How do we Access Democracy outcomes?
Democracy is preferred over dictatorship because it:
* Promotes equality over dictatorship because it
* Enhances the dignity of the individual
* Improves the quality of decision- making
* Provides a method to resolve conflicts
* Allow room to correct mistakes
* Democracy is form of government that only creates conditions for better living.
* As citizens, it is our responsibility to take advantages of those conditions.
Political Outcomes
* The expected political outcome of democracy is an accountable, responsive and legitimate Government.
The measures of accountability are:
* Regular, free and fair elections
* Open public debate
* Citizens right to information
* Democracies have shown a mixed record on the measures of accountability.
* Democracies are often non- responsive to its people.
* A democratic government is a legitimate government, the people’s own government.
* Despite its shortcomings, a democratic government is preferred in most countries the world over.
Economic Outcomes
* Dictatorships have shown a slightly higher rate of economic growth as compared to democracies.
* Within democracies, there exists a high degree of economic inequality.
* Although the poor comprise a majority of the voting population, a large chunk of population in several countries continues to live in poverty.
* Democracies have not fulfilled the expected economic outcome of democracy economic growth and development and reduction of poverty and economic inequality.
Social Outcomes
* Democracy is best suited to produce the social outcome of accommodation of social diversity.
To achieve this outcome, a democracy must fulfil two conditions:
* Majority work with minority
* Rule by majority is not rule by majority community.
* Democratic regimes are more successful than non- democratic ones in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.
* Democracy has been successful in transforming people into responsible citizens.