Procedural Democracy A view of democracy

1. Procedural Democracy
Submitted to- Dr. Jyotika Teckchandani Mam

2. Democracy
• It is derived form the Greek root 'demos' which
means 'the people’ and 'cracy' which means 'rule' or
'government'.
• Thus, literally, democracy signifies 'the rule of the
people'.
• Abraham Lincoln said, “Democracy is the
government of the people, by the people, and for
the people”.

3. Types Of Democracy
There are two types of democracy:
1. Direct or Pure Democracy- A direct
democracy or pure democracy is a type of
democracy where the people govern directly. It
requires wide participation of citizens in politics.
2. Indirect or Representative Democracy-Indirect
democracy, or representative democracy, is
when citizens elect representatives to make laws
for them. This is what most modern countries
have today.

4. Views Of Democracy
There are two views to understand
democracy-
1. Procedural Democracy
2. Substantive Democracy

5. Procedural Democracy
• Procedural democracy is a term used to denote
the particular procedures, such as
regular elections based on universal suffrage,
that produce an electorally-legitimated
government.
• It argues that regular competitive elections on
the basis of universal adult franchise and plural
political participation would produce a
democratically elected government.

6. Procedural Democracy In India
• So far it has been largely agreed that
procedural democracy in India functions quite
well. Elections are held regularly and India has
never faced a military coup.
• The three constitutionally mandated
institutions, the Supreme and the high courts,
the President and the Election Commission are
autonomous.

7. Procedural Vs. Substantive
Democracy
-Procedural Democracy - Substantive Democracy
Presence of “free, fair, competitive” Procedural standards
Elections met
Hurdles are present for More political rights and
real democratic procedures civil liberties are offered

8. Procedural Democracy in the
system
• Selection of leaders is based on eligibility
and campaigning.
• Government rule is limited and temporal.
• Information is plural and alternative.
• Nature of political action is based on human
rights, tolerance, respect for minorities,
freedom and equality etc.

9. Robert Dahl’s Procedural
Democracy
“Procedural democracy" in a weak or minimal
sense-that is, in relation to its own demos and
the agenda that it controls-if, and only if, it
satisfies three criteria:
• Political equality
• Effective participation
• The criterion of enlightened understanding

10. Advantages
• Stability of democratic institutions.
• Proper functioning of democratic
system.

11. Disadvantages
• Fallacy of electoralism
• Illiberal democracy
• The elected leaders could manipulate procedures
and power for their own benefit leading to concealed
authoritarianism.
• People are perceived as passive beyond electoral
participation in Procedural view and thus are
governed by their representatives. This view does not
focus on liberty and freedom as it emphasizes how to
elect a democratic government.

12. References
• An Introduction To Political Theory O.P Gauba 8th
edition (Pg.-564,611,612,613)
• Introduction To Political Theory third edition John
Hoffman And Paul Graham (Pg.-99,98,102,108)
• https://thewire.in/politics/procedural-versus-
substantive-democracy-how-india-fares
• https://pesd.princeton.edu/node/251
• R. Dahl, Modern Political Analysis