Question

Which one of the following statements with regard to 'protective democracy' is NOT correct?
1. It Propounds that citizen participation is essential in democracies
2. Citizens must be able to protect themselves from governmental encroachments
3. It is compatible with laissez-faire capitalism.
4. Political equality is understood in formal terms as equal voting rights .

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : It is compatible with laissez-faire capitalism.

The correct answer is It is compatible with laissez-faire capitalism.

• Democracy comes from the Greek word, demo, and Kratos meaning people and rule. In democracies, it is the people who hold autonomous power over legislators and government.
• Democracy is a political form of government in which governing power is derived from the people, by consensus (consensus democracy), by direct referendum, or through elected representatives of the people (representative democracy).
• A form of political organization of society based on a recognition of the people as the source of power, their right to participate in the resolution of state affairs, and the provision of a rather broad range of rights and liberties for citizens.

• Features of protective democracy:
  • Protective democracy believes in popular sovereignty. But since people cannot directly take part in the processes of state, they do it through their representatives.
  • Both the popular sovereignty and representative form of government are legitimate.
  • It is the primary duty of the state to protect the rights and liberties of citizens and whether this is properly performed or not people keep a strong vigilance over the functions of the state. Hence option 3 is correct.
  • The authority is accountable to the People and to establish it, elections are held regularly. There are also other ways of establishing accountability
  • A very important way of protecting the rights, liberties, and distribution of privileges is the division of powers among legislature, executive, and judiciary. This is done in all liberal democracies.
  • There is the prevalence of constitutionalism. Both the ruler and the ruled are controlled by the principles laid down in the constitution.
  • The constitution is the source of power for all and is the guarantor of rights and liberties. There are also measures to prevent the violation of rights and liberties.
  • Organizations associations groups have enough freedom and they always act as friends of citizens and fight against any violation of rights or encroachment on liberty.
  • Competition in all spheres is a feature of protective democracy.
  • A clear distinction between state and civil society is strictly maintained.

• Laissez-faire is an economic system in which transactions between private groups of people are free from or almost free from any form of economic interventionism such as regulation and subsidies.