DEMOCRACY IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Exercise:-
Q1. Which of the following does not lead to the spread of democracy?
Ans:- Invasion by foreign countries.
Q2. Which of the following statement is true about today's world?
Ans:- In more and more countries rulers are being elected by the people.
Q3. Use one of the following statements to complete the sentence:
Democracy in the international organizations requires that......
Ans:- All countries in the world should be treated equally.
Q4. Based on the information given in this chapter, match the following countries and the path democracy has taken in that country.
(a) Chile-----End of military dictatorship.
(b) Nepal----King agreed to give up his powers
(c) Poland----End of one party rule.
(d) Ghana----Freedom from British colonial rule.
Q5. What are the difficulties people face in a non - democratic country? Give answers drawing from the examples given in this chapter.
Ans:- In a non-democratic country people face too many difficulties which are as follows:-
1) People usually don't enjoy the right of expressing their views in any matter related to their country.
2) They are not expected to speak against their ruler.
3) They are not allowed to form any association or organization that could raise their voices in front of ruler.
4) They are also barred from the right to vote.
5) In such type of countries , there usually exists censorship on press.
As we can see that, on the morning of 11 September 1973, the military took over Chile after which all the things happened, that are mentioned above. And this time from Poland, in 1980, this time Poland was ruled by the Polish United Workers' party. And here too the people were facing similar conditions as the people were facing in Chile in 1973.
Q6. Which freedom are usually taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military?
Ans:- Some freedoms which are taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military are as follows:-
1) Right to choose their ruler - As soon as democracy is overthrown ,people remain no longer to choose their leader.
2) freedom of speech expression:- A country ruled by military doesn't allow its people to express their views freely. If they are caught doing so , they are imprisoned immediately.
3) Censorship on the press: In such conditions press too can't write against their ruler
4) People cannot make any organization or association.
5) If some schemes are being run by democratic government for the welfare of the subjects then such schemes are too stopped.
Q7. Which of the following positions can contribute to democracy at the global level? Give reasons for your answer in each case.
Ans:- My country may be small or poor. But my voice must be heard with equal respect,because these decisions will affect my country.
Yes, the above statement can be the best for implementing democracy at the global level. Nowadays there are approximately more than two hundred countries in the world, out of which some are very big and some are very small and as far I think all the countries must have equal say at the international level and their voices must be heard with the equal respect. Nowadays the world is like a community in which if one member takes a wrong decision then their results affects other members too. For example if some countries are suffering from economic recession then it affects the economic conditions of other countries as well.
Q8. Here are the three opinions heard in a television debate on the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Which of these do you agree with and why?
Guest1:- India is a democracy. Therefore, the Indian government must support the people of Nepal who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy.
Guest2:- That is a dangerous argument. We would be in the same position as the US was in Iraq. Remember, no outside force can promote democracy.
Guest3:- But why should we bother about the internal affairs of another country? We should be worried about our business interests there, not about democracy.
Ans:- I am agree with the opinion given by the guest 1 . Indian government can help the people of Nepal to some extent but before doing so the government must take permission from the UNO. Indian government should also consult Nepali people and act according to them
Q9. In an imaginary country called Happyland; the people overthrew the foreign ruler and brought back the old royal family. They said: "After all their ancestors were our kings before foreigners started ruling us. It is good that we have one strong ruler,who can help us become rich and powerful ".
When someone talked about democracy the wise men said it is a foreign idea. Their struggle was to throw the foreigners and their ideas out of the country. When someone demanded freedom for the media,the elders thought that too much criticism of the ruler would not help them improve their living standards. "After all,the king is so kind and interested in the welfare of all the subjects. Why create problems for him. Don't we all want to be happy?"
After reading the above passage, Chaman, Champa, and Chandru made the following observations:
Chaman: Happyland is a democratic country because people were able to throw out the foreign rulers and bring back the king.
Champa: Happyland is not a democratic country because people cannot criticise the ruler. The king may be nice and give a democratic rule.
Chandru: What people need is happiness. So they all are willing to allow their new ruler to take decisions for them. If people are happy it must be a democracy.
Ans:- As Chaman told that Happylad is a democratic country because people were able to throw out the foreign rulers and bring back the king. I don't think so. Merely throwing out foreign rulers doesn't make any country democratic. And after all the people brought back king not elected their rulers.
I am agree with the statement given by Champa. She has told that it is not a democratic country because people cannot criticise their ruler. Although it is another thing that the king is kind wants the welfare of his subjects.
Yes, it is right that the people want happiness, according to statement given by Chandru. But only happiness of people cannot makes any country democratic. Democracy has its own definition according to which people take part in decision making directly or indirectly.
Q10. Which one of the following is the best way to establish democracy in a country?
(a) Foreign aggression by a democratic country
(b) People’s struggle within their own country.
(c) Resolution by the U.N. General Assembly.
(d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.
Ans: (d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.
Q11. What reforms were carried out by Allende in Chile? How was it taken by opposition parties?
Ans: Allende as the president of Chile introduced a number of social reforms.
He took several policy decisions to help the poor and the workers.
He introduced reforms to the educational system.
He provided free milk for children and redistribution of land to the landless farmers.
He opposed to foreign companies taking away natural resources like copper from the country.
The rich, capitalists, the Church and the opposition parties were against his policies specially distribution of land to landless farmers and his opposition towards foreign companies.
Q12. Why did USA support the military coup in Chile in 1973?
Ans: USA being a capitalist country was against the policies of socialist president Allende. They supported the military and the capitalists of Chile who were opposing Allende's social reforms.
Q13. A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.
(a) Plebiscite
(b) Referendum
(c) Recall
(d) Veto
Ans: (b) Referendum
Q14. What did Allende hope for in his last address?
Ans: During the coup, when democratic government was toppled, Allende addressed to his nation. He hoped that Democracy would be restored and felony, cowardice and treason would be finally punished.
Q15. Why were women given voting rights much later than men in the most countries? Why did this not happen in India?
Ans: Although political struggle for democracy started since nineteenth century and many European countries became democratic by the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time women were not given voting rights, because they were not being considered equal. Their political representation was given enough importance. The were granted rights much later than men. In India this was not the case. The Constitution of India granted universal suffrage to all its citizens irrespective they belong to different gender or community or caste.
Q16. What was the 'voting rights' situation in USA after she adopted constitution? When was universal adult franchise granted there?
Ans: USA adopted constitution in 1787, but here too the right to vote was limited to very few men. In 1965, after a long struggle, universal adult franchise was granted to all citizens, including women and Afro-americans.
Q17. ‘The disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of expansion of democracy.’ Give reasons.
Ans: After 1980, the disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of democracy.
Soviet Union controlled several European countries and all of them were communist governments.
Poland and several other countries became free from the control of the Soviet Union during 1989-90. They chose to become democracies.
The Soviet Union comprised of 15 republics emerged as independent
democratic countries after the USSR broke down.
Q18. Who was Lech Walesa? How did he become famous in Poland?
Ans: Lech Walesa was a former electrician of Lenin Shipyard in the city of
Gdansk. He joined and led the strikers who demanded for higher wages, right to form independent trade unions, the release of political prisoners and an end to censorship on press.
Finally the Polish government gave in and signed 21-point agreement with Lech Walesa and his workers. A new trade union called Solidarity was formed under his leadership. General Jaruzeleski imposed martial law which led to another wave of strikes by Solidarity. Later in 1988, the union won elections with absolute majority and Walesa was elected as the president of Poland.
Q19. How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Ans: IMF a special agency affiliated with United Nations has been one of the biggest moneylender for any country in the world.
Its working is not fairly democratic because its 185 members do not have equal voting rights.
The vote of each country is weighed by how much money it has contributed to the IMF.
Since the top 10 developed countries have large contributions, they have a major say in IMF. These 10 countries have More than 54%of the voting power in the IMF.
While the remaining 175 countries have negligible participation in IMF policy making. This is undemocratic.
Q20. What happened to democracy in Ghana?
Ans: Ghana (earlier called Gold Coast), used to be a British Colony, got independent in 1957.
Kwame Nkrumah, son of a goldsmith and himself a teacher played an active role in independence struggle.
After independence, he became first prime minister and then the president of Ghana.
Later he declared himself as elected president for life and established dictatorship.
In 1966, he was overthrown by the military and Ghana couldn’t remain a democratic nation for long.
Q21. Which among the following was NOT the demand raised by striking workers in Poland?
(a) Right to form trade unions
(b) Release of Political Prisoners
(c) Stepping down of Communists
(d) End of censorship on press.
Ans: (c) Stepping down of Communists
Q22. Who among the following had replaced Salvador Allende?
(a) General Augusto Pinochet
(b) General Jeruzelski
(c) Lech Walesa
(d) Michelle Bachelet
Ans: (a) General Augusto Pinochet
Exercise:-
Q1. Which of the following does not lead to the spread of democracy?
Ans:- Invasion by foreign countries.
Q2. Which of the following statement is true about today's world?
Ans:- In more and more countries rulers are being elected by the people.
Q3. Use one of the following statements to complete the sentence:
Democracy in the international organizations requires that......
Ans:- All countries in the world should be treated equally.
Q4. Based on the information given in this chapter, match the following countries and the path democracy has taken in that country.
(a) Chile-----End of military dictatorship.
(b) Nepal----King agreed to give up his powers
(c) Poland----End of one party rule.
(d) Ghana----Freedom from British colonial rule.
Q5. What are the difficulties people face in a non - democratic country? Give answers drawing from the examples given in this chapter.
Ans:- In a non-democratic country people face too many difficulties which are as follows:-
1) People usually don't enjoy the right of expressing their views in any matter related to their country.
2) They are not expected to speak against their ruler.
3) They are not allowed to form any association or organization that could raise their voices in front of ruler.
4) They are also barred from the right to vote.
5) In such type of countries , there usually exists censorship on press.
As we can see that, on the morning of 11 September 1973, the military took over Chile after which all the things happened, that are mentioned above. And this time from Poland, in 1980, this time Poland was ruled by the Polish United Workers' party. And here too the people were facing similar conditions as the people were facing in Chile in 1973.
Q6. Which freedom are usually taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military?
Ans:- Some freedoms which are taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military are as follows:-
1) Right to choose their ruler - As soon as democracy is overthrown ,people remain no longer to choose their leader.
2) freedom of speech expression:- A country ruled by military doesn't allow its people to express their views freely. If they are caught doing so , they are imprisoned immediately.
3) Censorship on the press: In such conditions press too can't write against their ruler
4) People cannot make any organization or association.
5) If some schemes are being run by democratic government for the welfare of the subjects then such schemes are too stopped.
Q7. Which of the following positions can contribute to democracy at the global level? Give reasons for your answer in each case.
Ans:- My country may be small or poor. But my voice must be heard with equal respect,because these decisions will affect my country.
Yes, the above statement can be the best for implementing democracy at the global level. Nowadays there are approximately more than two hundred countries in the world, out of which some are very big and some are very small and as far I think all the countries must have equal say at the international level and their voices must be heard with the equal respect. Nowadays the world is like a community in which if one member takes a wrong decision then their results affects other members too. For example if some countries are suffering from economic recession then it affects the economic conditions of other countries as well.
Q8. Here are the three opinions heard in a television debate on the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Which of these do you agree with and why?
Guest1:- India is a democracy. Therefore, the Indian government must support the people of Nepal who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy.
Guest2:- That is a dangerous argument. We would be in the same position as the US was in Iraq. Remember, no outside force can promote democracy.
Guest3:- But why should we bother about the internal affairs of another country? We should be worried about our business interests there, not about democracy.
Ans:- I am agree with the opinion given by the guest 1 . Indian government can help the people of Nepal to some extent but before doing so the government must take permission from the UNO. Indian government should also consult Nepali people and act according to them
Q9. In an imaginary country called Happyland; the people overthrew the foreign ruler and brought back the old royal family. They said: "After all their ancestors were our kings before foreigners started ruling us. It is good that we have one strong ruler,who can help us become rich and powerful ".
When someone talked about democracy the wise men said it is a foreign idea. Their struggle was to throw the foreigners and their ideas out of the country. When someone demanded freedom for the media,the elders thought that too much criticism of the ruler would not help them improve their living standards. "After all,the king is so kind and interested in the welfare of all the subjects. Why create problems for him. Don't we all want to be happy?"
After reading the above passage, Chaman, Champa, and Chandru made the following observations:
Chaman: Happyland is a democratic country because people were able to throw out the foreign rulers and bring back the king.
Champa: Happyland is not a democratic country because people cannot criticise the ruler. The king may be nice and give a democratic rule.
Chandru: What people need is happiness. So they all are willing to allow their new ruler to take decisions for them. If people are happy it must be a democracy.
Ans:- As Chaman told that Happylad is a democratic country because people were able to throw out the foreign rulers and bring back the king. I don't think so. Merely throwing out foreign rulers doesn't make any country democratic. And after all the people brought back king not elected their rulers.
I am agree with the statement given by Champa. She has told that it is not a democratic country because people cannot criticise their ruler. Although it is another thing that the king is kind wants the welfare of his subjects.
Yes, it is right that the people want happiness, according to statement given by Chandru. But only happiness of people cannot makes any country democratic. Democracy has its own definition according to which people take part in decision making directly or indirectly.
Q10. Which one of the following is the best way to establish democracy in a country?
(a) Foreign aggression by a democratic country
(b) People’s struggle within their own country.
(c) Resolution by the U.N. General Assembly.
(d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.
Ans: (d) Voluntary support by the majority of the people.
Q11. What reforms were carried out by Allende in Chile? How was it taken by opposition parties?
Ans: Allende as the president of Chile introduced a number of social reforms.
He took several policy decisions to help the poor and the workers.
He introduced reforms to the educational system.
He provided free milk for children and redistribution of land to the landless farmers.
He opposed to foreign companies taking away natural resources like copper from the country.
The rich, capitalists, the Church and the opposition parties were against his policies specially distribution of land to landless farmers and his opposition towards foreign companies.
Q12. Why did USA support the military coup in Chile in 1973?
Ans: USA being a capitalist country was against the policies of socialist president Allende. They supported the military and the capitalists of Chile who were opposing Allende's social reforms.
Q13. A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.
(a) Plebiscite
(b) Referendum
(c) Recall
(d) Veto
Ans: (b) Referendum
Q14. What did Allende hope for in his last address?
Ans: During the coup, when democratic government was toppled, Allende addressed to his nation. He hoped that Democracy would be restored and felony, cowardice and treason would be finally punished.
Q15. Why were women given voting rights much later than men in the most countries? Why did this not happen in India?
Ans: Although political struggle for democracy started since nineteenth century and many European countries became democratic by the beginning of the twentieth century. At that time women were not given voting rights, because they were not being considered equal. Their political representation was given enough importance. The were granted rights much later than men. In India this was not the case. The Constitution of India granted universal suffrage to all its citizens irrespective they belong to different gender or community or caste.
Q16. What was the 'voting rights' situation in USA after she adopted constitution? When was universal adult franchise granted there?
Ans: USA adopted constitution in 1787, but here too the right to vote was limited to very few men. In 1965, after a long struggle, universal adult franchise was granted to all citizens, including women and Afro-americans.
Q17. ‘The disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of expansion of democracy.’ Give reasons.
Ans: After 1980, the disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of democracy.
Soviet Union controlled several European countries and all of them were communist governments.
Poland and several other countries became free from the control of the Soviet Union during 1989-90. They chose to become democracies.
The Soviet Union comprised of 15 republics emerged as independent
democratic countries after the USSR broke down.
Q18. Who was Lech Walesa? How did he become famous in Poland?
Ans: Lech Walesa was a former electrician of Lenin Shipyard in the city of
Gdansk. He joined and led the strikers who demanded for higher wages, right to form independent trade unions, the release of political prisoners and an end to censorship on press.
Finally the Polish government gave in and signed 21-point agreement with Lech Walesa and his workers. A new trade union called Solidarity was formed under his leadership. General Jaruzeleski imposed martial law which led to another wave of strikes by Solidarity. Later in 1988, the union won elections with absolute majority and Walesa was elected as the president of Poland.
Q19. How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Ans: IMF a special agency affiliated with United Nations has been one of the biggest moneylender for any country in the world.
Its working is not fairly democratic because its 185 members do not have equal voting rights.
The vote of each country is weighed by how much money it has contributed to the IMF.
Since the top 10 developed countries have large contributions, they have a major say in IMF. These 10 countries have More than 54%of the voting power in the IMF.
While the remaining 175 countries have negligible participation in IMF policy making. This is undemocratic.
Q20. What happened to democracy in Ghana?
Ans: Ghana (earlier called Gold Coast), used to be a British Colony, got independent in 1957.
Kwame Nkrumah, son of a goldsmith and himself a teacher played an active role in independence struggle.
After independence, he became first prime minister and then the president of Ghana.
Later he declared himself as elected president for life and established dictatorship.
In 1966, he was overthrown by the military and Ghana couldn’t remain a democratic nation for long.
Q21. Which among the following was NOT the demand raised by striking workers in Poland?
(a) Right to form trade unions
(b) Release of Political Prisoners
(c) Stepping down of Communists
(d) End of censorship on press.
Ans: (c) Stepping down of Communists
Q22. Who among the following had replaced Salvador Allende?
(a) General Augusto Pinochet
(b) General Jeruzelski
(c) Lech Walesa
(d) Michelle Bachelet
Ans: (a) General Augusto Pinochet
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