(a) Democracies usually develop a procedure to conduct their competition. This reduces the possibility of these tensions becoming explosive or violent.
(b) Non-democratic regimes often turn a blind eye to or suppress internal social differences. Ability to handle social differences, divisions and conflicts is thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes.
(c) But the example of Sri Lanka exhibits that a democracy must fulfil two conditions in order to achieve this outcome:
- It is necessary to understand that democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.
- It is also necessary that rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic group, etc.
