Mukti Rijal

Pluralist democracies also known as polyarchy have become a globally accepted and endorsed political phenomenon. A handful states around the North Atlantic especially in the US and North Europe had been democracies defined in the modern sense of the term till fifty year ago.
But today pluralist democracy has become a standard form of government. The famed political analyst Rafique Zakaria in his acclaimed work The Future of Freedom makes an interesting observation saying that autocratic monarchies are antique today, totalitarian ideologies like fascism and communism are utterly discredited and no longer accepted in the today's world. For the vast majority of the world, democracy is the sole and the singular source of political legitimacy. The political analyst Rafique Zakaria adds, "In a world that is increasingly democratic, the regimes that resist the democratisation produce dysfunctional societies".

Dispassionate assessment
But democratic countries too often become a kind of sham systems producing disenchantment, disarray, violence and new forms of despotism. Why this frustration with democracy occurs among the people in a growing way? This is a question that needs a dispassionate assessment. To answer this question, the eminent political scientist late Samuel P. Huntington in his monumental work titled The Third Wave of Democracy makes some diagnostic observations noting the fact that government produced by elections can turn to be inefficient, corrupt, shortsighted, irresponsible dominated by special interests and incapable of adopting policies needed for effective delivery of the public good.
Moreover, experiences in our countries especially in South Asia do indicate that democracy cannot function effectively only with the setting up and creation of the of superstructures of democratic institutions like elected national legislature, independent judiciary and constitutional bodies such as Election Commission, Public Service Commission and so on.
These are generally known as the supply side institutions of democracy. They provide superstructures and frameworks for democracy. However, demand side activities represented by civic initiatives and engagement are basic and important elements in making democracy functional and vibrant. It is said that civic vigilance is the price for democracy and liberty.
The preconditions for the successful working of democracy have been that people should be aware of their rights, entitlements, obligations and responsibilities. Citizens should be enabled to actively engage to demand accountability and responsiveness of the state institutions. The authorities should have a sense of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens. Similarly, rule of law, adherence to fundamental democratic principles, clear procedures, shared spaces for dialogue are vital to sustainable citizen participation and engagement.
Moreover, there should be an enabling environment, protection and support for the role of civil society and its functions in advocacy and monitoring of public affairs. Civic participation should be promoted and enabled by fostering mutual respect between state and civil society. Gender equality and equal participation of all groups including those with particular interests and needs, such as young people, the elderly, and people with disabilities or minorities need to be enhanced.
Public authorities should promote and enable citizen participation and clearly define the objectives, actors, process and timeline. They should provide up-to-date, comprehensive information about the decision-making process and procedures. Empowerment of citizens and building their competence can be fostered through citizen education.
Education for political and social citizenship should be made an integral part of formal and informal education system. In fact, civic education for democracy has become the priority theme of many democratic nations. Some of the Asian and African countries have taken the lead role in this regard. The move became effective especially when new democracies like Mongolia and Poland took lead role to promote democracy and civic education with a view to consolidate democratic institutions and make political leaders responsible and accountable to the people.
In fact, the United Nations General Assembly passed the resolution on education for democracy and citizenship in November 2012.The UN resolution on education for democracy and citizenship refers to the Charter of the UN and recognizes the right to education which is enshrined in the international treaties and documents including Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and political Rights and so on.
It has taken cognizance of the UN Declaration and commitments wherein the UN member states have emphasised on efforts to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law as well as respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms including right to development.
Moreover, the UN resolution calls upon member states to integrate education for democracy into national education framework. It further recognises the need to take into account innovative approaches and best practices in the field of education on democracy and citizenship with a view to enhancing civic empowerment and participation in political life at all levels.

Core values
Since Nepal has been a party to the several UN conventions and declarations, the country should undertake various measures in promoting democracy and civic education to ensure that both political leaders and citizens are socialised into the core values and practices of rule of law, constitutional democracy and federalism. This can ensure that citizens have power to build pressure into political leadership to abide by and uphold democratic principles of constitutionalism. Political leaders should not be allowed to bend key principles, norms and values of rule of law to suit to their vested and parochial interests.

(Rijal, PhD, writes on contemporary political, economic and governance issues. rijalmukti@gmail.com)