Q- Consider the following facts about a country and decide if you would call it a democracy. Give reason to support your decision.
(a) All the citizens of the country have right to vote. Elections are held regularly.
(b) The country took loan from International agencies. One of the conditions for giving loan was that the government would reduce its expenses on education and health.
(c) People speak more than seven languages but education is available only in one language, the language spoken by 52 percent people of a country.
(d) Several organizations have given a call for peaceful demonstrations and nationwide strikes in the country to oppose these policies. Government has arrested these leaders.
(e) The government towns the radio and television in the country. All the newspapers have to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.
Answer- The country which has these facts is not a democratic country. The government is not accommodative to linguistic minorities since education is available in one language and therefore does not ensure dignity of citizens. There is no accountability of the government as information through media is regulated and censored.
Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and conflicts but the government does not allow protests and has arrested those who hold a different opinion.