Which of the following examples accurately contrasts political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government?
Democratic governments do not tolerate nonviolent forms of protest; authoritarian governments do.
Authoritarian governments harshly punish speech that is critical of the government and its leaders; democratic governments do not.
Free speech has no effect on the function of society in democratic systems; authoritarian governments' limits on free speech make their societies work better.
Democratic governments rarely hold elections; authoritarian governments hold regular elections.
Authoritarian governments harshly punish speech that is critical of the government and its leaders; democratic governments do not.
The example that accurately contrasts political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government is:
Authoritarian governments harshly punish speech that is critical of the government and its leaders; democratic governments do not.
The contrast between political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government can be identified by considering the distinguishing characteristics of each type.
First, let's define democratic governments. In democratic systems, power is vested in the people, who have the right to participate in decision-making through various channels, such as elections, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly. On the other hand, authoritarian governments concentrate power in a single group or individual, generally without widespread citizen participation in decision-making processes.
Examining the options provided, we can see that the first and fourth examples do not accurately contrast political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government. In democratic governments, nonviolent forms of protest are generally tolerated, while authoritarian governments tend to restrict or prohibit such forms of protest.
Similarly, the notion that democratic governments rarely hold elections and authoritarian governments hold regular elections is also false. In democratic systems, regular elections are a fundamental aspect of the political process, allowing citizens to choose their representatives, whereas authoritarian governments often manipulate or restrict access to elections or impose limitations on opposition parties.
Now, let's focus on the second example. It accurately contrasts political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government. In democratic governments, individuals have the freedom to express their opinions without fear of harsh punishment, fostering an open exchange of ideas and debates. In contrast, authoritarian governments frequently suppress criticism through strict penalties or legal measures, limiting freedom of speech and stifling political discourse.
To summarize, the second example is the most accurate contrast between political participation in democratic and authoritarian systems of government, as it highlights the difference in tolerance towards criticism and free speech.