Should we leave democracy?
By: Shikhar Pathak
Tags: Monarchy, Governance, Politics, Government, Democracy

If democracy cannot solve all our problems why don’t we go for other forms of government?

Democracy might not be the panacea to all our problems but is certainly better than the other model of governments we have now. To evaluate democracy it wouldn’t be fair to evaluate the merits and demerits of democracy against an ideal political structure of some Utopian world. We have to compare it with the other existing models of government or authority we have now or we had in the past.

Monarchy

It is defined as the form of power in which the entire power rests in the hands of monarch, and the rule is often hereditary. This one monarch performs all the major functions of Law making, Law implementation and dispensing Justice. The main issue with this form of government is, there is no one to question the wisdom and intention of the king/queen. He is over and above the ordinary people and can do anything he wishes, there is no check on his power, and this is a major cause for corruption. This form of power was useful and apt for ancient societies which were typically very small. As with the growth of population, the responsibilities increased on the monarch and with the increase in resources, this often led to his luxurious life while the common masses suffered from poverty and hunger. The monarch gradually found himself distanced from the commoner and thus lost solidarity. He was unaware of the problems persisting in the society and you cannot question his decision.

Oligarchy

This is similar to monarchy except for the fact that a small elite group of powerful people rule the country, instead of just one. The problems are also thus similar to the monarchy. The laws are made to favor the few. The judgments are not fair. You cannot question their rule, intention or wisdom.

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism- While both the term refer to a type of rule under which power is held by one powerful person, people’s rights are curtailed and there are strict rules, the point of difference is that under totalitarian government no aspect of public or private life is out of the governments control, there is absolute control on the life of citizens or subjects while authoritarian government allows certain degree of freedom.

The problem with all the above forms of government is

Power of Government or ruler is unlimited.

Power is concentrated in the hands of few.

People cannot choose their ruler.

Rule of men and not law.

You cannot question their rule.

Citizen’s rights are curtailed.

There is very low scope of justice.

If the ruler is not ruling properly he/she cannot be changed.

The extent of power they exercise is very wide.

There are no checks and balances.

There is nothing as such free press or media.

All the bodies under the government are under strict government control and cannot work independently.

Now, democracy comes to your rescue for despite its one thousand flaws it offers respite in the following ways.

Power of the Government is in check.

Power is not concentrated in the hands of the few.

People can choose their ruler.

Rule of law and not of men.

The Government can be questioned.

Rights of citizen are respected.

Social, Economic and Political Justice without fear or favor.

Through free and fair election, the ruler/government can be changed.

Through Separation of Power between executive, legislative and Judiciary the extent of power of each arm is restricted.

Free press and media.

System of Checks and Balances

Independent bodies such as Comptroller and Auditor General and Election Commission in whose working government cannot interfere.

Thus, despite the problems of democracy, it is the best structure of power we have as of now, where rule of law prevails and everyone is under check and cannot act arbitrarily.

The biggest issue with the democracy however lies in the fact that when everyone has the right to vote, how to judge the wisdom of voter, given in a country like India where education level is so low, the voter casts his vote on the basis of freebies and along caste lines. The major requirement of a democracy to be successful in letter and spirit is the voter to be well educated.

Democracy is like a sapling that will one day grow into a huge tree but initially it requires a lot of care through good intention, honest people to set up its stronghold in the land, to develop its institutions which would later serve as its roots during turbulent times.

Monarchy was the political structure of good old simple days of humanity, while Democracy is the requirement of the age of complexities, high population, technology, huge requirements, globally integrated markets and supply chains and a soon to come global community. We might not stick with it forever, some new political structure will come up, once the means and forces of production change significantly which is due to happen because of the change in technology. But in the 21st century, Democracy is going to be a major force and is not going anywhere soon, until it has served its purpose.

Don’t lose hope, we are on the right path, democracy has issues but it has the power and intent to solve it, however slowly the reforms shall come, but one day, they shall.