Political Science and International Relations

John Stuart Mill is a 'reluctant democrat'. - C. L. Wayper.  UPSC 2018 Paper 1A Qn 1a John Stuart Mill believed that citizens develop intellectual qualities of reason and judgment through political participation.  Although Mill championed Liberty, Women's political rights, and a representative form of government, C. L. Wayper referred to Mill as a reluctant democrat as -   He focused on the arbitrary concepts of civilizational advancements and educational standards of people to extend the luxury of democracy to the people of colonial societies of Asia and Africa. Instead, he advocated for an aristocratic rule as he believed people were Barbaric. Though direct democracy is the best form of government, due to the complexities of societies, representative democracy, the second best form of government became unavoidable. Inspired by De Tocqueville's Democracy in America, he introduced  Weighted and plural voting for educated and rich people as opposed to Benth...

J.S. Mill's ideas on women's suffrage . UPSC 2021 Paper 1A - Qn 1e In the medieval and early modern periods in Europe, the right to vote was severely limited for all people by age, ownership of property, and gender. Mill tried to reconcile the principle of political equality with individual liberty. Liberty improves the moral and mental powers of human beings.  The rights of citizenship, makes individual a social person and gives both political freedom and responsibility. Mill stated that every individual must be allowed a say in controlling the government and thus be allowed to protect his/her interests. He asserted, that the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will, is to prevent harm to others.  On this basis, Mill demanded women be given the right to vote.  He objected to women being prevented by law to compete and contribute to society. In granting the right to vote, Mill hoped that women...

All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility. UPSC Paper 1A - Qn - 1b "If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than, he if he had the power would be justified in silencing mankind". According to Mill, every individual must be allowed a say in controlling the government and thus given an opportunity to protect his/her interests. Civil participation enhances autonomy and altruism - autonomy from self-government, and altruism from judging the interests of community". Mill emphasized on the significance of freedom of speech in social utility (and self development of a person). According to him, clash of views facilitate impetus for thought, discussion and progress. No person no matter how intelligent is wholly infallible and for Mill, "All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility". According to him, freedom of speech and expression also includes the rig...

Qn. "The legal subordination of one sex to another is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human development." Comment. UPSC 2023 Paper 1A - Qn 4b J. S. Mill's 'The Subjection of Women' begins with the revolutionary statement "The legal subordination..." in reference to the English law of marriage contract. Property rights of women are severely subordinated to male members of family and women had to go through a paradoxical situation in modern age, the principles of liberty and equality were not applied to the condition of women. According to Mill, the reason why women's inequality survived slavery and political absolutism is, in case of slavery, only slave holders and despots are interested but in case of women's subordination, all men are interested. Mill's argument against natural inferiority of women's nature is that he considered inequality as a result of socialisation. Mill showed examples of women's aptitude ...

Qn. Representative Democracy... means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy. (J. S. Mill). Comment. As Mill specified in his ' Considerations on Representative Government ', "One criterion of the g oodness of the government is the degree to which it tends to increase the sum of good qualities in the governed, collectively and individually". The only government that can fully satisfy all the exigencies of the social state is one in which whole people participate. For Mill, the point of having a government was its performing two main functions: it must use the existing qualities and skills of the citizens ( Competence ) improve the moral, intellectual, and active qualities of these citizens ( Participation ) A judicial combination of these qualities i.e., Competence and Participation fulfils the protection and educates the citizens Mill regards representative democracy as necessary for progress, as it will  Provide citi...