Q.1 Which of the following is a fundamental characteristic of a liberal democracy?
Single-party rule
Free and fair elections
Military control over government
Government by hereditary monarch
Explanation - Liberal democracies are characterized by competitive, free, and fair elections, protecting individual rights and freedoms.
Correct answer is: Free and fair elections
Q.2 What does the term 'democratization' refer to in political science?
The process of forming a new monarchy
The transition from authoritarian rule to democratic governance
The creation of economic policies
The adoption of communism
Explanation - Democratization refers to the process through which a non-democratic regime becomes more democratic, often through reforms or revolutions.
Correct answer is: The transition from authoritarian rule to democratic governance
Q.3 Which political scientist is well-known for studying the waves of democratization?
Robert Dahl
Samuel Huntington
Max Weber
John Locke
Explanation - Samuel Huntington outlined three waves of democratization in modern history, describing patterns of democratic transitions.
Correct answer is: Samuel Huntington
Q.4 Which of the following is a challenge often faced by newly democratized countries?
Strong authoritarian institutions
Stable economic growth
Overabundance of political parties
Excessive foreign investment
Explanation - New democracies often struggle to replace entrenched authoritarian institutions with democratic norms and accountability.
Correct answer is: Strong authoritarian institutions
Q.5 What type of democracy allows citizens to directly participate in decision-making without intermediaries?
Representative democracy
Direct democracy
Illiberal democracy
Monarchy
Explanation - Direct democracy enables citizens to vote on laws and policies themselves, rather than electing representatives to make decisions.
Correct answer is: Direct democracy
Q.6 Which term describes a democracy where civil liberties and political rights are formally guaranteed but poorly practiced?
Liberal democracy
Illiberal democracy
Participatory democracy
Federal democracy
Explanation - Illiberal democracies hold elections but often restrict freedoms like press, judiciary independence, and civil liberties.
Correct answer is: Illiberal democracy
Q.7 In Robert Dahl's framework, which is considered a key feature of a 'polyarchy'?
Concentration of power
Inclusive suffrage and public contestation
Elimination of political parties
Centralized monarchy
Explanation - Dahl used 'polyarchy' to describe democracies that allow broad participation and competition among political groups.
Correct answer is: Inclusive suffrage and public contestation
Q.8 Which region is often associated with the 'third wave' of democratization according to Huntington?
Western Europe in the 19th century
Latin America in the 1970s-1980s
Ancient Greece
Middle East during the 1600s
Explanation - The 'third wave' refers to a period in the late 20th century when many Latin American countries transitioned from authoritarian regimes to democratic governance.
Correct answer is: Latin America in the 1970s-1980s
Q.9 What is considered a major factor in sustaining democracy in a country?
Authoritarian leadership
Strong democratic institutions
Absence of elections
Complete economic isolation
Explanation - Stable democracies depend on strong institutions like independent judiciary, free press, and accountable government structures.
Correct answer is: Strong democratic institutions
Q.10 Which of the following is an example of a hybrid regime?
United States
Norway
Russia
India
Explanation - Hybrid regimes mix democratic and authoritarian elements, often holding elections while limiting political freedoms.
Correct answer is: Russia
Q.11 What is a key difference between parliamentary and presidential democracies?
Parliamentary systems do not have elections
Presidential systems separate the executive and legislature
Parliamentary systems have no political parties
Presidential systems are always monarchies
Explanation - In presidential systems, the executive is elected independently from the legislature, whereas parliamentary systems often fuse these powers.
Correct answer is: Presidential systems separate the executive and legislature
Q.12 Which of the following is NOT typically a consequence of democratization?
Increased political participation
Strengthened civil rights
Elimination of political conflict
Transparency in governance
Explanation - Democratization does not remove political conflict; it provides institutions for managing it peacefully.
Correct answer is: Elimination of political conflict
Q.13 Which factor is often linked to a higher likelihood of successful democratization?
High economic development
Single-party dominance
Geographic isolation
State-controlled media
Explanation - Studies suggest that wealthier, economically developed countries have better chances of establishing and maintaining democracy.
Correct answer is: High economic development
Q.14 Which type of electoral system is commonly associated with proportional representation?
First-past-the-post
Single Transferable Vote
Majoritarian system
Federal system
Explanation - Proportional representation aims to allocate seats based on vote share, and STV is one such system used to achieve this.
Correct answer is: Single Transferable Vote
Q.15 Which of the following is a potential threat to democratic consolidation?
Rule of law
Corruption and weak institutions
Civil liberties
Independent judiciary
Explanation - Persistent corruption and weak institutions undermine trust and the effectiveness of democratic governance.
Correct answer is: Corruption and weak institutions
Q.16 What role do civil society organizations play in democratization?
They centralize political power
They suppress public participation
They mobilize citizens and monitor governments
They enforce authoritarian rule
Explanation - Civil society groups strengthen democracy by engaging citizens, promoting accountability, and advocating for rights.
Correct answer is: They mobilize citizens and monitor governments
Q.17 Which is an example of a country that experienced democratization in the late 20th century?
France
South Korea
Ancient Rome
United Kingdom
Explanation - South Korea transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy in the late 1980s, a key example of late 20th-century democratization.
Correct answer is: South Korea
Q.18 Which concept refers to the 'rule of the people' in democracy?
Autocracy
Democracy
Oligarchy
Technocracy
Explanation - Democracy is derived from Greek, meaning 'rule by the people,' emphasizing popular sovereignty.
Correct answer is: Democracy
Q.19 Which of these is a key indicator of political liberalization?
Restrictions on media
Opening of political participation
Consolidation of authoritarian power
Elimination of opposition parties
Explanation - Political liberalization involves increasing freedoms for citizens to participate in politics, such as elections, parties, and civil society.
Correct answer is: Opening of political participation
Q.20 What is one reason democracy might fail in post-authoritarian states?
Strong social trust
Fragmented political culture
Independent judiciary
Effective political parties
Explanation - Fragmentation and lack of consensus on democratic norms can lead to instability and failure of democratization.
Correct answer is: Fragmented political culture
Q.21 Which of the following best illustrates a consolidation of democracy?
Frequent military coups
Strong democratic institutions and practices
Suppression of opposition parties
Weak rule of law
Explanation - Democratic consolidation occurs when democratic norms, institutions, and practices are deeply established and broadly supported.
Correct answer is: Strong democratic institutions and practices
Q.22 Which event is considered a major milestone in the global spread of democracy after 1989?
Fall of the Berlin Wall
French Revolution
American Civil War
Glorious Revolution
Explanation - The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, leading to democratization in the region.
Correct answer is: Fall of the Berlin Wall
Q.23 Which is a common measure used to evaluate the quality of democracy?
GDP growth rate
Freedom House scores
Military strength
Population size
Explanation - Freedom House evaluates political rights and civil liberties to measure the quality of democracy in countries worldwide.
Correct answer is: Freedom House scores
Q.24 What is an example of a participatory mechanism in democracy?
Citizen-initiated referenda
Single-party rule
Hereditary monarchy
Military dictatorship
Explanation - Participatory democracy allows citizens to influence policy decisions directly, such as through referenda or citizen assemblies.
Correct answer is: Citizen-initiated referenda