Outcomes of Democracy

Merits of Democracy/Democracy as the best form of government

1. It produces an accountable, responsive and legitimate form of government.

2. It enhances the dignity of the citizen.

3. It It promotes equality.

4. It improves the quality of decision-making

5. It reduces the chances of conflicts and tensions.

6. It allows room to correct mistakes.

7. It is of the people, for the people and by the people

8. The final decision making power lies with the leaders elected by the people.

9. It provides a conducive political environment to citizens for their participation in politics.

10. It stands for equal economic status to all the citizens.

11. It helps in the accommodation of diversities.

12. Complaints and expectations in democracy makes it dynamic and progressive.

Demerits of Democracy

1. Leaders keep on changing which leads to political instability.

2. It's about competition and powerplay and no scope for morality.

3. The decision making process is quite slow.

4. In democracy, bad decisions are often taken because elected leaders don't work on the best interests of the people.

5. Democratic practices lead to corruption.

Factors to assess the outcomes of democracy

• Formal Constitutions

• Regular, free and fair Elections

• Open public debate on major policies and legislations

• Right to information about the government and its functioning

• Political Parties

• Guarantee of Rights of Citizens

• Solution of socio-economic and political problems

Outcomes of Democracy : Accountable, Responsive and Legitimate Government

Accountable Government

1. Democracy is accountable and should be accountable  means the government is required or expected to justify actions or decisions.

2. The government is answerable to the people.

3. In democracy people have the right to choose their rulers and people have control over the rulers; i.e., their representative government.

4. Whenever possible and necessary, a citizen participates in decision making that affects all.

5. Democracy ensures that decision making should de based on norms and procedures. It can't be arbitrary or influenced by the whims of the rulers.

6. So, a citizen who wants to know if a decision was taken through the correct procedures can find this out.

7. He or she has right and the means to examine the process of decision making. This signifies that democracy produces an accountable government.

Responsive Government 

1. In Democracy, the government is responsive and should be responsive to the expectations of the people means governments reacts or must respond quickly and positively.

2. Democratic government takes decision by following norms and a proper procedure.

3. Citizens are free to know if a decision was taken through a proper procedure. This is known as transparency. This factor is often missing in a non-democratic government.

4. Citizens need and demand are heard and responded to the best possibilities.

Legitimate Government

1. Democratic government is legitimate means authorised by law because people themselves authorise the representatives to rule over them and take decisions for them.

2. In this respect democracy is undoubtedly better than its alternatives.

3. It may be slow, less efficient, not always very responsive or clear but it is people's own government. That is why there is overwhelming support for the idea of democracy all over the world. 

4. Citizens believe that democracy is suitable for them.

5. Democracy's ability to generate its own support is itself an outcome that cannot be ignored.