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Section-B Political Theory
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. From which language did the English word ‘Liberty’ originate?
Ans: From the Latin word ‘Liber’.
2. Who said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”?
Ans: Thomas Jefferson.
3. Who said, “Liberty and law are contradictory”?
Ans: Lord Acton.
4. Who is the author of the book ‘On Liberty’?
Ans: John Stuart Mill.
5. Who said, “Freedom is our birthright, and we must have it”?
Ans: Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
6. What is meant by ‘Swaraj’?
Ans: ‘Swa’ means self, and ‘Raj’ means rule; therefore, Swaraj means self-rule or self-governance.
7. Who is the author of the book ‘Long Walk to Freedom’?
Ans: Nelson Mandela.
8. Who is the author of the book ‘Freedom from Fear’?
Ans: Aung San Suu Kyi.
9. When did Mahatma Gandhi write the book ‘Hind Swaraj’?
Ans: In 1909.
10. What is the name of the book written by Mahatma Gandhi onSwaraj?
Ans: ‘Hind Swaraj’.
11. Who wrote the book ‘Ramayana Retold’?
Ans: Aubrey Menen.
12. Who said, “To live a dignified life we must be free from fear”?
Ans: Aung San Suu Kyi.
13. Was John Stuart Mill a supporter of liberalism?
Ans: Yes, it is true.
14. According to Aung San Suu Kyi, what is true freedom?
Ans: Freedom from fear.
15. Who said, “Liberty is the opposite of a totalitarian government”?
Ans: Sir John Robert Seeley.
16. What is the meaning of the word ‘Liber’?
Ans: Free.
17. Who said, “Liberty is opposed to excessive control”?
Ans: Sir John Robert Seeley.
18. Who said, “Political liberty means the power to participate actively in the activities of the state”?
Ans: Harold J. Laski.
19. Who said, “Without economic freedom, political freedom is meaningless”?
Ans: C. E. M. Joad.
20. Write the name of one supporter of natural liberty.
Ans: Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
21. Who said, “Where there is no law, there is no liberty”?
Ans: John Locke.
22. “Liberty implies the presence of reasonable restrictions.” Is this true?
Ans: Yes, it is true.
23. “Law is a condition of liberty.” Is this true?
Ans: Yes, it is true.
24. “Law is complementary to liberty.” Is this true?
Ans: Yes, it is true.
B. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 2)
1. Write the definition of liberty given by Harold J. Laski.
Ans: Harold J. Laski gave a satisfactory definition of liberty. According to him, “Liberty means the eager maintenance of those conditions in social life in which men have the opportunity of realizing their fullest potentialities.”2. Write the names of two supporters of natural liberty.
Ans: Two supporters of natural liberty are John Locke and Jean-JacquesRousseau.
3. Write the names of two thinkers who supported the positive concept of liberty.
Ans: Two thinkers who supported the positive concept of liberty are Harold J. Laski and T. H. Green.
4. Write the names of two supporters of the negative concept of liberty.
Ans: Two supporters of the negative concept of liberty are John Stuart Mill and Adam Smith.
5. Do you think the concept of natural liberty is acceptable? Give reasons.
Ans: The unrestricted freedom that people enjoyed before the emergence of the state is called natural liberty. In such a condition, individuals act according to their own wishes without considering the rights of others. Such liberty cannot be supported because natural liberty would create disorder in society. The principle “might is right” is not acceptable in the modern age. For the protection of individual liberty, a universal institution is necessary. The state is such an institution. The state creates suitable conditions and an environment in which people can enjoy liberty under certain regulations. Therefore, natural liberty in its absolute form is not possible.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. What are the differences between negative liberty and positive liberty?
Ans: The differences between negative liberty and positive liberty are as follows:
(a) Negative liberty supports unlimited freedom, whereas positive liberty supports regulated or controlled freedom.
(b) Negative liberty considers the state unnecessary, whereas positive liberty regards the state as a necessary institution.
(c) Negative liberty supports the policy of non-interference by the state, whereas positive liberty supports the policy of state intervention and expansion.
2. Discuss the relationship between law and liberty.
Or
“Law is the condition of liberty.” Discuss.
Ans: Some thinkers express the view that law and liberty are contradictory concepts. They argue that law interferes with the enjoyment of liberty. On the other hand, some thinkers say that law imposes reasonable restrictions and thereby makes the enjoyment of liberty possible. In reality, there is a closer relationship between law and liberty. The reasons are as follows:
(a) Law protects the liberty of every individual from the interference of others.
(b) Law helps people enjoy liberty by maintaining peace, order, and a healthy social environment.
(c) Constitutional law provides opportunities for citizens to enjoy liberty by protecting fundamental rights. In short, law is a condition that creates a suitable environment for the reasonable enjoyment of liberty.
D. Essay Type Questions & Answers: (Marks for each – 6)
1. What is liberty? Discuss the different types of liberty.
Ans: The English equivalent of the Assamese word ‘Swadhinata’ (freedom)is ‘Liberty’. The word ‘Liberty’ originates from the Latin word ‘Liber’, which means ‘free’. From the etymological point of view, liberty means the condition in which a person can act according to his or her own will without unnecessary restrictions. However, liberty does not mean the absence of all control. In society, liberty means enjoying one’s rights without interfering with the rights of others. According to its nature, liberty can be divided into five types: natural liberty, civil liberty, political liberty, national liberty, and economic liberty. These are briefly discussed below.
(a) Natural liberty: The freedom that people enjoyed in the state of nature before the origin of the state is called natural liberty. This liberty was unrestricted, and people could live their lives without any external restraint.
(b) Civil liberty: Civil liberty refers to the opportunities and facilities that enable citizens to develop their personality and talents in society. Civil liberty is a contribution of the state and originates from it.
(c) Political liberty: Political liberty means the right of citizens to participate in the administration and governance of the state. The right to vote is an example of political liberty. Through this liberty, citizens can form governments, contest elections, apply for public offices, and take up government employment according to their qualifications.
(d) National liberty: National liberty means freedom from foreign control. In other words, it implies that a nation possesses sovereign power.
(e) Economic liberty: Economic liberty means financial independence of citizens. The freedom to undertake any lawful occupation and the right to receive fair wages are examples of economic liberty.
2. Discuss the measures for safeguarding liberty.
Ans: The English equivalent of the Assamese word ‘Swadhinata’ is‘Liberty’, which comes from the Latin word ‘Liber’, meaning ‘free’. Liberty does not mean the absence of all control; rather, it means enjoying one’s rights without interfering with the rights of others. There are several measures for safeguarding liberty, which are discussed below.
(a) Inclusion of fundamental rights in the constitution: Liberty of citizens can be protected by including fundamental rights in the constitution. Countries such as United States, France, and India have incorporated fundamental rights in their constitutions to protect citizens’ liberty. Since these rights are enforceable, citizens can approach the courts to safeguard them.
(b) Rule of law: Liberty can be protected by establishing the rule of law in a country. For the rule of law to function properly, a sound and welfare-oriented constitution is necessary. When the rule of law prevails, the principle that “all are equal before the law” becomes effective, thereby protecting citizens’ liberty.
(c) Democratic system of government: Liberty can be safeguarded more easily in a democratic system of government because, in democracy, the people are sovereign. People elect their representatives according to their choice and send them to the legislature. These representatives remain responsible to the citizens. Thus, liberty can be protected through democratic governance.
(d) Independent judiciary: Liberty can also be protected by establishing an independent and impartial judiciary. For the judiciary to deliver justice freely and independently, it must remain free from the influence of the executive and the legislature.
(e) Decentralization of power: Through decentralization of power, citizens get opportunities to participate in politics. As a result, political awareness develops among them. Local self-government institutions indicated decentralization of power, and many countries of the world have adopted this principle to safeguard citizens’ liberty.
(f) Minimum knowledge of law: To protect individual liberty, citizens should have at least a minimum knowledge of law. Without knowledge of law, it becomes difficult to protect and enjoy personal liberty.
(g) Eternal vigilance: One of the important ways to safeguard liberty is constant vigilance. If citizens remain alert, no authority will dare to interfere with their liberty. For such vigilance, the opportunity for universal education is essential.
