TOPIC : MAKING DEMOCRACY SOCIAL

THE CONTEXT: The fallout from twenty years of neoliberal economic globalism and growing attempts to communalize certain social and cultural areas within the limits of a narrow understanding of religion and ethnicity has sparked a surge of interest in making democracy social. In this context, it is imperative to understand that what are the challenges and issues.

CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACIES

AUTHORITARIANISM

• In an authoritarian regime, the government is not accountable to the people and there is no separation of powers. This can lead to a lack of transparency and corrupt practices.
• In addition, authoritarian governments often use propaganda and censorship to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices, making it difficult for citizens to make informed decisions and participate in the political process.
• Furthermore, authoritarianism can stifle economic growth and development, as businesses and entrepreneurs may be afraid to innovate and invest due to fear of government retaliation.
• In summary, authoritarianism undermines the basic tenets of democracy such as freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression, it also can lead to lack of accountability, corruption, and lack of economic prosperity.
• An example of authoritarianism impacting democracy is the situation in Venezuela under the regime of former President Hugo Chávez and current President Nicolás Maduro.
• Starting in 1999, Chávez and his successor, Maduro, have consolidated power and suppressed political opposition through a variety of means, including jailing political opponents, censoring the media, and rigging elections.
• The government has also used its control of the judiciary to undermine the rule of law and target political opponents.
• As a result, democracy and human rights have been severely restricted in Venezuela. The government has repeatedly delayed elections and suppressed the opposition, making it difficult for citizens to participate in the political process.
• In addition, the government has used its control of the economy to benefit its supporters and punish its opponents, leading to widespread poverty and economic collapse.

POLITICAL CORRUPTION

• Political corruption, which involves the abuse of power and public resources for personal or political gain, can stifle democracy by undermining the principles of transparency, accountability, and fair play.
• When political leaders are corrupt, they may use their power to manipulate elections, control the media, and silence dissenting voices. This makes it difficult for citizens to make informed decisions and participate in the political process.
• Corrupt politicians may also use their power to pass laws and regulations that benefit themselves and their cronies, rather than the general public. This can lead to an unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, further exacerbating social and economic inequality.
• In addition, corruption can discourage foreign and domestic investment, as businesses may be hesitant to invest in a country where the rule of law is not upheld and there is a lack of transparency in government decision making.
• Furthermore, corruption erodes trust in government and political institutions, which can lead to apathy and disengagement among citizens. This can make it difficult to achieve political consensus and make meaningful progress on important issues.
• In summary, political corruption undermines the basic tenets of democracy such as transparency, accountability, and fair play. It also can lead to manipulation of political process, unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, discourage investment, and erode public trust in government and political institutions.
• An example of political corruption stifling democracy is the situation in Brazil under the regime of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his Workers’ Party (PT).
• Starting in 2003, Lula and the PT were accused of using their political power to award government contracts and appointments to friends and allies, in exchange for kickbacks and campaign donations.
• This widespread corruption, known as Operation Car Wash, led to the erosion of trust in government and political institutions, and contributed to a polarized political environment.
• Furthermore, the judiciary and other institutions were also impacted by the corruption and the ability to hold officials accountable was hindered, this led to lack of transparency and accountability in the government’s decision-making process.

POLITICAL POLARIZATION

• As societies become more diverse and divided, it can be difficult for political leaders to build consensus and govern effectively. Political polarization can lead to gridlock, extremism, and increased hostility between different groups.
• An example of political polarization impacting democracy is the current situation in the United States. In recent years, the country has become increasingly divided along ideological and political lines, with both major political parties becoming more ideologically homogeneous and less willing to compromise.

POPULISM AND NATIONALISM

• Populist and nationalist movements can threaten democracy by appealing to emotions and fear, rather than reason and evidence. These movements can undermine institutions and the rule of law, and can lead to increased authoritarianism.

CYBER THREATS

• The increasing use of digital technology and the internet has led to new forms of disinformation, hacking and cyber-attacks on democratic institutions and political processes.
• An example of a cyber threat impacting democracy is the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In that year, Russian state-sponsored hackers targeted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and other political organizations, stealing sensitive information and releasing it through WikiLeaks in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.
• The hackers used a variety of tactics, including spear-phishing, malware, and the use of fake social media accounts, to gain access to the targeted organizations’ networks.
• The stolen information was used to spread disinformation and sow discord among the American public, with the goal of undermining public trust in the democratic process and the integrity of the election.
• As a result of the hacking and disinformation campaign, the public’s faith in the democratic process was eroded, and the integrity of the election was called into question.

GLOBALIZATION

• Globalization can have both positive and negative effects on democracy. On the one hand, it can promote economic growth and cultural exchange, but on the other hand, it can lead to a loss of national sovereignty and a decline in public trust in government.
• For instance, trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have led to the outsourcing of jobs and the closure of factories in developed countries, resulting in unemployment and economic insecurity for many citizens. This has led to a loss of public trust in government and political institutions, as well as a loss of support for the political establishment.
• Furthermore, the increasing mobility of capital and the ability of corporations to move their operations to countries with lower labor and environmental standards can make it difficult for governments to regulate business and protect the rights of their citizens. This can lead to a race to the bottom, where governments are forced to lower standards to attract investment, undermining social protections and human rights.
• In addition, globalization has led to the erosion of national sovereignty, as decisions made by international organizations and global financial institutions often take precedence over the decisions made by national governments.
• This example illustrates how globalization can have negative impacts on democracy by undermining the ability of government to regulate business and protect the rights of citizens, eroding public trust in government and political institutions, and undermining national sovereignty.

HOW TO MAKE DEMOCRACY SOCIAL?

PROMOTING GREATER ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY

• Reducing income and wealth inequality would help ensure that all citizens have an equal voice and an equal say in the political process. This can be done through progressive taxation, social welfare programs, and policies that promote full employment.

STRENGTHENING THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET

• Providing a basic level of economic security for all citizens would help ensure that everyone has a stake in the political process and is able to participate fully in the democratic process

ENCOURAGING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Encouraging citizens to participate in the political process would help ensure that the government is responsive to the needs of all citizens. This can be done through educational programs, public forums, and other forms of civic engagement.

IMPROVING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

• Education is essential for citizens to be able to participate in the political process. Providing universal access to education would help ensure that all citizens have the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in the democratic process.

PROTECTING AND PROMOTING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

• Protecting the rights of minority groups, women, and other marginalized groups would help ensure that everyone has an equal say in the political process.

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS

• Encouraging voter registration, early voting, and mail-in voting, and making voting more accessible to all citizens, regardless of their background would help ensure that everyone has a say in the political process.

PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT

• Making government more transparent and accountable would help ensure that citizens have the information they need to hold their leaders accountable and participate in the political process

FREE PRESS

• A free press is essential for democracy. Protecting the freedom of the press, and ensuring that all citizens have access to a variety of news sources would help ensure that everyone has access to the information they need to participate in the political process.

Thus, the social has to be recreated by maximizing constraints over particular inclinations such as caste and patriarchal or communal status. The journey should be towards making democracy socially decent by recreating a benign social and undermining the banal influence of a malignant social infected by caste, gender, and communal forces. This unity of social vision, perhaps, has to be created within the arena of the social because the dubious political does not leave any opportunity to malign this social. Solidarity in the realm of society or an insight into the social is the precondition to civilize the recalcitrant political.

THE CONCLUSION: The sphere of the political is infested by the hawks of democracy. The elemental recognition of universal human dignity should precede the extension of both formal enfranchisement and perhaps citizenship as well. The enrichment of political demo­cracy depends on an insight into the social depth of democracy

Question :

1. The political dimension of democracy has to be supplemented by social elements for successful implementation. Analyse.
2. Discuss various challenges to democracy in the post-globalized world.