KERALA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF

TEACHER EDCUATION
KOLLAM 691 009
Web: www. Kucte.org

SEMESTER II


EDU 09.10: THEORITICAL BASE OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION.
2




KERALA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF
TEACHER EDCUATION
KOLLAM 691 009
Web: www. Kucte.org

SEMESTER II


Name of Trainee: PRAJEESH RAJ.P Subject: SOCIAL SCIENCE
Candidate Code: 13973019 Year : 2013-2014

Certified Bonafide Record:

Date: 17/9/2014 . Assistant Professor
Place: Kollam.

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TOPIC:-










INDEX


SL.
NO
CONTENT PAGE
NO.
1. Introduction 1
2. Data of the study 2-11
3. Conclusion 12
4. Suggestion 13
5. References 14



1


Introduction
The term democracy is derived from demos and Cratia which
respectively mean people and power; thus democracy means Power in
the hands of the people. Democracy is a form of government where
sovereignty belongs to the people; the government is representative of
the people and responsible to them; the purpose of the state is welfare
of the people which includes the development of personalities of the
citizens. It is thus not only a form of government but also a type of
state as well as an order of society. According to Bassett, Democracy is
essentially a matter of political method. Democracy is not a particular
kind of civilization. It is rather a civilized way of taking political action.
Democracy reconciles freedom with the need for laws and its
enforcement. It may be defined as a political method by which every
citizen has the opportunity of participating through discussion in an
attempt to reach voluntary agreements as to what shall be done for
the good of the community as whole. In fact democracy is not only a
form of government, it is also a way of life.



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Data of the study
DEMOCRACY
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens are
meant to participate equally either directly or, through elected
representatives, indirectly in the proposal, development and
establishment of the laws by which their society is run. The term
originates from the Greek (demokratia) "Rule of the people", which was
found from (Demos) "people" and (kratos) "power" or "rule" in the 5th
century BCE to denote the political systems then existing in Greek
city-states, notably Athens; the term is an antonym to (aristokratia)
"Rule of an elite". While theoretically these definitions are in
opposition, in practice the distinction has been blurred historically.
The political system of Classical Athens, for example, granted
democratic citizenship to an elite class of free men and excluded
slaves and women from political participation. In virtually all
democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history,
democratic citizenship consisted of an elite class until full
enfranchisement was won for all adult citizens in most modern
democracies through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th
centuries. The English word dates to the 16th century, from the older
Middle French and Middle Latin equivalents.
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Democracy contrasts with forms of government where power
is either held by an individual, as in an absolute monarchy, or where
power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy.
Nevertheless, these oppositions, inherited from Greek philosophy, are
now ambiguous because contemporary governments have mixed
democratic, oligarchic, and monarchic elements. Karl Popper defined
democracy in contrast to dictatorship or tyranny, thus focusing on
opportunities for the people to control their leaders and to oust them
without the need for a revolution. Several variants of democracy exist,
but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole
body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is
direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active
participation in the political decision making. In most modern
democracies, the whole body of eligible citizens remains the sovereign
power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected
representatives; this is called a representative democracy or
democratic republic.
INDIAN DEMOCRACY
India is the seventh largest (by area) and the second most populous
country in the world, with roughly one-sixth of its population, of about
a billion and a quarter. It is the world's largest democracy by
electorate. It is one of the world's oldest civilizations, yet a very young
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nation. This is due to the fact that it was under Moghul control for
much of its history until its colonization by European powers, before
finally gaining its freedom in 1947 after a long independence
movement initiated by individuals such as Mahatma Gandhi.
Elections to its Parliament are held once every 5 years. Currently,
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi is the head of the
government, enjoying a majority in the Parliament, while President
Pranab Mukherjee, is the head of state. India is a constitutional
republic governed under the world's longest written constitution,
federally consisting of 29 states and seven centrally administered
union territories, with New Delhi as the nation's capital. The country
has six main national parties: the Indian National Congress (INC),
BhartiyaJanta Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and the
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), BahujanSamaj Party
(BSP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). At the level of its
states, many regional parties stand for elections to state legislatures,
every five years.Inrajyasabha elections will be held for every 6 years.
Factors affecting democracy
The Indian democracy is the best understood by focusing on how
power is divided. The earliest forms of Republics and Kingdoms in
India were called Jana and Mahajanapada.

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Regions
India is very densely populated. Some advocate splitting some twenty
nine states and seven union territories. It is the 2nd-most populated
country in the world.
Other factors
Factors such as education, corruption, women's issues, student
politics, leadership strategies and the design of political institutions
affect national and local politics. Some other factors such as the caste
issue, environment policy, new long-term investment in the economy
by foreigners etc., also have a bearing. Factors such as education,
corruption, women's issues, student politics, and criminalization of
politics, leadership strategies and the design of political institutions
affect national and local politics. Some other factors such as the caste
issue, environment policy, new long-term investment in the economy
by foreigners etc., also have a bearing.
Challenges of Indian Democracy
No Political system work in vacuum. Every political system has
to work in particular and historical factors of the concerned society. It
is no fact that every political system is conditioned by the environment
in which it operates. Indian democracy cant be an exception to this
universal rule and it is undoubtedly conditioned by a number of social
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and economic factors. Which are proving alarming challenges to
Indian democracy.
Impact of Social Inequalities of Indian democracy
Social inequality indispensable for the success of democracy.
Social equality means that there should be no discrimination against
citizens on the basis of caste, class, colour, creed, sex and language.
But in practice social inequalities exist in India. Castism is the main
reason for social inequality. Society is divided into higher and lower
castes each hating the other.
In Indian democracy ultimate power is vested with the marses.
But majority of the people in India are poor. Efficient people keep on
acquiring more and more wealth and poverty. While the poor continue
to get poorer. Poverty is the root cause of various evils. The poor
people do not think about the elections even. He cant even use his
right to vote independently. During the elections the rich distribute
blankets, Cycles, serving machines and other things among the poor.
So that they can get the vote of the poor.
The attitude of the people has become narrow because of social
inequality. Every class thinks in terms of its own interest and not
national interest. The upper castes have their monopoly established in
the administration. Majority of the people remains in different to
political activities because of social in equality. Thus establishment of
social equality is essential for successful democracy.
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Impact of Illiteracy on Democracy
Education is the very basis of good life and it is all dark in the
absence of democracy. Democracy survives on the basis of the support
from national minded citizens and national minded intelligent citizens
are prepared through education. An uneducated person lacks
confidence and possesses no capacity to understand and solve the
problems facing the country. An illiterate person has a narrow outlook
towards life and believes in castism, communication and religiolism.
In India, healthy public opinion cant be developed because of
illiteracy. So the masses in India should be literate and alert for the
success of Democracy.
Impact of violence on Democracy
Violence is becoming a dominant aspect of political life of our
country. In extreme form violence may cause death of individuals.
There are several forms of violence in evidence in India.
1. Inter communal violence.
2. Political violence
3. Electoral violence
4. Violence by terrorist organization
Violence is becoming a dominant aspect of political life of our
country. People report to violence for different purpose and with
different motives.
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The following steps would minimize the Role of violence in Indian
politics.
1. The factors which give rise to violence must be clearly
identified and dealt without their proper identification the use
of violence can hardly be checked.
2. Religious fundamentalism must not be encouraged, Religious
freedom must be allowed but religious fundamentalism
should be tolerate in any way.
3. Political parties based on religious and casts must be banned
because their activities often become responsible for
communal and caste roots.
In order to such violence during election a magistrate should be
designated in every constituency. He should have the
responsibility of dialing with case of electoral violence before and
during the time of polling.
Necessary Conditions
There is no doubt that democracy, as it exists today suffer
from various defects. There are some political philosophers
suggest some remedies to cure the present ills is democracy. The
necessary conditions are:-

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1. Education: - Democracy will be success in a state where
people are educated. Lack of commonsense is dangerous in a
democracy. This defect can be remedied by universal
education and wide dissemination of knowledge.
2. Vigilance: - Alertness of the people is essential condition
without which the true idea of democracy cant be realized.
Constant vigilance is the price of liberty.
3. Civil Sense: - The citizens should possess a high degree of
civic sense. They should take a living and healthy interest in
the public life of their country.
4. Peace and order: - Democracy is a success is a society where
peace and order prevail.
5. Spirit of Toleration: - A keen spirit of toleration is essential
for constructive criticism and healthy discussion.
6. Well organized party system:- Democracy and party system
go hand in hand. Every political party has a clear policy and
programs.
7. Effective opposition: - A strong and effective opposition is
necessary for the success of democracy.
8. Freedom of speech, Association and Press: -Individual
liberty is the core of democracy. These freedoms allow a free
scope for the proper expansion of human personality.
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9. Absence of poverty:- In a society where the majority are
living in poverty democracy cant be a success.
10. Removal of gross inequalities of wealth: - Extreme wealth
impacts the success of democracy to a great extent.
Strength of Indian Democracy
1. Common Welfare: -Only in a democratic society, common
welfare can be promoted. The government will respond to the
needs of all, since power of sovereignty vested in all.
2. Rule of law: - It is only in a democracy that the rule of persons
and classes is replaced by the rule of law, where fundamental
rights are guaranteed and treated as limitations upon the
government.
3. Develops the spirit of patriotism:- Democracy strengthens the
love of country because citizens feel that the government is their
own creation and rules are their servants rather than masters.
4. Stable Government: - Democracy serves as a training school for
citizenship; it strengthens patriotism and there by minimize the
possibilities of discontent and revolution.
5. Self-government:- Democracy is a self-government. It is a
government of the people, by the people, for the people.


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Weakness of Indian Democracy
1. Inefficiency: -The political leaders are more busy in forming
political alliances and there by maintaining their position rather
than looking after the administration.
2. Expensive: - It is very expensive type of government
parliaments, cabinets, election, machinery are all a costly
affaires and a burden on the tax payers.
3. Wrong political Education: - Democracy provides political
education, but the type of education it provides is wrong on
certain occasions.
4. Cant meet emergencies: - It is pointed out that democracies
are unfit to meet emergencies like economic depression. The
government had to assume dictatorial powers in democratic
states.
5. Based on quantity: - Democracy is not concerned with the
quality of the voter, his ability, standard of education and his
interest in politics. It only considers the number of votes cast.




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CONCLUSION
To conclude, the future of Indian democracy hangs in the
balance. It is standing on cross round, leading to peoples democracy.
There is no denying fact that the political democracy as it exists is
most of the capitalistic states of the world today, suffers from various
drawbacks. But democracy itself is not at fault. The defect is laid on
the socio economic system in which it is made to fit. It will take time to
remove all the challenges in Indian democracy. The new generations
bear the responsibility laid upon them by the fathers of the
constitution to make this experiment a success. The whole world is
watching Indias experiment in democracy.


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SUGGESTIONS
1. Political parties based on religious and caste must be banned
because their activities often become responsible for communal
and caste riots.
2. Establishment of social equality
3. By executing the plans successfully, by developing our economy
rapidly, that employment will be possible and comfortable
economic life for all assumed.









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REFERENCES
S.L. Kalely, Political science theory.
Prof. T.R. Kuttikrishnan, Political Science.
Khatri, Naresh, Anatomy of Indian Brand of Crony Capitalism, 2013.
Kohli, Suresh, Corruption in India: The Growing Evil, 1975.
Dwivedy, Surendranath, Political Corruption in India, 1967.
Gupta, K. N., Corruption in India, 2001.
Halayya, M., Corruption in India, 1985.
Somiah, C.G, The honest always stand-alone, 2010.