We have outlined above many advantages and drawbacks of democracy. Since its rise and development, democracy, both as an ideal and HR an institution, has been severely attacked by its opponents and also Rtoutly defended by its votaries. In recent years the controversy over democracy has become sharper still. The rise of dictatorships in modern times has cast a doubt as well as a shadow over its future. It is now often nuked whether it would survive in future or not.
But when all is said and done, democracy is found to be a far better form of government and State than all other non-democratic and anti¬democratic governments of the recent and remote past. Indeed, as Lowell nid. no form of government is panacea for all human ills. No one can deny the defects of democracy. But no one should also shut his eyes to the merits #iul achievements of democracy. ‘Things may be bad today, but they were worse yesterday.” Mankind has tried absolute monarchy, aristocracy and dictatorship and found them to be oppressive, tyrannical and unprogressive. Democracy, on the other hand, contains within it seeds of justice and general welfare, and progress.
Democracy means responsible power, while all other governments mean irresponsible power which ultimately corrupts even saintly men. That is why the people are not willing to give up democracy for any other form of government. One denies,” says Burns, “that existing representative assemblies are defective, but if an automobile does not work well, it is foolish to go back to farm-cart, however romantic.” Furthermore, the remedy of the ills of democracy is not less but more democracy. It means, moreover, that the success or failure of democracy depends upon the character, intelligence, and civic sense of the common people and on their loyalty to democratic ideals and institutions. It is a people’s government, which people alone can defend. As Laski remarks about it, “Untidy, slow to act, often confused; it quarrels within itself. But it has deep reserves of energy upon which it can call. If it bends often enough, it scarcely breaks. If it is slow to mobilise its powers, when they are mobilised, it goes on to the end with an impressive determination.”