Telangana SCERT Class 9 Social Studies Chapter 17 Solution – Expansion of Democracy. Here on this post we have provided Class 9 Social Studies Expansion of Democracy Telangana State Board Solution. Telangana State Board English Class IX Medium Students can download this Solution to Solve out Improve Your Learning Questions and Answers.
Telangana State Board Class 9 Social Studies Chapter 17 Expansion of Democracy Solution:
1(a).) On the basis of these maps, identify upto three countries (in some cases you won’t find three countries) that were democratic in these continents for the given years and make a table as given on the next page
Ans: 1900:
Africa – No countries.
Asia – No countries.
Europe – Norway, France, England
South America – Argentina, Bolivia, Peru
2011:
Africa – Tunisia, Egypt, Libya
Asia – Nepal, India, Russia
Europe – Every countries of Europe
South America – Every countries of South America
- b) Identify some African countries that practised democracy in 2011.
Ans: Egypt, Tunisia and Libya
- c) Make a list of big countries that were not democratic in 2011.
Ans: Some Asian countries include Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, etc. And some African countries include Chad, Morocco, Mauritania, etc.
2.) Most countries often claim themselves to be democratic by conducting elections. How did this happen in the context of Myanmar and Libya?
Ans: Mynamar, also called Burma also became independent just 5 months after Indian Independence. They established a parliament with two houses like India. There were elections in 1951, 1956 and 1960 in which different political parties contested. It appeared at that time that Burma too would emerge as a democratic republic like India. However, the Burmese did not have a united political party to lead them at that time. In 1947, Aung San, a leader of the Burman ethnic group, who had led the country to independence (He was also the father of current opposition leader Aung San SuuKyi), and leaders of the many ethnic minorities negotiated an agreement which would guarantee ethnic rights and self-determination, and the inclusion of minorities in the democratic process. However, Aung San was assassinated.As the ethnic strife became complex in 1962, the elected government was overthrown by a coup and army General Ne Win took charge of the country. He tried to nationalise all industries and mineral resources. Free public health and education system were established. Between 1962 and 1965, important laws against landlords and usury were adopted. They aimed at protecting peasants’ rights to have land and property and to rent the land. These measures included the law abolishing rents on land in order to help the poor peasants.
In both the countries, people wanted a government that would be elected by the people through a free and fair process. In both the countries, people wanted freedom to express their views, freedom to organise and freedom to protest against what they think is wrong. Similarly, in both the countries people wanted many political parties to be able to function freely. Burma was different from Libya in that it began with democratic system and slipped into army rule while Libya moved from monarchy and slipped into army rule. However, both the countries did not have favourable conditions for a democracy to flourish – they were deeply divided politically and ethnically which made it difficult to arrive at an inclusive political settlement.
In the 20th century, democracy became the slogan of anti-colonial struggles in Asia and Africa to build independent nations. India, Sri Lanka and South Africa are some examples of this process. Some of these countries were able to attain freedom and establish stable democracies. However, many of them could not build stable democracies (as in the case of Burma or Pakistan). Military dictatorships got established. In countries like Pakistan, military dictatorship and democratic rule kept coming in cycles. In most of the countries under military dictatorship, the people are organising movements to establish democracy. We saw the examples of Libya and Burma where such changes have begun only recently.
3.) Why do you think do the rulers try to control the media? Do you know how is media controlled in your area?
Ans: During the 20th century, a political system called communism emerged as an alternative to parliamentary democracy. Communists believed that democracy only served the interests of wealthy capitalists and that a dictatorship of the proletariat, or the workers, was necessary to protect the poor. Communist systems were established in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam, and Cuba, where the government owned all land and factories and provided education, healthcare, and employment for all citizens, aiming to establish some degree of equality.
However, these communist countries lacked multi-party elections, and a single party usually ruled for long periods. They also exerted control over the media and restricted the formation of associations opposing the government. Consequently, they curtailed people’s freedom, despite claiming to work for the benefit of the poor and genuine democracy. In 1991, the USSR dissolved as people demanded freedom and democracy, leading to the establishment of parliamentary democracies in Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, and other former communist countries. However, the transition has been challenging, with some countries experiencing military dictatorships and ethnic conflicts.
Today, there is a growing realization that democracy, which respects the freedom and rights of all individuals, may be the best solution for addressing complex societal issues. A new form of democracy is emerging worldwide, aiming to empower even the poorest and most vulnerable people, allowing them to influence policies and ensure justice and peace for all.
4.) Write an imaginary dialogue between a person from Libya and Myanmar comparing the events and struggle for democracy in their respective countries.
Ans: Let the person from Libya be called ‘L’ and the person from Myanmar be called ‘M’:
L: Hey, I am from Libya, where we are still struggling for democracy. Where are you from?
M: Hello, I’m from Myanmar. And don’t worry, we are also still not democratic at all.
L: A dictator called Gaddafi ruled for 40 years who did not let us live in peace.
M: Then?
L: Then, later in 2011 Arab spring defeated and ruled out Gaddafi out of power.
M: Well, in our case, a military force was ruling us for years and used to kill and torcher people in their rule, but later a human rights activist called Aung San SuuKyi started a party and won the elections in 2015 to free us from that terrible military rule.
5.) How do literacy and mass education help for the functioning of democracy?
Ans: a) Helps the people in the democracy to be involved with the information in the democracy and develops thinking skills regardinig the government.
b) People can establish their opinion, called as public opinion to influence others, vote for a party or even start their own political party, once they completely understand the fundamental rights and duties.
c) It helps the citizens to develop important interpersonal skills so that they can pay respect to the older and maintain decorum in places. They even get to know about the democratic values and rights.
6.) What is the difference between democracy and dictatorship?
Ans:
Democracy | Dictatorship |
1. Everyone has equal power. | Only the ruler or the rulers have power over others. |
2. Everyone equally participates in making important decisions and announcements. | Only the ruler has the power of taking and making important decisions. |
3. Promotes rights and duties of people. | Suppresses and exploits the rights of people for their own benefit. |
4. The law and order is equal for everyone, i.e., people and the government both need to abide the law. | The ruler or the dictator is the law-maker. The people needs to follow the law, while the ruler can break the law for their own benefit. |
5. Promotes all the people in large and equal participation in groups or communities for events, such as vote, etc. | Does not promote group or community participation. |
7.) What is the role played by Aung San SuuKyi in fighting for democracy in Myanmar?
Ans: In 1947, Aung San, a prominent leader in Burma, negotiated an agreement that aimed to guarantee ethnic rights and self-determination, as well as the inclusion of minorities in the democratic process. However, after Aung San’s assassination, the Burmese military began to assert control through force, leading to armed resistance by various ethnic groups seeking autonomy and inclusive democracy. In 1962, a military coup ousted the elected government, and General Ne Win took charge, implementing socialist policies that centralized resources in the hands of the army generals.
Unlike Libya’s military rule, which saw some development and welfare activities, Burma faced economic stagnation and became an impoverished country. The military rulers were accused of gross human rights abuses, forced relocations, and widespread use of forced labor, including that of children. Protests against the military rule, led primarily by students, were brutally suppressed. In 1988, a major protest erupted, resulting in the deaths of thousands of demonstrators. In the following year, a new military council took power but failed to fulfill their promise of elections.Aung San SuuKyi emerged as a central figure in the struggle for democracy in Burma, leading the National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Despite winning the majority of seats in the 1990 elections, the military refused to hand over power and kept SuuKyi under house arrest, depriving her of basic freedoms. International pressure in the form of economic sanctions further strained Burma’s economy, impeding trade and isolating the country.
Over the years, there has been global pressure on the military government to respect civil liberties and establish a democratic system. However, progress has been limited, and Burma continues to face challenges in achieving genuine democracy and improving the lives of its people.
8.) Read the last paragraph of this chapter and answer the question: What is a new kind of democracy?
Ans: Presently, it is becoming more evident to individuals that a democratic system that upholds the freedom and rights of all individuals might be the most effective approach to address the intricate challenges faced by nations. At present, a novel form of democracy is emerging worldwide, enabling even the most impoverished and vulnerable members of society to have a say and exert influence over policies, ultimately ensuring fairness, justice, and harmony for everyone.