Essay on Essentials for the Success of Democracy.

Introduction:

The term ‘democracy’ has been in use in the tradi­tion of Western political thought since ancient times. It is derived from the Greek root ‘demos’ which means the people, ‘cracy’ stands for rule or ‘government’. Thus, literally, democracy signifies ‘the rule of the people’.

Development of Thought:

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Democracy in Lincoln’s famous words is “Government of the people, for the people, by the people.” As a form of Government, it is the best. Democracy rules out the use of force. Decisions are not imposed but arrived at through negotiations and consensus.

But a system which is based on the ballot rather than the bullet requires some essen­tial conditions for its success. Social inequalities including disparities in wealth wreck democracy. Communalism, casteism, regionalism are all inimical to democracy.

The success of democracy requires absence of ignorance; proper education will produce a wise leadership and a vigilant public and ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of democracy’. A free and fair press is another vital necessity for democracy to flourish.

It ventilates public opinion and enables the government to frame policies in the interests of the masses. No Democracy can succeed without a strong and effective opposition.

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Strong opposition ex­cises a healthy restraint on the ruling party and prevents it from subjecting the people to arbitrary and despotic rule. It is to India’s credit that despite the absence of many essentials of democracy, it is still the world’s largest democ­racy.

Conclusion:

In short, the success of democracy lies on the above enumerated essentials and ultimately ensures a good life to the citizens.

Democracy is the latest, and the best form of government to be evolved by kind. It has taken centuries of experimentation to arrive at it.

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But it is the only form that allows man to live with dignity and promises him all opportunities develop his potential and justify his existence.

There are certain conditions which are absolutely necessary for the success­ful functioning of a democratic government. One of the most important essentials is a constitution.

Constitution implies a rule of law rather than of men. It curbs despotic tendencies of the rulers and safeguards the rights of the people.

It ensures that there is no arbitrariness in governing people and members belonging to different groups are given an equal treatment.

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Absence of militarism is another important requirement for the success of democracy. Democracy rules out the use of force. It is based on the recognition of the worth of man as man, implying widest possible opportunity of develop­ment to everyone.

Since no two human beings can ever think alike, it is natural to come across dissenting opinions at every step, in every field. True democratic spirit lies in overcoming dissent through discussion and persuasion and not through coercion.

In a democracy, views are not imposed, views are shaped and molded. Democracy inculcates among the people the habit of tolerance and compromise and teaches them to show due regard for the opinions and sentiments of others.

Democracy presumes social equality. Disparities in wealth are a great threat democracy. A country in which a large number of people remain in abject poverty while a handful of them have plenty and to spare cannot run efficient democratic institutions.

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Similarly communalism, regionalism, caste and class dis­tinctions wreck a democracy. If a democratic government does not eliminate social distinctions and provide equal opportunities to all, it is bound to be over­thrown sooner or later.

Democracy requires not merely an absence of ignorance but also that the citizens are adequately educated. If knowledge remains scanty, fragmentary and confined to narrow circles and if the mass of humanity remains steeped in igno­rance and error, there can be no prospects for the success of democracy.

What is needed is to bring scientific knowledge to the doors of all, to universalize culture, to train the mind and to create the Socratic temper.

Education makes citizens vigilant and also gives them the boldness to criticize government mea­sures which are ill-conceived or harmful. In fact, education produces wise lead­ership and an enlightened and alert public.

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The newspaper acts as a kind of liaison between the government and the people. It acquaints the people with the policy and principles of the government. At the same time, it reflects the public reaction to this policy and thus enables the government to modify it.

Since it gives such extensive publicity to the move­ments of the ministers and other higher-ups, it exercises a very sobering influ­ence on them. It does not let them forget that they are in office as the represen­tatives of the people to whom they are finally answerable.

Thus it keeps a powerful check on the corruption and tyranny of the government. It is perhaps this aspect of a newspaper’s function that prompted Thomas Jefferson to remark, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”.

Perhaps the most important function of a newspaper in a democratic gov­ernment is to spread political awareness among the public. An average citizen has neither capability, nor the will, nor even the time to formulate and express original opinions on most of the issues.

He seeks guidance from the newspaper he subscribes to. The observations he makes in the circle of his friends with flourish he has perhaps borrowed from that day’s editorial in his favorite news­paper. Thus a newspaper has a definite educative value.

The success of democ­racy depends upon the judicious use of one’s vote, which is impossible without political education and a newspaper is the most effective source available to us for this type of education.

This places a great responsibility upon the editors, the correspondents and the professional reviewers of a newspaper to furnish us with authentic news only.

Democracy implies dissent and debate. It is government by discussion and persuasion, not coercion. It is unfortunate that in India dissent is looked upon as treachery by those who are entrenched in the seats of power. Those who openly criticize and condemn the policies of the ruling party are described as traitor’s antifascists.

Even when the government is pursuing an unrealistic and ill-con- lived policy; it expects everyone to toe the line. It is rather sad that people in power do not realise that intolerance of dissent can hardly be conducive to the healthy functioning of a democracy.

For the health and efficiency of a democracy, an effective, vigilant and working opposition is indispensable. No free large country has been without political parties.

None has shown how a representative government could efficiently work in the absence of strong political parties. Effective opposition saves a country from turmoil; it safeguards it from coup de.

If the party in power neglects public welfare, the voters can oust it and give power to the opposition. A conflict of ideas is anytime better than a clash of arms. Without opposition the state has no elasticity, no true self determination.

A constant probe into the activities of the government by the opposition keeps the government vigilant and prevents it from being arbitrary. In Lowell’s ‘ion, “the constant presence of a recognized opposition is an obstacle to despotism.”

With well-informed critics ever ready to expose the wrongs commit- by the government and to bring to light its acts of omission and commission, ruling party can hardly afford to be slack and negligent in the performance its duties.

An effective opposition keeps the government alert and active. It does not permit it to grow complacent and tardy.

Legislative excellence is promoted by a recognized opposition. Good legislation is possible only when the law is discussed thread-bare before it enters the statute book.

The opposition parties perform this function fairly well, so that all defects in proposed laws are removed. In the absence of a strong opposition, the ruling party can enact any laws.

We already have the unfortunate experience of such laws having been enacted during the Janata rule as well as Mrs. Gandhi’s years when the opposition had been reduced to a farce.

Effective opposition also makes possible active and intelligent participation of public in the affairs of the government. Party campaigns are educational campaigns.

Propaganda through press, public meetings and pamphlets imparts political education to the masses and awakens them to their responsibility, opposition keeps a nation’s mind alive as the rise and fall of the sweeping tide freshens the water of long ocean inlets.

In fact, public opinion might be vague and ineffective if the opposition searchlight were not constantly turned on. Intelligent opposition brings to the individual citizen a vision of the whole nation, otherwise distant in history, territory and future.’

The party system has, however, one serious drawback. It is believed that primary function of the opposition is to oppose the party in power without caring for the interest of the nation. Even the good points of the party in power condemned by the opposition.

Thus the public business suffers a great deal and the interest of the nation is neglected. Disagreements keep the public divided into hostile camps. The spirit of rivalry and animosity pollutes the social life the country.

Opposition, in order to be healthy and responsible and to prevent misuse power by the Government must be a highly disciplined group.

A sense of responsibility and a desire to give topmost priority to public interest against pen or party interest would certainly boost its image in the public eye. On the contrary, lack of discipline and constructive approach inevitably leads to instable confusion and reversal of economic progress.

Unfortunately, Indian political parties are products of circumstances, and the leaders are in many cases leaders of moment and for the moment.

Political trickery and intrigue have taken the pit of idealism, and cowardice and selfishness the place of courage and selfless service.

It is now quite a few years since we embarked upon a democratic experi­ment. Today, when we make an appraisal of our democracy, we find it stilt lacking in certain important requisites. A large majority of our people are still illiterate. Glaring disparities between the rich and the poor not only persist but have become accentuated.

There is no economic security; food is scarce, poverty appalling and unemployment rampant. Caste and class exclusiveness still haunts our minds!

Provincial and linguistic differences still create distrust and bitterness. In the absence of national integration, there is no feeling of fraternity anywhere in the country.

Healthy and effective opposition is yet to be developed. The masses also lack civic probity. Corrupt and dishonest administration is eating into the very vitals of our democracy.

We are faced with formidable problems; yet as the world’s largest democracy we are marching ahead with courage and confidence in our effort to build