Question

‘Democracy leads to peaceful and harmonious life among citizens in every sphere.’ Support this statement with suitable arguments.

Answer 1

Democracy plays a vital role in promoting peaceful and harmonious life among citizens. It provides space for different communities, opinions, and beliefs to coexist with mutual respect. The following points support this statement:

1. Accommodation of Social Divisions: Democracies have the ability to peacefully accommodate social differences. For example, Belgium successfully resolved its ethnic problems by adopting a democratic approach that included power-sharing among different linguistic groups.
2. Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts: In a democracy, people learn to respect differences and resolve conflicts through dialogue rather than violence. Unlike non-democratic regimes where rulers may suppress internal issues (as in Sri Lanka), democracy provides institutions and processes to handle disputes peacefully.
3. Rule by Majority with Respect for Minority: Democracy is not just rule by the majority but a system where the majority works with the consent and cooperation of minorities. This ensures that the government reflects the collective will of society, preventing domination by any single group.