Blog post from Prof. H. O. Srivastava

Prof. Dr. Sir H. O. Srivastava, IBS, K. St. J
M.Sc. M.Phil, Ph. D. (Info Sys.), Ph. D. (Chemistry), D. Lit. (Management)

“We the people” are responsible for the failure of democracy.

We started our discussion about failing democreaceies around the world in our earlier bolg. Thereafter, we started analysing the reason for failure of democracies. In the previous blog we analysed, if the leaders are responsible for failure of democreacies – blog dated October, 16, 2023

Continuing the series, we are analysing below, how much, “we the people” are responsible for this failure.

For a democracy to function effectively and elect the right representatives, a diverse and informed citizenry is essential. Here are some key qualities and attributes that can contribute to the success of a democratic system:

Informed and Educated: Citizens should have access to reliable information and be well-informed about political issues, policies, and candidates. Education and media literacy play a vital role in ensuring that voters can make informed choices. However, in many countries, there are challenges when citizens prioritize personal benefits such as reservations, stipends, free electricity, rations, transportation, water, and the like, without considering the broader implications for the nation. In such cases, the choices made in selecting representatives are influenced by short-term, self-serving interests rather than a holistic view of the country’s welfare.

Critical Thinkers: A thriving democratic society thrives when its citizens possess the ability to think critically, approach information objectively, and assess the assertions and commitments made by political candidates. Additionally, citizens must exhibit a sense of patriotism and consider the long-term implications for their country when electing representatives, rather than solely focusing on the benefits or incentives offered by political candidates. Emphasizing the importance of earned rewards through hard work becomes a matter of personal pride, making any form of unfettered distribution or dole without effort less acceptable.

Tolerance and Respect: Democracy flourishes when citizens embrace diverse perspectives and foster constructive dialogues rather than resorting to hostility or division. However, when citizens consistently present demands like higher dole, increase in reservation quota before each election, and pressure political parties to concede to secure electoral victory, adverse consequences are bound to arise, which leads to the failure of democracies around the world.