The Struggle for Democracy and Democratic Consolidation - Essay Example

? Introduction Question and Thesis I argue that the struggle for democracy and democratic consolidation are connected to such themes as corruption, populism, divided societies, and political activism. Civil society organizations (CSOs) in India have been tirelessly working to support democracy and democratic governance and tackle the negative vibes that are undemocratic. Discussion and conceptual/ theoretical debate Amongst India’s sixty-year-old democratic experiment, achievement is the sheer durability of its liberal constitution1. Almost all countries that gained independence in the post WWII wave of decolonization have failed to carry out open and just elections, shield and boost essential rights, and uphold civilian rule of the military. However, several Indians persist that their democracy be highly held, therefore, judged against the world’s most successful democracies and not the dysfunctional postcolonial countries that occurred of age at the same historical moment. The view from this perspective is the mutual quality of the most mature democracies of the world. They have the ability to deepen democracy, which makes politics more inclusive and the nation more accountable2. Democratic deepening in India has so far been remarkable. It has advanced much further in inclusiveness than with respect to accountability. The achievement of democracy signals how India has widened the slender social support on which its delegate institutions were established at the time of independence in 1947. English-speaking experts from the influential social class dominated the initial cluster on Indian political parties. The Indian lawmakers were disproportionally populated by the wealth and better-educated fractions in the Hindu social order. Congress party or The Indian National Congress ruled India’s initial two decades of post-independence politics. The party was defeated from power for the first time in 1967’s state-level elections. Society makes a shift to equality, and from there, policies will be yielded by one-person-one-vote and the nation will have more supporting power3 and the consequential cover, crown and feast. However, changes in political institutions do not simply happen because the people require them. Transitions to democracy typically take place when the elite controlling the active regime broaden rights4. Transfer of political power to the majority mostly guides to social choices that the elite do not like. The theory of democratization is crucial in power transition from the elite5 to the majority citizens. Revolutions attract citizens thus leading to democracy to stop revolutions from occurring. When revolutions happens much wealth of a society may be destroyed affecting the influential and citizens. These costs force the elite to allow for concession and democratization avoiding revolutions. Therefore, the power is transferred to the people who participate in decision making through participation. Divided societies exist in a democracy and democratic consolidation is due to the different social classes. Leaders use the fact of classes to appeal to the citizen and win votes mostly from the poor and majority populations. Governing institutions for societies are alienated along the lines of customs, culture, language or creed. A historic minority as well as experiences of immigration waves cause divided societies. Futile democratic transitions in plural societies frequently upshot in the bloodiest quarrels and most destructive power strives in developing nations6 today. India has a multiparty parliamentary system of government, a majoritarian first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, an incredibly varied party system with some ethnic-based and some programmatic parties7. Political corruption disguises a severe threat to democracy and its consolidation. Corruption, either petty or otherwise has become omnipresent in Indian society and politics. It varies from the bribes that ordinary citizens give to record a statement at the police station, to shady dealings involving vast government contracts, and the ministers, as well as the wholesale introduction of criminal habits into political life. Populism as a philosophy and political movement is almost a collective, albeit irregular, feature of contemporary democratic politics structure. The main challenge in identifying and evaluating populist movements can be tracked to definitional questions, because their basic characteristics are identical to those found in conventional democratic systems. Several scholars ascribe the basic traits of populism to the rise of fascist regimes in Europe, thus concluding that populists themes and programs are a significant threat to democratic regimes. Political activism8 in India has been going on for years in consolidating democracy and democratic systems. Sarcastically, the work of anticorruption activist groups in Indian civil society is rated as one of the strongest indications that her democracy is deepening. Activism in issues such as affirmative action and gender equity has been attained through political activism. Evidence Corruption has always been severe and widespread in India9 from the rule of British Raj and after independence. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru set a strong example of official righteousness, but some of his affiliates were less willing to let go of opportunities for graft and peculation. Increasingly, Nehru gave in to political pressures and overlooked the misdeeds of chief ministers in his government or key figures in his congress party. Even though Nehru exhibited upright behaviours those of his associates were on the contrary. During the two- year leadership of Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi, following his demise in 1964, corruption escalated in India. She was a different leader from her father, as she showed little regard to the rule of law, as depicted when she affirmed a situation of emergency, in 1975, after the high court had ruled that she broke election laws. Additionally, press censorship was broadly applied, and numerous members of federal officials flagrantly misused their powers. In 1984, her bodyguard assassinated her and her son Rajiv, succeeded her. He too became entangled in a scandal over charges that bribes were given to grease a deal procuring Swedish bofors cannons for the Indian army. Populism manifests itself when charismatic leaders referencing to their followers as “the people” emphasizes the need for a redeeming break with present custom and who utilize the anger of citizens and all traits of populist dissent, as well as fasteners, of electoral rehearsal. Additionally, the causes of populist movements are quite diverse and involve a broader variety of both economic and cultural matters. A number of political principals, such as David Lloyd George, in the UK, and Leon Blum, in France, applied populist ideas, and programs within a democratic perspective, to win over the people and succeeded. Even current populist movements exhibit the same assortment of changes10. Remonstrations touching colonization and financial centralization have created populist problems in the Netherlands, France and Austria. Political activism in India was instrumental in maintaining a serenity democracy over time. Women leaders have been in governing positions including Indira Gandhi. Political representation is almost achieving balance in India thus gender steadiness has been attained through political activism. Conclusions and implications The entry of previously disadvantaged factions into positions of political power is a necessary but insufficient condition for deepening of India’s democracy. When corruption stops to present the obstacle that it presently does to the stipulation of public good, India’s democratic transformation will indeed have infiltrated to a deeper level. Political activism alone cannot achieve this transformation, but flexible associations that empower people to expose corruption will remain essential to making the Indian state more accountable and competitive and politically, more comprehensive11. Furthermore, governance reforms need political support within the country for them to be sustained. The problem of corruption that is ailing India’s democracy is not unique. Fortunately, India has many legal and institutional makings of greater accountability. This affects the freedom-of-information laws, effective anticorruption agencies, and a working and independent judicial system that enhances intelligibility and accountability. In addition, the right to information act(RTIA)12 of India encourages politicians and officials to put less stress on acting as agents of distinct interests, and more on acting as stewards of a public trust and even a common interest. It also promotes mutual respect in the process of decision-making. Productive change in India can come from the bottom-up as well as community organizations taking the lead. This is achievable in societies that are authoritarian and closed at the national stage. However, the most progress toward democratic governance and efficient public service is likely where pressure for reform comes from both directions. Bibliography Alina, M. (2006). Corruption: Diagnosis and Treatment. Project muse: Today’s Research. Tomorrow is Inspiration. Journal of democracy, vol 17, No 3, July 2006. Pp. 86-99 (Article). The John Hopkins Press. Doi:10.1353/jod.2006.005. Brinkerhoff W. D. And Goldsmith A. A. (2002). Clientelism, Patrimonialism and Democratic Governance: an overview and framework for assessment and programming. Pp 1-50. 4800 montgomery Lane, suite 600 Bethsda: Abt Associates Inc. Camerer M. (2006). Measuring Public Integrity. Project Muse, today’s Research. Tommorrow’s Inspiration. Journal of Democracy, Vol176, No 1, January 2006, pp 152-165 (Article). The john Hopkins University Press. Doi: 10. 1353/jod.2006.004. Ganguly S. Corruption in India; an enduring threat. Journal of democracy, vol 23, No 1.Pp1- 11. The John Hopkins University Press. Guillermo A. O. (2004). Why rule of law matters. Project muse, Today’s research. Tomorrow’s Inspiration. Journal of Democracy, Volume 15, no 4, October 2004, pp. 32-46 (Article). The John Hopkins University Press. Doi: 10. 1353/jod.2004.0076. Rob, J. (1965). India’s Unlikely Democracy. Civil Society versus Corruption. Project Muse. Today’s Research. Tomorrow’s Inspiration. Journal of democracy, vol 18. No 2, April 2007, pp 55-69 (article). The John Hopkins University press. Doi: 10.1353/jod.2007.0026 Sarangi P. (2012). Corruption in India; can the right to information help? Journal of democracy, vol 23, No 1. Pp 1-6.The John Hopkins University press. Read More