Question:
How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Answer:
- IMF a special agency affiliated with United Nations has been one of the biggest moneylender for any country in the world.
- Its working is not fairly democratic because its 185 members do not have equal voting rights.
- The vote of each country is weighed by how much money it has contributed to the IMF.
- Since the top 10 developed countries have large contributions, they have a major say in IMF. These 10 countries have More than 54%of the voting power in the IMF.
- While the remaining 175 countries have negligible participation in IMF policy making. This is undemocratic.
Democracy in the Contemporary World
Q 1.
Why did USA support the military coup in Chile in 1973?
Q 2.
What was the 'voting rights' situation in USA after she adopted constitution? When was universal adult franchise granted there?
Q 3.
Why were women given voting rights much later than men in the most countries? Why did this not happen in India?
Q 4.
Based on the information given in this chapter, match the following countries and the path democracy has taken in that country.
| COUNTRY | PATH TO DEMOCRACY |
|---|
| a Chile | i Freedom from British colonial rule |
| b Nepal | ii End of military dictatorship |
| c Poland | iii End of one party rule |
| d Ghana | iv King agreed to give up his powers |
Q 5.
What did Allende hope for in his last address?
Q 6.
What are the difficulties people face in a non-democratic country? Give answers drawing from the examples given in this chapter.
Q 7.
Which East European countries were ruled by the communist parties in 1980s?
Q 8.
How democratic is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
Q 9.
'The disintegration of the Soviet Union accelerated the process of expansion of democracy.' Give reasons.
Q 10.
What happened to democracy in Ghana?
Q 11.
What reforms were carried out by Allende in Chile? How was it taken by opposition parties?
Q 12.
Which of the following positions can contribute to democracy at the global level? Give reasons for your answer in each case.
a) My country gives more money to international institutions. Therefore, I want to be treated with more respect and exercise more power.
b) My country may be small or poor. But my voice must be heard with equal respect, because these decisions will affect my country.
c) Wealthy nations will have a greater say in international affairs. They cannot let their interests suffer just because they are outnumbered by poor nations.
d) Big countries like India must have a greater say in international organisations.
Q 13.
Which freedoms are ususally taken away when a democracy is overthrown by the military?
Q 14.
Who was Lech Walesa? How did he become famous in Poland?
Q 15.
Here are three opinions heard in a television debate on the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Which of these do you agree with and why?
Guest 1: India is a democracy. Therefore, the Indian government must support the people of Nepal who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy.
Guest 2: That is a dangerous argument. We would be in the same position as the US was in Iraq. Remember, no outside force can promote democracy.
Guest 3: But why should we bother about the internal affairs of another country? We should be worried about our business interests there, not about democracy.
