Why Democracy?

Can we make our school classroom, a democratic classroom? Doesn’t it possible?

Read the given information and answer the following question.

Rajesh and Muzaffar read an article. It showed that no democracy has ever gone to war with another democracy. Wars take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. The article said that this was a great merit of democracy. After reading the essay, Rajesh and Muzaffar had different reactions. Rajesh said that this was not a good argument for democracy. It was just a matter of chance. It is possible that future democracies may have wars. Muzaffar said that it could not be a matter of chance. Democracies take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war.

Which of the two positions do you agree with and why?

This cartoon was published in Canada just before its parliamentary elections of $2004$ . Everyone, including the cartoonist, expected the Liberal party to win once again. When the results came, the Liberal Party lost the elections.

Is this cartoon an argument against democracy or for democracy?

What would have happened if India was not a democracy? Could we have stayed together as a single nation?

This cartoon is from Brazil, a country with a long history of dictatorships. It is entitled “The Hidden Side of Dictatorship”.

a) Which hidden sides does this cartoon depict?

b) Is it necessary for every dictatorship to have a hidden side?

Write a response to the following argument against democracy:

If we want religious leaders to guide us in spiritual matters, why not invite them to guide us in politics as well. The country should be ruled by religious leaders.

Write a response to the given argument against democracy:

Rule of the majority means the rule of ignorant people. What we need is the rule of the wise, even if they are in small numbers.

Write a response to the given argument against democracy:

The army is the most disciplined and corruption-free organisation in the country. Therefore, the army should rule the country.

Read the following statement and answer the following question.

There are $40$ villages in a district where the government has made no provision for drinking water. These villagers met and considered many methods of forcing the government to respond to their needs.

Which of these is not a democratic method?