The book questions democracy as the right political model for the developing world.
About the Book
There is a widening gap between democracy as a theory and its practice. If viewed not as an end in itself but a means to good governance as delivered to the citizens, how has it fared? While supposedly a solution to the problems of the developing world, in practice democracy has more often led to instability, civil wars, genocides, fundamentalism, crime and corruption. This “premature political opening up” has proven disastrous for many a nation like Nigeria, Iraq, Congo, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa etc. Even in the few stable ones like India, democracy has failed to make a dent in its large scale poverty or crumbling infrastructure and has instead got caught in divisive election stunts. At the same time, some unitary states like China have surged far ahead of others and broken out of the “largely poor and deteriorating” mould.
Why? What are the reasons democracy does not work in the developing world? Why did it work differently in the developed world? Could it be made to work through improvements or is it the wrong model altogether?
Democracy in the West was brought in through a gradual process stretching over centuries. In the 18th century or about, the developed world of today was also predominated by poor rural classes and democracy was a mistrusted word. While constitutional republics were established, voting rights remained limited to a small minority of propertied, white males. Only in the 20th century did these societies transform into developed nations - with "middle class as the majority". Democracy with equal voting rights was ushered in only then. Everyone has an equal right to vote in a democracy but the outcome of the process depends upon the will of the majority - so who forms a majority in a country is a critical success factor for democracy to work. With all its limitations, democracy has still worked in the Western world. There is good reason to believe that it worked because it was ushered in at the right moment - when the relatively progressive, prosperous and educated middle class had already formed a majority. This kind of a class exists in the developing world too, but it remains in a minority. That may be core to the reason why democracy works differently in the developing world. There might still be cultural factors at play, why democracy works slightly better in one nation versus another but "who forms a majority" in a country when democracy is ushered in, is likely to affect its outcome the most.
Why “people power” turns subversive has many underlying reasons, a key one of which is that poverty is much harder to break out of. It takes nations decades, if not longer, of concerted efforts to pull people out of abject poverty in a perceptible manner. Yet elections have to be won every 4-5 years. Not having a credible story to relate to the electorate, increasingly democracy politics revolves around distribution of freebees or bribes as well as hijacking through emotional divisive issues. Further, in these opportunities-starved nations, a seat in the parliament is a quick and easy road to riches and power. Criminals and local warlords tend to join politics at the grassroots, weaving crime and militancy into the essential fabric of democracy at all levels. Parties rely more on freebies and divisive tactics to win elections since these have instant appeal, especially to the poor voters who view the alternate long term development programs with suspicion, assuming they will never see the benefit. This does not somehow magically add up to good governance. The decaying state of filth and misery is all too apparent upon a visit to any of these nations.
The book questions democracy as the right political model under all socio-economic contexts. The notion that democracy is going to transform the developing world holds little credence to anyone who has witnessed its true colors like the author has. Born and brought up in India, she has traveled extensively within her country as well as to several countries round the world and has also lived in China for the last three years. She marries her experiential perspective with years of rigorous research involving the study of the history, politics and economics of about 150 countries across the world, culminating in this book. The book delves into the complex world of subversive election winning strategies, secession movements, coalition governments, the meaning of freedom to people living amidst violence and poverty as well as a study of other sociopolitical systems. The quest for truth leads us to surprising answers in terms of progressive transient alternatives for the developing world as well as some pointers for streamlining democracy, the system per se.
Without any a priori theories, willing to go where the evidence leads, the author is able to point out the “Emperor’s new clothes” for what they truly are. It may be time to challenge our perfect theory as democracy may not be the solution to the problems of the developing world!
About the Book
There is a widening gap between democracy as a theory and its practice. If viewed not as an end in itself but a means to good governance as delivered to the citizens, how has it fared? While supposedly a solution to the problems of the developing world, in practice democracy has more often led to instability, civil wars, genocides, fundamentalism, crime and corruption. This “premature political opening up” has proven disastrous for many a nation like Nigeria, Iraq, Congo, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa etc. Even in the few stable ones like India, democracy has failed to make a dent in its large scale poverty or crumbling infrastructure and has instead got caught in divisive election stunts. At the same time, some unitary states like China have surged far ahead of others and broken out of the “largely poor and deteriorating” mould.
Why? What are the reasons democracy does not work in the developing world? Why did it work differently in the developed world? Could it be made to work through improvements or is it the wrong model altogether?
Democracy in the West was brought in through a gradual process stretching over centuries. In the 18th century or about, the developed world of today was also predominated by poor rural classes and democracy was a mistrusted word. While constitutional republics were established, voting rights remained limited to a small minority of propertied, white males. Only in the 20th century did these societies transform into developed nations - with "middle class as the majority". Democracy with equal voting rights was ushered in only then. Everyone has an equal right to vote in a democracy but the outcome of the process depends upon the will of the majority - so who forms a majority in a country is a critical success factor for democracy to work. With all its limitations, democracy has still worked in the Western world. There is good reason to believe that it worked because it was ushered in at the right moment - when the relatively progressive, prosperous and educated middle class had already formed a majority. This kind of a class exists in the developing world too, but it remains in a minority. That may be core to the reason why democracy works differently in the developing world. There might still be cultural factors at play, why democracy works slightly better in one nation versus another but "who forms a majority" in a country when democracy is ushered in, is likely to affect its outcome the most.
Why “people power” turns subversive has many underlying reasons, a key one of which is that poverty is much harder to break out of. It takes nations decades, if not longer, of concerted efforts to pull people out of abject poverty in a perceptible manner. Yet elections have to be won every 4-5 years. Not having a credible story to relate to the electorate, increasingly democracy politics revolves around distribution of freebees or bribes as well as hijacking through emotional divisive issues. Further, in these opportunities-starved nations, a seat in the parliament is a quick and easy road to riches and power. Criminals and local warlords tend to join politics at the grassroots, weaving crime and militancy into the essential fabric of democracy at all levels. Parties rely more on freebies and divisive tactics to win elections since these have instant appeal, especially to the poor voters who view the alternate long term development programs with suspicion, assuming they will never see the benefit. This does not somehow magically add up to good governance. The decaying state of filth and misery is all too apparent upon a visit to any of these nations.
The book questions democracy as the right political model under all socio-economic contexts. The notion that democracy is going to transform the developing world holds little credence to anyone who has witnessed its true colors like the author has. Born and brought up in India, she has traveled extensively within her country as well as to several countries round the world and has also lived in China for the last three years. She marries her experiential perspective with years of rigorous research involving the study of the history, politics and economics of about 150 countries across the world, culminating in this book. The book delves into the complex world of subversive election winning strategies, secession movements, coalition governments, the meaning of freedom to people living amidst violence and poverty as well as a study of other sociopolitical systems. The quest for truth leads us to surprising answers in terms of progressive transient alternatives for the developing world as well as some pointers for streamlining democracy, the system per se.
Without any a priori theories, willing to go where the evidence leads, the author is able to point out the “Emperor’s new clothes” for what they truly are. It may be time to challenge our perfect theory as democracy may not be the solution to the problems of the developing world!
