Answer the following questions:
a) Is democracy all about rulers and governments?
b) Can we talk about a democratic classroom?
c) Or a democratic family?
Important Questions on What Is Democracy? Why Democracy?
This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American publication.
a) What do moneybags signify here?
b) Could this cartoon be applied to India?
This cartoon is about the Iraqi election held after Saddam Hussein’s regime was overthrown. He is shown behind the bars.
What is the cartoonist saying here?
This cartoon symbolises the block by the Chinese government of free flow of information on the Internet by placing restrictions on popular websites like ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’. The image of tanks and an unarmed student reminds the reader of another major event in recent Chinese history.
Find out about that event which was similar to this.
Read these five examples of working or denial of democracy and choose the relevant feature of democracy.
| Example | Feature |
| King of Bhutan has declared that in the future, he will be guided by the advice given to him by elected representatives. | Rule of law |
| Many Tamil workers who migrated from India were not given the right to vote in Sri Lanka. | Respect for Rights |
| The king imposed a ban on political gatherings, demonstrations, and rallies. | One person one vote one value |
| The Indian Supreme Court held that the dissolution of the Bihar assembly was unconstitutional. | Free and fair electoral competition |
| Political parties in Bangladesh have agreed that a neutral government should rule the country at the time of elections. | Major decisions by elected leaders |
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?
