Social Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Overwhelming Support for Democracy Worldwide:

1. Wide adoption: Over 100 countries today claim and practise some form of democratic politics. They have formal constitutions, hold elections, have political parties, and guarantee rights of citizens.

1. People's preference: When people are asked, most support democracy over alternatives such as rule by a monarch, military, or religious leaders.

1. Democracy seen as morally superior: People believe democracy promotes equality among citizens, enhances the dignity of the individual, and provides a method to resolve conflicts peacefully.

1. Prudential reasons: Democracy improves the quality of decision-making and allows room to correct mistakes — reasons beyond just moral appeal.

1. Diverse democracies: Despite differences in social situations, economic achievements, and cultures, countries across the world choose democracy, showing its universal appeal.

Source: Outcomes of Democracy (Introduction), Chapter 5

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• The question asks you to support the statement, so list evidence/reasons — no need to discuss failures or contradictions of democracy in practice.
• Key facts the examiner expects: the 100+ countries figure, people's preference over monarchy/military, and the five reasons (equality, dignity, decision-making, conflict resolution, correcting mistakes).
• Avoid writing about democracy's shortcomings here — that's for a different type of question.