Democracy's superior virtue lies in the fact that it calls into activity
- (a) the intelligence and character of ordinary men and women. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) the methods for strengthening executive leadership.
- (c) a superior individual with dynamism and vision.
- (d) a band of dedicated party workers.
Why the answer is (a)
• Democratic theorists from Mill to Laski argue that democracy's chief merit is educative: by giving ordinary citizens a share in decisions, it draws out and develops their intelligence, judgement and civic character — option (a).
• Strong executive leadership (b), a superior individual (c) and dedicated party cadres (d) describe features of authoritarian or elitist systems, not democracy's distinctive virtue.
• Hence option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) the methods for strengthening executive leadership.
- Strengthening the executive is not democracy's distinctive virtue.
- (c) a superior individual with dynamism and vision.
- Reliance on a superior individual is elitist, not democratic.
- (d) a band of dedicated party workers.
- Party cadres are not the source of democracy's virtue.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.