Democracy To Build A Better World

When one looks at the Taj Mahal, one seldom broods over the toil of the workers that made it into the magnificent monument it is today. It is said by some, that their hands were cut off, so that its beauty could never be replicated. Whether that is true or not is beside the point. The fact is that the past did not care for the masses. World history has been ridden with war, autocracy, domination of a select few over others, imperialism, social stratification, and the unfair system of titles; with what you were born into largely determining the rest of your life. This unjust social construct thus caused different nations to rebel at different points in time in their struggle for freedom.

This is not to say that democracy does not have drawbacks. There can be less participative, less decentralised, and less deliberative democracies which make the concept of democracy more ritualistic than real. There have been instances where freedom of expression has been suppressed, of culpable inaction and the press has often served as only a skeleton of a free platform. Many times people do not have access to the basic instruments that they require for their welfare and livelihood. Corruption and negligence, inarguably, have seeped seamlessly into the very system that people rest their hopes on. Yes, indeed democracy can be messy and chaotic.

But I would insist upon the elements that democracy does not possess which make it so unique. Effectively dodging the bullets of tyranny, radicalism, totalitarianism, obscuring of truth, unaccountability and oppression, democracy presents itself as a necessary standard to match in order to open the doors to a liberal and more open world.

A democracy is often defined by how transparent and how answerable it is to the people. These are again elements not found in other types of governance. Also, moulding a more tolerant society lies in its fundamental spirit, as it celebrates a secular ethos- one which greets all faiths equally. The most dynamic part though, is that it is a self-evolving system, constantly improving itself, unfinished, and fully accepting of change. Whatever ideology, institution or system is unfit in the present context, we can unitedly break it down and rebuild it as per the public accord. We can always raise hard-hitting questions, discomfort those in power, for we reserve the right to elect and re-elect them. Thus, it truly does justice to the vibrance of modern day civilisation.

A ‘weak’ democracy, as some call it, cannot be taken as an alibi for other forms of governance. Democracy inherently is a better form of government and a natural choice as a way of life. However, we cannot take it for granted. When people do not get a chance to participate in their own affairs and when important issues are not deliberated upon by all stakeholders, the foundations of democracy get weakened. It is not something that is gifted to us as an ideal system. It is a work in progress.

The true success of any democracy rests on the will of the people to fight for their democratic ideals, and it beats with their hope of a better and fairer world.