Substantive Democracy

Substantive Democracy

Substantive democracy unlike procedural democracy where socio-economic differences could potentially hamper people's participation, emphasizes the depth and quality of democratic governance and extends its focus on the actual outcomes and practices that ensure the realization of true democratic values. It aims to promote equitable representation, protect individual rights, and foster social justice.

Substantive democracy ensures that political power is exercised in a way that genuinely reflects the will of the people, with special attention to marginalized sections.

While liberal democracy is identified as 'political democracy', substantive democracy is described as 'economic democracy' or 'social democracy'. Economic power is recognized as key political power. Socialism sustains the primacy of social-economic rights and it makes elaborate arrangements to provide for employment, education, housing, medical care, and recreation facilities for the people.

As people's welfare is given precedence over the procedure of democracy, it goes on to accept the monopoly of a single political party devoted to the interests of the working class and voters have to approve the candidate nominated by the ruling political party. A ruling political party is the source of decision-making; organs of government simply ratify the decision so made.

It is a democracy in which substantive outcomes are achieved like reduction in wealth inequalities and provision of basic economic goods and services.

Substantive democracy holds a maximalist dimension and is beyond just being an institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions.

Marxists consider socialism synonymous with true democracy. People, in procedural democracy are perceived as passive beyond electoral participation, this holds a minimalistic view of being governed by their representatives. It focuses on the ideals of fairness, accountability, and inclusiveness rather than on just the procedural aspects of democracy.

Comment on Substantive Democracy in 150 words. UPSC 2018 Paper 1A - Qn 1d 

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