Critical Thinking: Evaluating Democracy's Significance

This report provides a critical analysis of the statement "Is democracy overrated?" It begins by outlining the purpose of critical thinking in evaluating democracy and its implications, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making and the examination of claims. The report then demonstrates an understanding of critical thinking skills by examining claims, assertions, and statements related to democracy, contrasting democratic systems with totalitarian regimes, and highlighting the significance of judicial independence and freedom of speech. Furthermore, it evaluates various ideas and develops valid arguments by exploring the benefits of democracy, such as equality, human rights, and the prevention of minority rule, while also acknowledging potential shortcomings. The report concludes that introducing a democratic system is crucial for supporting equality and human rights, establishing a legal structure with checks and balances, and fostering positive relations among different groups within a society, thus arguing that democracy is not overrated.

Critical Thinking

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1. Purpose of critical thinking on“Is democracy is overrated”...................................................1
2. Demonstrate an understanding of critical thinking skills by examining claims, assertions
and statements.............................................................................................................................2
3. Evaluation of ideas and development of valid arguments......................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCE ..................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Democracy is a form of government in which people have the right to choose their
government legislature. Participation of people helps in choosing government through rule of
majority and each individual is given right to choose their government. In this project critical
thinking on the statement “Is democracy is overrated” is provided. In critical thinking facts are
analysed on the basis of results judgements are formed (Arnason, 2015). Through critical
thinking clarity and rationality about democracy will be provided that helps in understanding all
the concepts regarding democracy and its implications.
TASK 1
1. Purpose of critical thinking on“Is democracy is overrated”
The main purpose of critical thinking is to make better decision and to get the positive
results that comes form better decisions. Difference of opinion regarding democracy and its
implications to different economies leads to analyse this on the basis of critical thinking. As one
of the statement for democracy is that it is a solution to political conflicts and emergence of this
in various economies will help to enjoy benefits. As democracy gives equal rights to each
individual to choose their leader among all the political parties available to run the nation on
behalf of general public. Through critical thinking it is analysed that when government is
selected through majority decision of the country's citizen then no conflicts generate among any
religion to give preference to one and abolishing all the rights of one community. It was believed
that democracy, freedom and human rights all three of them introduced at the same time and they
goes together (Callan, 2016). Through analysing how democracy is implemented it is recorded
that in Russia democracy is implemented without any adequate protection to human rights. In
Britain humans rights were protected before implementation of democracy. Implication of
critical thinking helps to identify that these three are totally different concepts and implication of
one do not affects other two.
Critical thinking helps to ensures that decisions are well informed and improve
relationships. As democracy gives chances to each religion to develop equality and no religion
and cast is preferred over other. Before democracy power leads to supersedes all the rights and in
society punishments are provided to those who reluctant to follow the orders provided by
powerful groups. Decisions in democracy are based on the society as a whole and no undue
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privilege is given to any one. Relations among different religions and cast are maintained at good
conditions and whole economy scenario is established at good level. Application of critical
thinking helps to identify that how voters are given equal rights to make their decisions regarding
who will rule the nation for welfare of all (Golubeva and Guntersdorfer, 2017). Together with
this importance of implication of democracy in the country and how well it helps in establishing
a economy which is not biased through opinions of few hands and opinion of some individuals
who are in power.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of critical thinking skills by examining claims, assertions and
statements
Western countries is based on the assumptions that democracy is solutions to political
conflicts and they also encourages implications of democracy to other countries to enjoy benefits
related with democracy. The analytical skill of critical thinking helps in identifying that
democracy is a solution of various issues that may generate in an economy which had not yet
adopted democracy. This is more clear with statements made in the case study such as
totalitarian system that is endured in an economy leads to imposition of a one-party state. Main
focus of this system is to abolishing the distinction between civil society and the state by
focusing that no significant event can occur which is not controlled by the party. The issue of
overlapping all the rights of one particular religion is analysed through critical thinking and
importance of introducing democracy in the country is identified (Infrastructure of Democracy,
2019).
Judicial independence is considered in democracy and decisions that are provided for
breach of any law is true and fair and not manipulated for an individual. Before democracy when
the communist party had an interest then the judge was under the instruction to deliver the
verdict that is required by the party. A new law is implemented just because to provide prison to
one individual who has performed some activity which is not even mentioned in the law to be
illegal. In such circumstances the rule of the law was just a fiction and law was simply a mask
worn by the party and decision of few people. The problem of how democracy helps in
considering all individuals equal by taking opinions of all as mandatory in formation of political
system of the country. The problem solving skill of critical thinking is used here to represent
importance of the democracy to resolve various issues that arises in the economy.
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In democratic countries parliament who is the law making authority and it is divided into
government and opposition. It was acknowledged that government without opposition is without
any corrective when things go wrong. This is analysed through critical thinking skills of analysis,
evaluation and explanation. Situations before implementation of democracy and after democracy
is analysed through critical thinking (Jorgensen, 2017). As after democracy a opposition party is
present in the system to take stand against what is wrong implemented in the legal system of the
country. There was no such system existed before introduction of democracy and power is
concentrated into few hands. This concentration of power leads to wrong doing with general
public. The whole scenario of introducing a democratic system in the country is evaluated
against benefits that it will bring in the legal system of the country.
The statement that democracy beings freedom of speech and opinion is very true as it is
based on various facts and believes that complements this statements. Democracy beings equal
rights to each individual to select their leader will govern the nation and will take all the actions
that will be in the favour of nation as a whole. Each individual has right to express their opinion
regarding each issue that is taking place in the nation. Opinion of each person will be initiate in
the process of selection of government of the country.
The statement which says that democracy is overrated is not justified as benefits that
democracy brings to a nation is very remarkable and its contribution for formation of legal
system can not be ignored. Skills of critical thinking helps in analysing all the factors that shows
loop holes and advantages that are initiated with democracy (King and Griffin, 2019). One of the
greatest loop hole that a democratic country faces is that minors opinion is ignored as majority is
preferred and a sense of dissatisfaction is created among minors. The importance given to
democracy by considering its benefits are fair as it supports human rights and freedom in each
country where it is implemented.
3. Evaluation of ideas and development of valid arguments
Critical thinking skills that are used to represent a view point regarding is democracy is
overrated or not provides various ideas that helps in understanding the whole scenario. The case
study reflects the idea of providing opportunity to each individual to choose leaders who will
form government and legal system will be governed by them. The idea of breaking monotonous
ruling system in the country which is governed through few power full hands. A conflict among
democracy and totalitarianism is recorded. Democracy when introduced in a nation it brings
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liberalisation of the people of the former communist states. Before democracy oppression is done
on certain communities that are targeted on the basis of certain minor groups and religion. In
western politicians the idea of democracy consist- democracy, freedom and human rights.
The statement that democracy reduces monotonous system which provides preferential
rights to few individuals to rule a nations and per their regulations is quite justifiable (Lehman,
2015). As it provides people an opportunity to voice their opinion and vote for what they believe
in. Right to elect a leader is available with them so that no minority is dictating the policies of a
majority. The idea of democracy and arguments that it brings equality, prevents minority and
right to provide voice to opinion to each individual says that democracy is not overrated as it is
very important to establish government in the country which is selected by general public
through majority. Together with this system that is used in 16th and 17th century to govern general
public by an individual who powerful in any term is abolished when democracy is introduced in
the nation. As democracy is formed with a government and an opposition then all the steps taken
by government can be questioned by the opposition when any monopoly is made by the
government (McChesney and Nichols, 2016). Opposition gives all the care that government do
not enjoy any privilege of rights that are provided to them for taking decision on behalf of each
individual who elected them.
In totalitarianism there is no such power is given to other group or individual to question
decision which is taken by the rulers. They are only just implemented on the general public and
their opinions are not considered while taking decision. Implementation of democracy is not
sufficient in some countries to provide each individual an equal opportunity to make choice. In
middle east parties that stands for election are like Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. When these
type of parties wins election then an opportunity to crush dissent and impose a way of life that
for many citizens is simply unacceptable. This incidence focuses that even after the implication
of democracy individuals who belongs to different cast in some countries are not provided
equality opportunity as enjoyed by majority group. In this circumstances democracy becomes a
threat to human rights and not a way of protecting them.
When a group of people intended to show their attempt to plant seeds of opposition in
communist countries then they were considered public-spirited citizens who ran the risk of arrest
and imprisonment. Young people are deprived from education on the account of their parents
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political profile. These are some loop holes that existed in some countries even after introducing
democratic system (Wilson, 2018).
The above all arguments shows that benefits that are provided by introducing democracy
in a nation are much more then any negative impact. For this is can be said that democracy is not
overrated as it can make a huge impact of generating a justice or legal system in the country.
CONCLUSION
From the above project report it has been concluded that introducing a democratic system
in a country is important for supporting equality and human rights. Through democracy a system
which hampers rights of an individual to express their opinion and freedom of speech is provided
to each individual. Democracy helps in creation of legal structure of a nation that is formed with
government and an opposition. Government is the ruling party in the country and their decisions
are challenged by opposition so that government do not work for their personal benefits. In a
democratic country distribution of opportunity is made equally irrespective of cast, religion and
gender and that brings positive relation among two religions.
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REFERENCE
Books and Journals
Arnason, V., 2015. Toward critical bioethics. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics. 24(2).
pp.154-164.
Callan, E., 2016. Democracy, equal citizenship, and education. Theory and Research in
Education. 14(1). pp.77-90.
Golubeva, I. and Guntersdorfer, I. R., 2017. Preparing professionals for working in multicultural
and democratic Europe: Two pedagogical programs–Their assessment and
collaborations. Pedagogika. 128(4).
Jorgensen, C. G., 2017. Footprints from Chicago to New York City: David Hansen.
In Discovering John Dewey in the Twenty-First Century (pp. 183-197). Palgrave
Macmillan, New York.
King, D. and Griffin, M., 2019. Nonprofits as Schools for Democracy: The Justifications for
Organizational Democracy Within Nonprofit Organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary
Sector Quarterly, p.0899764019837603.
Lehman, B., 2015. Visual Literacy and Education: Seeing the World Meets Critical
Thinking (Doctoral dissertation, UCLA).
McChesney, R. W. and Nichols, J., 2016. People get ready: The fight against a jobless economy
and a citizenless democracy. Hachette UK.
Wilson, S., 2018. New Critical Thinking: What Wittgenstein Offered. Rowman & Littlefield.
Online
Infrastructure of Democracy. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.learnliberty.org/blog/is-democracy-overrated-no/>
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