A newly independent nation adopted a written constitution featuring multi-party elections, an independent judiciary, and a bill of rights. However, within two years, the democratic governance collapsed into authoritarianism due to widespread political intolerance, severe economic instability, and low civic literacy among the populace. Which of the following principles best explains why democratic governance failed despite the presence of constitutional institutions?
- Formal institutional frameworks alone cannot sustain democracy without essential social, economic, and political prerequisites.Answer
- BThe state confused legal sovereignty with political sovereignty by allowing the electorate to hold supreme constitutional authority.
- CThe failure resulted from conflating legislative impeachment powers with judicial review mechanisms in enforcing checks and balances.
- DThe system failed because delegated authority under unitary devolution was mistaken for constitutional federal power sharing.
Answer
Formal institutional frameworks alone cannot sustain democracy without essential social, economic, and political prerequisites.
Democracy is not merely a set of formal institutions like elections and written constitutions; its success depends heavily on underlying prerequisites. These include high levels of literacy, political tolerance, economic security, an informed citizenry, and democratic political culture. When these prerequisites are absent, formal constitutional arrangements are vulnerable to collapse.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Prerequisites for Successful Democracy