Refining Democracy: An Overview

September 29, 2008
2. REFINING DEMOCRACY: An Overview
By T.S. Khanna.
Democracy, in its present form, is not making good in its promises and hopes for the people. There seem to be several reasons to revisit and refine democratic theory and its practices:
• Corruption in public affairs,
• Razor thin fragile public trust in elected officials,
• Damaging political influence on the national economy,
• Irresponsible actions of elected officials and lack of accountability resulting in uncontrolled expenditure and huge budget deficits,
• Misinterpreted concept of symbiotic relationship between democracy and free market economy,
• Free market of guns, poisonous chemicals, uranium and other lethal substances endangering both democracy and humanity,
• Erroneous belief that the religion and the state are separated in practice,
• Gorilla type of terrorism and frequent killings in educational institutions,
• Constitutional freedom to frustrated individuals, under incandescent rage, providing opportunities for mass destruction,
• Pornography and homosexuality trumping the classic human values,
• Uncontrolled felony crime rate.

What we are observing or experiencing now is portentous of what may be much worse ahead. In a culture of optimism and hope, thinking about the reality of worst possibility may be regarded as defeatist mentality but preparing for the worst is the quality of victorious mindset. We need to step outside the cozy box belief that democracy is the panacea for all social ills.

The present form of democracy is not fully equipped to deal with the present day issues. To meet the new challenge, now we need a paradigm shift.

In every society, at any point in time, there exists a body of beliefs based on certain assumptions. These assumptions may be even false and untested but they are believed with such confidence that they do not bear the character of assumptions. There was a time when individual freedom, equality, natural rights were as alien to the then prevailing societies as their absence would be today in a democratic society.

The dominant framework, based on strong beliefs, controls and guides the pattern of public thought. It constitutes the paradigm of the society. Paradigm shift seems to go through five stages:
1. Denial Stage; when anomalous happenings, incidents, or new facts do not fit in with the prevailing paradigm but they are ignored as odd facts occurring by chance.
2. Doubt Stage: under increased number of anomalies raising doubt about the prevailing paradigm.
3. Planning Stage; amending of paradigm in light of new knowledge and experience.
4. Implementation Stage; opposition from the vested interests. This stage involves extensive public re-education and some coercion.
5. Completion Stage; Gradual public acceptance of the amended paradigm as it accommodates more and more of new knowledge, experiences, or incidents. This stage involves sustained effort in public education with increasing level of coercion.

Democratic societies facing the challenge of paradigm shift are still in the denial stage. Time is not on their side. For a smooth shift at an accelerated pace, a sustained institutional effort is essential. In the absence of such effort, pressures for paradigm shift can cause civil unrest. Recall the civil war in 1860s.

As a first step, democratic nations may establish non-partisan organizations under the constitution, with appropriate powers and responsibilities to identify the issues and propose solutions.