NCERT 9th Class (CBSE) Social Science: Democracy in the Contemporary World

Question: Write a short note on “solidarity”.

Answer: Solidarity is unity (as of a group or class) which produces or is based on unities of interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies. It refers to the ties in a society that bind people together as one. The term is generally employed in sociology and the other social sciences as well as in philosophy or in Catholic social teaching. In addition, solidarity is a core concept in Christian democracy political ideology. What forms the basis of solidarity varies between societies. In simple societies it may be mainly based on kinship and shared values. In more complex societies there are various theories as to what contributes to a sense of social solidarity. Solidarity is also one of six principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and December 20 of each year is International Human Solidarity Day recognized as an international observance.

Question: What were the differences and similarities between Pinochet’s rule in chile and communist rule in Poland.

Answer: Differences: There were many differences between Pinochet’s ans communist rule in chile and Poland.

1. Chile was ruled by a military director, while Poland was ruled by a political party.
2. The government of Poland claimed that it was working on the behalf of the workings classes. Pinochet made no such claim and openly favored big capitalists.

Similarities: The people could not choose or change their rulers. There was no real freedom to express one’s opinions from political associations and organize protests and political action.

Question: What is democracy? Describe its features.

Answer: Democracy: Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by people.

Features of Democracy:

1. The final decision making power rests with those who are elected by people.
2. A democracy must be based on a free and fair election. The ruling party must have a fair chance of losing that election.
3. In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote should have equal value.
4. A democratic government rules within the limits which are set by constitutional laws and citizens’ rights.

Question: Write the limitations of a non-democratic government.

Answer: Advantages:

1. Center of economic life shifted from the villages to cities and towns where the factories were situated.
2. Urban (cities) and rural (villages) life became dependent upon one another. Isolated life of self-sufficient villages came to an end.
3. Men became free to develop their capabilities in areas other than farming.
4. It brought countries and people together. There was an international awareness among people because developments in one country influenced the others.
5. The aristocracy and nobility with their feudal ideas were replaced by the newly rich middle class capitalists bourgeoisie) who also became politically powerful.
6. Better transport, communications and mechanized goods made life comfortable for man.

Disadvantages:

1. Cities became crowded, smoky, with problems of slums, housing, sanitation accidents and epidemics.
2. Women and child labor was badly exploited.
3. Workers suffered from long working hours, low wages, and unemployment, unsafe conditions of work, with no rights to vote strike or form trade unions.
4. Society, became divided into rich and poor, the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have- Nots’.
5. It led to wars of imperialism and colonization.