In the fictional country of 'Rivara', elections are held every five years, but the media is controlled by the ruling party, and protests are banned. Discuss whether Rivara can be considered a democracy, citing key factors from the chapter.
Answer
Rivara cannot be considered a full democracy because, besides free and fair elections, democratic governance requires freedom of expression, assembly, and independent media; the restrictions on media and protests violate these core principles, making Rivara a pseudo‑democracy at best.
Step-by-step solution
- List the essential democratic features: free elections, independent media, freedom of assembly, rule of law.
- Check if Rivara meets each feature.
- Note that elections occur but media control and protest bans are violations.
- Conclude that absence of these freedoms disqualifies Rivara from being a true democracy.
Common mistake: Focusing only on elections and ignoring civil liberties
Concept tested: Democracy beyond elections
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
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