Which one of the following statements with regard to 'protective democ

Which one of the following statements with regard to ‘protective democracy’ is not correct?

It propounds that citizen participation is essential in democracies.

Citizens must be able to protect themselves from governmental encroachments.

It is compatible with *laissez-faire* capitalism.

Political equality is understood in formal terms as equal voting rights.

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2020

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‘Protective democracy’, as theorized by thinkers like Bentham, views democracy primarily as a mechanism to protect individual rights and liberties, particularly property rights, from potential encroachment by the government or other powerful groups. While it requires citizen participation (like voting) to function as a protective mechanism, stating that citizen participation is “essential” might be seen as less characteristic compared to other democratic theories (like developmental democracy) where participation is valued for its own sake or for fostering civic virtue and self-governance. In protective democracy, participation is more instrumental – a means to the end of protection.

Protective democracy emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, and using democratic processes (like voting) to ensure that rulers act in the interest of the ruled and protect their rights.

Protective democracy is often contrasted with ‘developmental democracy’ (which emphasizes participation for self-development and community building) and ‘participatory democracy’ (which advocates for broader and deeper citizen involvement). Option B is a core idea, Option C reflects its historical link with classical liberalism and minimal state intervention in the economy, and Option D reflects the focus on formal rather than substantive political equality.

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