Q1. [3] medium exam-ready
Examine the statement: 'Democracy is good in principle but felt to be not so good in practice.' Give THREE points to justify this observation.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:20 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The statement reflects a common dilemma: democracy is valued in theory but often disappoints in practice. Three justifications are:
- Corruption and unresponsiveness: Democratic governments often ignore majority demands and are riddled with corruption, making them less responsive than expected.
- Inefficiency in decision-making: Democracy involves lengthy deliberation, debate, and negotiation, causing delays. This makes it appear less effective compared to non-democratic regimes.
- Failure to accommodate diversity fully: While democracies aim to handle social differences, instances like Sri Lanka show that majority rule can suppress minorities, causing conflict rather than harmony.
Source: Chapter 5 – Outcomes of Democracy
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Explanation
- The examiner expects three distinct, labelled points — one per mark.
- Draw directly from the chapter's discussion of democracy's shortcomings in practice: corruption, slow decision-making, and failure to fully accommodate diversity.
- Avoid writing only positives of democracy; the question specifically asks why practice falls short of principle.
- Key phrases to use: transparent but not always responsive, deliberation causes delay, majority rule suppressing minorities.