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citizens not to take part in politics. But democracy depends on active political
participation by all the citizens. That is why a study of democracy must focus on
democratic politics.
Ques 6) Why should Pakistan government under General Musharraf not be
called a democracy?
Ans:- i. In Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf tied a military coup in October 1999. He
overthrew a democratically elected government and declared as Chief Executive of
country.
ii. He changed his designation to President later and in 2002 held a referendum that
granted him a 5 year extension.
iii. Pakistan media, human rights organizations and democracy activists said that the
referendum was based on malpractices and fraud.
iv. In August 2002 he issued a Legal Framework order amending the constitution of
Pakistan. Now the president could dismiss the national / provincial assemblies.
v. The work of civilian cabinet is supervised by a National Security Council dominated by
military. After the law was passed, elections were held to the assemblies.
vi. Thus there were elections elected representatives had some power but the final
power was with the military and General Musharraf himself.
CONCLUSION- People may have elected representatives to national and provincial
assemblies but those elected representatives are not really the rulers. The final power is
with Army officials and General Musharraf whoare not elected by people. Therefore,
Pakistan couldnt be called a democracy.
Ques 7) With the help of Zimbabwe, show that popular approval of rulers is
necessary in a democracy, but it is not sufficient.
Ans:-i. Zimbabwe attained independence white minority ru.0le in 1980. Since then the
country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle, by its
leader Robert Mugave.
ii. Elections have been held regulatory and always won by ZANU-PF.
iii. President Mugave is popular but also uses unfair practices in elections. Over the years
this government has changed the constitution several times to increase his powers and
less accountable.
iv. Opposition party workers are harassed and their meeting disrupted. Public protests
and demonstration against the government are illegal. There is a law that limits the right
to criticize the president.
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v. Television and radio are controlled by the government and give only the ruling partys
vision. There are independent newspapers but government harasses journalists who go
against it.
vi. The government has ignored some court judgments that went against it and has
pressurized judges.
CONLUSION- Therefore, popular approval of rulers is necessary in a democracy but is
not sufficient.
Ques 8) Explain with the help of Fiji, Estonia and Saudi Arabia that one person,
one vote and one value is the basic feature of democracy.
Ans:- i. In Saudi Arabia women dont have right to vote.
ii. Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that the people belonging to
Russian minority find it difficult to get right to vote.
iii. In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value
than that of Indian Fijian.
CONCLUSION- Democracy is base on a fundamental principle of political equality.
Therefore, in a democracy each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must
have one value.
Ques 9) Explain with help of example of any country of the world free and fair
elections are a part and is must for democracy.
Ans:- Let us take the example of China:i. In China elections are regularly held after every 5 years for electing the countrys
parliament called Quanguo Renmin Daibrao Dahui.
ii. The National Peoples Congress has the power to appoint the president of country.
iii. Some of the members are elected by Army. Before contesting elections, candidates
need approval of Chinese Communist Party.
iv. Only those who are members of this party or of smaller allied parties were allowed to
contest elections 2002-2003.
v. The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
CONCLUSION-Therefore, China cant be considered a democracy as a democracy must
be based on free and fair elections those currently in power has a fair chance of losing.
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Ans:- Democracy was restored in Poland as follows:=>In 1980,Poland was ruled bythe Polish United Workers Party.
=>No other political partywas allowed to function in Poland.
=>Govt. in Poland was supported and controlled by the govt,.of soviet union.(USSR).
=>On 14th August 1980,workers of Lenin Shipyard in the city of Gdansk went on a
strike.
=>The strike began with a demand to take back a crane operator back who was injustly
dismissed from service.
=>A former electrician ofthe shipyard,Lech Walesa joined the strikers.He was dismissed
from service in 1976 for demanding higher pay.He soon emerged as the leader of the
striking workers=>The workers now wanted the right to form independent trade unions
and release ofpolitical prisoners and an end to censorship on press.
=>The movement became so popular that the govt.had to give in.The workers led by
Walesa signed a 21-point agreement with the govt. that ended their strike.
=>The govt.agreed to recognize the workers right to form independent trade unions
and their right to strike
=>After the Gdansk agreement was signed,a new trade union called solidarity was
formed.
=>The govt.,led by GeneralJaruzelski grew anxious and imposed martial law in Dec
1981.
=>Thousands of solidarity members were put in prison.freedom to organize,protest and
express opinions was once again taken away.
=>Another wave ofstrikers,organized bysolidarity,began in 1988.This time the Polish
govt.was weaker,support from soviet union uncertain and the economy was in decline.
=>Another round of negotiations with Walesa resulted in an agreement in April1989 for
free elections.Solidarity contested all the 100 seats of the Senate and won 99 ofthem.
=>In October 1990,Poland had its first presidential elections in which more than one
party could contest.Walesa was elected President of Poland.
Ques) How was restored in Ghana?
Ans:- Democracy was restored in Ghana as follows :=>Ghana used to be a British colony named Gold Coast it became independent in 1957.
It was among the first countries in Africa to gain independence.
=> kwame Nkrumah, son of a goldsmith and him self a teacher was active in
independence struggle. After independence, he became first prime minister and then the
president of Ghana.
=>But he got himself elected president for life.
=>Soon after in 1966, he was overthrown by the military.
=> Ghana couldnt remain a democracy for long.
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members.They contribute most ofthe money needed for the maintenance of the UN.Each
of them has veto power.This system has led more and more people and
countries to protest and demand that the UN becomes more democratic.
=>More than half of the voting power in World Bank is in the minds of only some
countries.Remaining countries have only a little say in how it take decisions.President of
the World Bank has always been a citizen of the US,conventionally nominated by
Treasury secretary of US govt.
Ques)What was the situation in Myanmar when Aung San Suu Kyi became the
Prime Minister?
Ans:=>Myanmar gained freedom from colonial rule in 1948 and become a democracy.But the
democratic rule ended in 1962 with a military coup.
=>In 1990 elections were held for the first time after almost 30 years.The National
league for democracy,led by Aung San Suu Kyi won the election.
=>Military leaders of Myanmar refused to step down and didnt recognize the election
results.They put Suu Kyi under house arrest.
=>Despite being under house arrest,Suu Kyi continued to campaign for democracy.
=>Her struggle has won international recognition.She has also been awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize.
44-B, Gurunanak Vihar Ph-1, Chander Vihar, Near B.S Int. School, New Delhi-41.
Mob: 9650356896, 8826160982, 8826656709, 011-28362671.
44-B, Gurunanak Vihar Ph-1, Chander Vihar, Near B.S Int. School, New Delhi-41.
Mob: 9650356896, 8826160982, 8826656709, 011-28362671.