| The political
system of democracy that emerged during the twentieth
century is considered to be one of the most effective
and powerful forms of government. Though the effectiveness
of democracy in solving socio-economic problems
politically is many a time debated, many developed
first and second world nations including the United
States and many European countries have greatly
benefited from the democratic system of government.
However, the democracies of the third world –
the least developed nations in Africa, Latin America
and Asia – have demonstrated mixed characteristics
– while some like India, China etc. are
emerging as powerful nations, in many other countries
democracy has not been effective in solving the
socio-economic and developmental issues affecting
the society.
A question often raised in political forums is
whether the democratic system in third world countries
is real at all.
In order to answer the question, it is imperative
to have a definite understanding of the meaning
and characteristics of democracy. Democracy, as
stated earlier is a form of government, in which
the voting citizenry of the state, commonly referred
to as ‘the people’, is empowered to
draw out or alter the basic laws and forms of
government itself. The governmental decisions
are made by representatives of the people who
act according to the will of the people, as enforced
by elections and the rule of law or the written
constitution of the state. Thus democracy is a
form of government characterized by the rule of
the many over the few, the leading maxim being
– “of the people, by the people and
for the people.”
Though direct voting is crucial to decision-making
in democratic system, democracies often function
through representatives of the people elected
through an electoral process, who take decision
on all matters during their term of governance.
The electoral system of democracy emerged when
the purpose of establishing representative institutions
was taken for granted. In an electoral democracy,
the process of election is often assumed as crucial
to the functioning of democracy. In electoral
democracies the various political parties compete
in a fair and free election, after publicizing
their agenda for governance.
The authoritarianism prevalent in many of the
third world nations, particularly in Africa and
Latin American countries have given rise to what
is called procedural democracy. The procedural
democracy essentially refers to the competition
of parties in an electoral system -- it is described
as an imperfect, minimal definition of democracy,
expressed in largely procedural and electoral
terms defined as voters choosing, in free and
fair elections contested by competing candidates
who fill public offices that are governed by constitutional
law. Procedural democracy assumes that the electoral
process is at the core of its authority and ensures
that all procedures of election are duly complied
with.
However, in procedural democracy, it is common
that the corrupt elites might use electoral procedures
to maintain themselves in power against the best
interests of the people, thus thwarting the establishment
of real democracy.
The case of South African countries such as Namibia,
Angola, Mozambique etc. where procedural elections
are conducted through international assistance
are examples of procedural democracies, where
the assisting nations influence the election and
the elected government, upsetting the true functioning
of democracy. The case of Pakistan, where the
democratic rituals – the procedures and
practices are duly conducted, is another example
of a third world procedural democracy, where the
spirit and imperative dimensions of democracy
such as ‘people’s will” in crucial
decisions are definitely lacking. Political analysts
claim that there has been a gradual degradation
of democratic norms and values during the past
one-decade in Pakistan.
The case of India, an emerging third world country
and the world’s largest democracy, is quite
different from the rest and needs mention. India
is often cited as a true democratic system, with
a free and fair multiparty electoral system. However
democracy in India, characterized by the high
corruption in institutions, has not been beneficial
to development as it could have been. The uncanny
post-electoral alliances between the elected representatives,
which has no direct support and consent of the
people, has been detrimental to real democratic
functioning and development.
The system of democracy is repeated resorted
to and hailed as an effective system of governance.
The effectiveness of a democratic system is very
much dependent on the sense and sensibility of
the voting citizenry. However, in the third world
countries, where the common man in too much loaded
with the burdens of life, the democratic system
is often manipulated by either corrupt elites
within the system or external agencies trying
to implement their agenda.
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