adminPrevious Year Questions (2013-2022)
1] Comment on J. S. Mill’s ideas on women suffrage [2021/10m/150w/1e]
2] Representative democracy means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy. (J. S. Mill). Comment [2020/15m/200w/2b]
3] John Stuart Mill is a ‘reluctant democrat’. (CL Wayper). Comment. [2018/10m/150w/1a]
4] Discuss, ‘All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility’ (JS Mill) [2014/10m/150w/1b]
The Most Important Book for PSIR
- Last 28 Year Questions (1995-2022)
- Topic & sub-topic wise classification
- Classification strictly accordingly to official syllabus
- Use of graphs to illustrate topic-wise weightage
- Also Includes Year Wise Questions
Model Answers to PYQs (2018-2022)
1] Comment on J. S. Mill’s ideas on women suffrage [2021/10m/150w/1e]
In his work “The Subjection of Women,” co-written with his wife Harriet Taylor Mill, Mill argued against the subordination of women and advocated for their right to participate in political decision-making.
Mill contended that denying women the right to vote was a form of unjust discrimination and a violation of their individual liberties. He believed that women should have the same political rights as men, including the right to vote, in order to fully exercise their agency and contribute to society.
Mill’s argument for women’s suffrage was grounded in the principles of individual liberty and utilitarianism, which emphasized the maximization of overall happiness and the avoidance of unnecessary restrictions on personal freedom. He argued that women, like men, possess the capacity for rational thought and should be able to participate in the democratic process, influencing laws and policies that affect their lives.
Moreover, Mill recognized that granting women the right to vote would not only benefit women but also contribute to the progress and well-being of society as a whole. He believed that women’s perspectives and experiences were essential for a well-rounded and inclusive decision-making process, leading to more just and effective governance.
Mill’s ideas on women’s suffrage were ahead of their time and laid the groundwork for the women’s suffrage movement that gained momentum in the following decades. [219 words]
2] Representative democracy means the people as a body must be able to control the general direction of government policy. (J. S. Mill). Comment [2020/15m/200w/2b]
JS Mill was an advocate of liberal representative democracy. For him, representative democracy must create maximum space for people to take part in the functioning of the government and not restrict their involvement by merely allowing them to vote.
Mill considered participation important because it develops the confidence of the people in their ability to govern themselves. Hence, for Mill democracy as a system would allow the development of the individual’s personality. It develops the intellectual talents of people and is the best condition for liberty to flourish.
Participation makes an informed and intelligent debate possible. It is through thorough debate and discussion, where there is space for rational persuasion of each other, that the best argument emerges and this helps in solving the problems affecting the whole community.
This is why Mill regarded the parliament as the forum where all kinds of opinions should find a space and be vigorously debated. Mill considers a measure of socio-economic equality as necessary for democracy and liberty to be actualized.
Despite his insistence on the value of participation, Mill was sceptical of the capability of every citizen to govern and considered governance a task requiring expertise. He sought to balance this by recommending maximum participation at the local level so that people get educated in the task of governance. [217 words]
3] John Stuart Mill is a ‘reluctant democrat’. (CL Wayper). Comment. [2018/10m/150w/1a]
The perspective of CL Wayper of John Stuart Mill as a “reluctant democrat” suggests that while Mill advocated for certain democratic principles and reforms, he also expressed reservations and had a nuanced stance on democracy.
Mill’s political philosophy emphasized the importance of individual liberty and the maximization of overall happiness.
However, Mill also recognized the potential pitfalls of democratic rule. He expressed concerns about the “tyranny of the majority,” where the majority could suppress the rights and interests of minority groups. Mill believed that democracy needed safeguards to protect individual liberties and to prevent the majority from imposing its will without regard for the rights of others.
Mill’s reservations about democracy led him to advocate for the establishment of representative institutions and the importance of educated and informed citizens. He argued that an educated electorate would be better equipped to make informed decisions and avoid the dangers of uninformed or impulsive majority rule.
Furthermore, Mill believed that certain individuals, particularly those with knowledge and expertise in specific areas, should have a greater influence on decision-making and be given a ‘plural voting’ capacity.
These aspects of Mill’s thought contribute to the characterization of him as a “reluctant democrat.” While he recognized the potential benefits of democracy and championed individual liberties, he also expressed concerns about its limitations and the potential dangers it posed to minority rights and the quality of decision-making. [230 words]
The post contains answers to the last 5-year papers i.e. (2022-2018). Answers to the previous year questions from 2013-2017 are a part of our book PSIR Optional Model Answers to PYQs (2013-2022)
- Covers last 10 years (2013-2022)
- Topic wise arrangement of questions
- More than 500+ question-answers
- Available at discount price