Civic Participation Key To Democracy

Of late the word ‘democracy’ has been a modern political lingua franca across the world. Democracy, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, is the political system ‘of the people, for the people and by the people’. In other words, democracy is the people’s polity in which representatives govern in the name of people and for the larger interest of the people. In democracy, multiple ideas and views have equal role to play wherein dissenting voice is duly heard and well respected. Rulers and leaders alike in every country try to legitimise their rule in the name of people and claim that their regimes are democratic, irrespective of the form of government and political system they inherit or practice. Even those who rule with iron fist claim to have done so in the name of the people.  Democracy is, thus, the most used and abused political terminology in the world. 

Politics evolves along with the evolution of human civilisation. So is democracy. The nature of politics has changed with the wheel of time and history. Power is the central focus of politics in which tricks and treachery are the common phenomenon to grab power. Politics is no longer virtuous vocation as prophesied by Socrates. Nor does Immanuel Kant’s, politics of morality is at play. Politics of the day is Machiavellian in which fundamental purpose of politics is power and anything is fair to gain and hold on to power.  

Idea of democracy 

In the history of human civilisation particularly since the emergence of the first state in Sumer, which is now located in south-central Iraq. It was later called Mesopotamia, various forms of political systems and shapes came to dominate in the world. The origin of democracy in the western world goes back to 500 BC. In 507 BC, Cleisthenes, a nobleman in Athens is credited to have mooted the idea of democracy. Cleisthenes announced a constitution comprising of some rudimentary tenets of modern democracy like three branches of government -- executive, legislative and judiciary and their independent role. Cleisthenes is, therefore, called the father of democracy in the western world. 

 In the oriental society the roots of democratic culture goes back to even older time. Kautilya’s Arthasashtra and Niti Shashtra tell about how a ruler should govern in the larger interest of the people in 3rd century BC, which is said to be the rudimentary form of democracy. Kautilya or Chanakya was the principal advisor to the Maurya emperor Chandragupta of Magadha kingdom (presently in India). Kautilya’s concept of the ruler (king) is of benevolent type whose primary task is welfare of the common people. Chinese are of the view that Confucius teachings, too, talk about some basic democratic tenets. And thus, they are of the view that democracy is rooted in oriental civilisations and more particularly Asian civilisations. 

Whatever the claims and counter-claims on the origin and roots of democracy, the fundamental goal of democracy is to serve the people. However, the present day interest-based politics is devoid of virtues and morality. Instead politics is not the vocation of the gentlemen instead it is called a dirty game.  In the name of realpolitik, politics has gotten perverted and corrupted. As George Bernard Shaw has said ‘Politics is the last resort for the scoundrel’ statecraft is often handled by dirty hands. Rulers and leaders tend to capture power in the name of democracy and people. As a result, democracy, too, has earned bad repute and the sanctity of democracy has evaporated. 

In principle, majority of the countries in the world are democratic. Despite constitutional provisions of democracy, only a few countries are genuine democracy. Constitutional provisions alone do not ensure democracy. Democracy has to be seen, felt and realised in the life of the people for which actions and government’s delivery count more than anything. In other words, democracy is a political culture which accepts and ensures plurality in all fronts. Monopoly is incompatible with the democratic principle. Democracy treats all equally and guarantees equal access to opportunities. 

According to the global democracy index of the Economist Intelligence Unit, only 8 per cent of the world’s population actually lives in a full and functioning democracy, while 37 per cent of people live in “flawed democracy”, while 55 per cent does not live in democracy at all.  The global democracy index puts Norway on the top of the list of ensuring full democracy followed by Iceland, while Sweden, New Zealand and Canada rank in the third, fourth and fifth position respectively.  Democracy is active participation of the people in the political process.  However, the participation of the people in democracy is dwindling. Election is one of the opportunities for people’s participation. 

Growing public apathy

However, elections alone are not the lone gauge of democracy.  Elections are held also in non-democratic countries, too. The issue is not whether elections are held or not but the real matter is how elections are held. People’s participation in electoral and political process has been diminishing worldwide. There has been growing public apathy towards politics. Democracy cannot survive and prosper in the absence of greater and active participation of the people in politics and electoral process.  Democracy is the political system that requires greater transparency, efficient delivery of services and high degree of accountability. 

When parties and leaders fail in delivery part and tend to focus more on personal and partisan gains, democracy turns demagoguery and plutocracy. This is exactly what has happened in most of the developing democracies and some already established democracies are, too, not immune to this syndrome. Politics is getting a bad reputation because of the behaviour of political parties and leaders. This has, to some extent, degraded the quality of democracy worldwide.  Until and unless, political players do not see themselves and their activities through the eyes of people, politics will continue to be a ‘dirty game’. Now is the time to clean politics and enhance the quality of democracy for which politicians have to make a serious soul searching as to what has gone wrong and what needs to be reformed.  

(The author is former ambassador and former chief editor of this daily. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)