Question

Difficulty: MediumDemocracy: Meaning, Types, Features, and Prerequisites

In political science, which of the following is considered an indispensable socio-political prerequisite for the effective operation of representative democracy?

  1. An enlightened and politically conscious electorate capable of participating in public affairsAnswer
  2. B
    The exercise of unconstrained physical force by state security agencies to enforce political compliance
  3. C
    The total subordination of judicial institutions to decisions made by the parliamentary majority
  4. D
    The absolute legal immunity of executive leaders against all judicial proceedings during and after tenure

Answer

An enlightened and politically conscious electorate capable of participating in public affairs
An enlightened and politically conscious electorate is a essential prerequisite of representative democracy because democratic accountability requires citizens who understand their rights, evaluate government actions critically, and actively participate in public choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core requirements of a functioning representative democracy
Representative democracy relies on citizens delegating political power to elected representatives through periodic free elections.
Understanding the delegation mechanism identifies what citizens need to make effective democratic choices.
2
Evaluate the indispensable prerequisites for democratic participation
For representative institutions to remain accountable, citizens must possess political awareness, civic education, and fundamental freedoms to evaluate policies and vote rationally.
Without an enlightened citizenry, democratic processes risk collapsing into electoral manipulation or autocratic control.

Key Concept

Prerequisites for Successful Democracy
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