NCERT Class 10 Civics Chapter 8 Notes Challenges to Democracy
CBSE Class 10 Civics Chapter 8 Notes Understanding the Lesson
1. Democracy is a dominant form of government in the contemporary world. But the promise of democracy is far from realised anywhere in the world.
2. Although democracy does not have a challenger, that does not mean that it does not face any challenges. Different countries face different kinds of challenges.
3. The countries not under democratic government face the foundational challenge of making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
4. Most of the established democracies face the challenge of expansion. This involves applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions.
5. The third challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practics of democracy.
6. Each of the above challenges is linked to the possibility of reforms. Since all the countries do not have the same challenges, so they cannot follow the same recipe of political reforms.
7. When we talk in the context of our country, we can develop some proposals for reforms at the national level. But the real challenge of reforms may not lie at the national level. Some of the crucial questions need to be thought at the state or local level.
8. While devising ways and means for political reforms in India, some broad guidelines should be kept in mind; for example, legal ways of reforming politics. Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. But legal constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. In fact, democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.
9. Those laws are good which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. The Right to Information Act empowers the people to find out what is happening in government and act as watchdogs of democracy.
10. Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. Therefore, the main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice.
11. Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how.
Challenges to Democracy Class 10 CBSE Notes Important Terms
Challenge: A difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress.
Foundational: Denoting an underlying basis or principle.
Guideline: A general rule, principle, or piece of advice.
Watchdog: A person or group of persons that acts as a protector or guardian against inefficiency, illegal practices, etc.
Reform: The action or process of reforming an institution or practice.