I have just completed reading the book of Tavleen Singh, “Messaih Modi: A Tale of Great Expectations”. It showed a mirror to many people who supported Modi before demonization and expressed a view of dissapoinment from thereon.
In the book Tavleen has said,
I find myself wondering if India is now on verge of changing irrevocably into an illiberal democracy instead of one it prided itself on it’s liberalism and tolerism.
The word illiberal democracy was something that caught my attention because Ex Vice president Hameed Ansari once said in an Interview in 2018 that he believes that there is a danger of India becoming illiberal democracy. When the interviewer asked the reason for such statement he said,
The principles of constitution are being questioned in one form or another. If someone questions the core values of constitution, one must wake up and think of the end result.
Many opposition party leaders now a days are saying Modi government is acting as an authoritarian. But Tavleen has expressed a different word. So I decided to learn what illiberal democracy is all about. What I have learnt is explained in this article. Readers should at first know the distinction between liberal democracy, illiberal democracy and authoritarian society.
Liberal democracy
Liberal democracy is the one which is a majority rule with independent judiciary, independent institutions, Free Press, Free Universities. Free here means that the govt doesn’t restrict them by any means.
Illiberal democracy and authoritarian society
This picture is taken for illustration purpose
Photo source: chappatte.com
Illiberal democracy is the one which is a majority rule without any of the above things like neutralised judiciary and institutions etc. You can ask me what is the difference between illiberal democracy and authoritarian society. Its simple. Authoritarian society is a society where the leaders are not elected by people but in illiberal democracy people elect their leader in democratic means. Rest of it is same. In illiberal democracy there is one leader who has power. He uses this power to kill democracy. It is like democracy killing itself. Many political experts feel this is the biggest political threat developing in 21st century.
Warning signs one should observe to know if their democracy is becoming illiberal
By reading many articles written by various political experts I have classified some signs which I personally think are important to observe.
Restricting Universities: If a government is passing out certain legislations which take away the freeness of universities then its a warning sign for the democracy. As universities are most important institutions which helps in creating a society. No free universities will lead to No free socities which is in turn a threat to democracy.
Restricting Press: Cutting down there freedom is sign that pretty soon your democracy will be in danger.
Money in politics: Today money is everything in politics. Money is something which should be controlled in democracy. As a famous person once said,”Money doesn’t talk it screams”. Michael Ignatieff once said,”Money is not speech, its power and a democracy should control that”.
Gerrymandering: It is process where a political party constructs electoral districts so that it favours them and it helps them by not affecting even if there are elections.
Declining turnout: People may argue on this but I think this is something important. It is not a good sign if there is a decreasing trend in turnout ratio in elections. Just think if there is a turnout ratio below 50%, then how can there be a legitimate election when majority people don’t turnout.
Atlast I just want to quote Micheal Ignatieff lines-
We get complacent that democracy is something that’s just there, institutions will always work no matter how corrupt or terrible our politicians are. I have a different view of this. I have seen democracies fall apart. If it can fall apart in smaller countries, it can fall apart in big one’s too.
I just hope India is not in it.
– ANJAN KUMAR
(Opinion expressed by the author is his personal. The Generalist Insights take no responsibility of the opinion expressed.)
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