India: 'A Flawed Democracy'

In a recent report published by the Economist Intelligent Unit's (EIU) Democracy Index, India has been dubbed as a 'flawed' democracy. Of the total 167 countries reviewed, 30 were named as full democracies, 50 as flawed democracies, 36 as hybrid and the remaining 51 as authoritarain regimes. The rankings were given on the basis of the country's performance on 60 indicators which measure electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture. EIU placed India at 35th among the 50 countries to be found as flawed democracies. The good news however is that with a score of 7.8 out of 10, India is pretty close to achieving the status of 'full' democracy.

So, why did India not manage to be in the ivy league of full democracies? India unfortunately, scores low in political culture and political participation, corruption and lack of government accountability. At a time when India was gearing up for its 15th Lok Sabha elections, which even the EIU termed as world's largest democratic exercise, the timing of this dubitable distinction couldn't be more perfect.

Rather than considering the study as an eye-opener and vowing to take India to the elite league of full democracy, our politico as usual sneered at the results of the study. Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari says, "Whoever is responsible for this report needs to see a psycho. India has a functioning democracy from the grassroots to the top. Anyone who calls this a flawed democracy must get his head examined." While BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "India does not need a lecture on democracy from Western intellectuals. The people of this country have an unfettered right to choose or unseat any party at the local, state and national level."

But, there are mulitple reasons floating around which makes me believe this study instead of considering it a mere western rhetoric targeted against India. Our two Prime Ministerial candidates are the biggest example of we being a flawed democracy. On one hand, we have L.K. Advani, who was evidently the spearhead and man behind the demolition of Babri Masjid, which not only tarnished the secular image of India globally, but also probably laid the foundation of the communal divide between two prominent religions in modern India. How can we let a person of such fanatic nature lead a secular nation? On the other hand, we have Manmohan Singh, who wants to contniue his stint as the premier of India without even contesting the elections. Democracy is of, for, and by the people, so doesn't it make more sense that the person who holds and is responsible for India's future for the next 5 years be an 'elected' people's representative and not just a nominated party representative. Being a people's representative will not only instill confidence in him, but also will also connect him directly to the people and make him aware of the real issues and problems at the ground level.

The manifesto of the country's 4th largest party SP says, "If brought in power -- the party will solve umemployment problems by putting a hault on computerisation, the salaries provided by private firms will be in sync with the minimum government wages (which will infact lower the income of people working in private sector), and the government will put an end to the expensive english medium schools and use of english (someone needs to remind SP supremo that his own son and heir of SP, Akhilesh Yadav earned his degree from University of Sydney). And if all this was not enough, a sentence on their website "Samajwadi Party is a party primarily based in Uttar Pradesh, where it bases its support largely on OBCs (Other Backward Castes) and Muslims, particularly Mulayam Singh Yadav's own Yadav caste," shakes my belief in our democracy. If the party with such a depressing manifesto can rule India's most populous state and be an important part of the central government, then our democracy is nothing but flawed.

India has fared extremely well in the categories of electoral process, pluralism, and civil liberties and is just shy of becoming a full democracy (8 being the score to be a full democracy). Our dear politicians rather than just boasting to be 'apolitical,' should take a cue out of the study and improve the political participation and political culture. Indian Junta should also exercise their right to vote and vote to form a single party government which without any doubt will expedite the economic reforms and will pave our way to become a full and developed democracy. With India in the midst of its 'crucial' general elections and Indians readying to vote once again, the timing of the emergence of this report could not be more appropriate.

-Kartavya Jain