Question

Throw light on the phases of expansion of democracy in different countries.

Answer 1

(i) Modern democracy began at least two centuries ago during the French Revolution of 1789. But this uprising did not establish a secure and stable democracy in France. Throughout the nineteenth century democracy was overthrown and restored several times. Still the French Revolution inspired many struggles for democracy all over Europe. The words "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity" spread in France, Europe and then to the whole of the world.
(ii) In Britain democracy started much before the French Revolution but the progress was too slow. Progressively the power of monarchy and feudal lords reduced and the right to vote was granted to more and more people.
(iii) Around the same time as the French Revolution, the British colonies in North America declared themselves independent in 1776. With the passing of time these colonies came together to form the United States of America and adopted a democratic constitution in 1787. But still the right to vote was limited to very few men.
(iv) For a long time, most countries in Asia and Africa were colonies under the control of European nations. People of the colonised countries had to wage struggle to gain independence.
(v) Our country was one of the few colonies where people struggled to liberate the country from the colonial rule. Many of these countries became democracies soon after the end of the Second World War in 1945.
(vi) India achieved independence in 1947 and continues to be a democracy. But several former colonies such as Ghana could not remain democracies for long.