and
destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston
Harbor. The event became famously known as
the Boston Tea Party.
14. This Revolution led to the end of British rule in
the thirteen American colonies. They declared
independence and established a democratic
form of government. There was a division of
power within the government between the
legislative, executive and judiciary. The
American constitution was documented and it
guaranteed individual rights to its citizens.
This model of governance was later adopted
by many countries of the world.
15. French Revolution
The French Revolution (1787-1799) is an example
of a country which was ruled monarchs for
centuries. The oppressed public finally revolted
and adopted democracy. The three major causes
of this revolution are:
1- Social cause: The French society was divided into
three estates , the first two consisted of clergy
and nobility respectively and the third estate
consisted of merchants, businessmen, lawyers
and peasants. The third estate was exploited by
the other two estates who enjoyed many
privileges, such as not paying taxes.
16. 2- Economic cause: The third estate had to pay
all the taxes imposed by the king as the other
estates were exempted from it. The prices of
bread rose which was the main staple diet of
the people and there was subsistence crisis.
3- Immediate cause: Rumors spread that the
king will order his troops to attack Paris (as
the people were revolting), therefore, 4000 -
5000 people gathered and formed people's
militia.
17. The French Revolution led to the end of
monarchy in France. The society was no
longer based on privileges. The declaration of
the Rights of Man brought about the idea of
equality and freedom to France and a
democratic form of government inspired by
the American Revolution was established.
18. Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution is another example where
the exploited working class revolted against the
rulers are brought in a democratic system in their
country. This revolution started due to three
major factors:
1- The Czar Nicholas II was an absolute ruler who
was not trained to be Czar (ruler). When there
was a friendly protest by the common people in
1905, his subordinates had the army shoot them
all. He resisted the creation of a representative
government made from the aristocracy, angering
them as well.
19. 2- The industrial revolution did not come to
Russia as soon as it came to other countries
and there was no economic development.
There was an emergence of the middle class.
The rich landowners profited by renting the
land to the peasants and demanding for high
interests. So the peasants and labourers were
exploited.
20. 3- Russia was at war with Germany due to a
treaty they had signed to protect the Serbians.
Many Russian soldiers were killed and the
military began deserting and returning to
Russia. The revolution arose from all these
groups. The communists, called the Bolsheviks
were a part of the revolution.
21. All this led to the coming of socialism in
Russia, and forced Tsar Nicholas II to give up
power. The Bolsheviks took power and
founded the Soviet Union, with Lenin as the
leader.
22. Democracy: Most Desirable Form of
Government
There are many factors why more and more
nations are now preferring democractic form of
government. The factors which contribute in
making democracy the most favourable form of
government are:
• Democracy is a more accountable form of
government
• The government works for the welfare of the
majority
• Fundamental rights are guaranteed to each and
every citizen
23. • Government is responsible to the people
• Government is elected by the people
• Democracy ensures liberty and equality
• Government is usually stable
• Democracy improves the quality of decision
making
• Democracy provides a method to deal with
differences and conflicts
• Democracy guarantees freedom to all citizens
24. Democracy: Political, Social and
Economic Dimensions
In order to be a democracy, a State must
ensure political, social and economic equality.
25. Political Equality
Political equality refers to granting equal
citizenship to all members of the state. Equal
citizenship brings with it certain basic rights
such as the right to vote, freedom of
expression, movement and association and
freedom of belief. These rights are necessary
to enable citizens to develop themselves and
participate in the affairs of the state.
26. Social Equality
Social equality ensures that each citizen gets
equal opportunities, irrespective of caste,
gender, religion etc. For this, it is necessary to
minimize the effects of social and economic
inequalities and guarantee certain minimum
conditions of life to all the citizens, such as
adequate health care, opportunity for proper
education, adequate nourishment and a
minimum wage.
27. Economic Equality
Economic inequality exists in a society if there
are significant differences in wealth, property
or income between individuals or classes.
Most democracies try to make equal
opportunities available to people with the
belief that this would give those who have
talent and determination the chance to
improve their condition. This would reduce
the gap between the rich and the poor.
29. Why did India Choose to be a
Democracy?
The long experience of authoritarian rule
under the colonial state convinced Indians
that free India should be a democracy in
which everyone should be treated equally and
be allowed to participate in government. They
should not be forced to obey rules/laws that
they have very little role in making.
30. Key Concerns while Adopting a
Democratic form of Government
India is a nation where people from various
cultures and religions reside. They have
different lifestyles and speak different
languages. Thus the constitution had to be
formed in such a way that there is unity
among all citizens, and each citizen is
represented, with no discrimination
whatsoever.
31. Key Features of the Indian Democracy
1- Federalism – This refers to the existence of
more than one level of government in the
country. In India, we have governments at the
local level, state level and at the centre. This is
done so that issues of local, state and national
level can be countered and the needs of the
people of various regions are looked after.
32. 2- Parliamentary Form of Government – People
in India have a direct role in electing
representatives. Elections are based on
Universal Adult Franchise, i.e. every citizen of
India above the age of 18 has the right to
vote, irrespective of caste, gender, religion
etc.
33. 3- Separation of Powers – According to the
Constitution, there are three levels of state.
These are the legislature (law makers), the
executive (those who implement the laws)
and the judiciary (system of courts). In order
to prevent the misuse of power by one branch
of the State, each organ exercises different
powers. Thus each organ acts as a check on
the other organs of the State, ensuring the
balance of power between all three.
34. 4- Fundamental Rights – They are the rights
given to each and every citizen of India which
help to protect citizens from the arbitrary and
absolute exercise of power by the State or
other citizens.
35. 5- Secularism – This ensures that India does not
officially promote any one religion as the State
religion. This helps in avoiding discrimination
on the basis of religion. However, India
intervenes in religious matters in order to end
a social practice that violates the fundamental
rights of citizens such as untouchability,
unequal distribution of inherited property
between sons and daughters, child marriage
etc.
