Events & Issues

New Delhi, 26 December 2011

Participatory Democracy

DIRECT ACTION NEW MANTRA

By Dr S Saraswathi

(Former, Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)

Direct involvement of people in politics and public affairs on a nationwide scale not witnessed since the freedom movement has in the recent months been resurrected and given a new thrust. The movement against corruption led by Anna Hazare has thus not only attracted national and global attention but has earned a reputation in foreign media as one of the most effective events in the world during 2011.

The politics of direct action is not new in this country on local, regional, and State levels for myriad local causes. But, this movement against corruption stands unique due to the scale of its operation, the size of the support it receives and the impact it has made on the public and the authorities.

In recent years, New Social Movements (NSM) have emerged in all countries – democracies and dictatorships -  to fight “for” rights, and “against” wrongs. Feminist movements, environmental movements, tribal and aboriginal people’s movements, civil rights movements, etc., take place in all democracies despite the presence of governments run by elected representatives of the people. These are not normally considered as anti-democratic or parallel power points and not put down as unnecessary or dangerous intrusion into the functioning of elected governments. On the contrary, their contributions are hailed as substantive in building a better future.

Such movements in peaceful and non-violent manner are legally permitted form of participation and/or expression of dissent in democracies. They become necessary if and when legally established authorities fail to act or respond or delay action on issues that agitate all or considerable sections of the people.

While political leadership in the country is well-versed with the bane of corruption, it is worth remembering the Independence Day speech of then Prime Minister I K Gujral. Addressing the nation, way back in 1997, he raised a thought-provoking question: “Why can’t we start a new kind of Satyagraha, a kind of non-cooperation movement which would proclaim that whatever the hardship, we won’t pay bribe?” He was stressing the need for a movement against corruption in high places as well as against “small corruption”. 

He observed that the country could be defended against external aggression by its Armed Forces, but there is no defence against greedy, anti-national elements within the country. Thus, our attention was drawn to the truth that the enemy within is more dangerous than the one outside. Further, confidence was expressed that a movement of social boycott could be launched against the corrupt in mohallas, localities, and villages.  He pledged to fight against corruption which, in his words, had established itself as a “birth right”.

This powerful oration of a former Prime Minister in favour of direct action by the people to fight against a widespread evil corroding politics, public administration, and indeed all kinds of public activities needs to be recalled to remind ourselves that the need for non-violent direct action has had the support of political leaders in power in the past. That the target aimed at that time was massive corruption is a coincidence to the present situation that India is facing.

The rulers in the Government and political parties have reason to welcome direct participation of the people to ascertain their candid views, assess their mood, and gauge their true reaction face to face without intermediaries. To this extent, it can promote democratic functioning of parliamentary democracy.

Numerous instances of effective direct action of the people as in the Chipko Movement may be cited from all parts of the country. Indeed, direct action has become common to express people’s views and make authorities act.

Direct action is perhaps a symptom of the growing need and desire for genuine participatory democracy within the present system of representative democracy, in which people elect their representatives once in five years and leave them free to rule with the support of majority of the members elected.  Power is vested in the “majority”, and the test of success is the ability to muster majority support to form the Government and the same ability to retain majority support in Parliament to make policies and legislations and to retain power.  The voters have no control over the members elected.  Their job ends with casting their votes.

Therefore, the Governments are literally in a position to adopt even unpopular policies if they so desire for any reason by mustering the support of parliamentary majority. It can be easily achieved in single party rule.  In multi-party coalitions, behind scene maneuvers involving “give and take” and a common object of safeguarding power and positions come into play for building majority. The system contains the seeds of dissociation of parliamentary majority and the people. The voice of the parliamentary minority is silenced and that of the people not heard at all.

Hence, the voice unheard within Parliament may look for an outlet outside resulting in the growth of extra-parliamentary force. Street level politics results from Parliament’s inability and sometimes refusal to hear and heed the voice of the people.

People’s participation in the form of mobilizing and exercising direct pressure for and against policies and actions of the Government does not amount to disregard of the latter and its various organs. Pressure group politics is normal in all democracies. Peaceful direct action is a form of pressure politics.

In recent days, with reference to the drafting of the Lokpal Bill, a controversy has arisen over supremacy -- the contenders being the Parliament and the people. Doubtless, Parliament is the supreme law-making body and this has never been contested, but it is created by the people and assigned this job under the Constitution adopted by “We, the people of India”. Parliament exists for the people and not the people for Parliament. It is proverbial that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

Parliament’s exclusive prerogative for legislation is not challenged and cannot be diminished by people’s participation and contributions including draft legislations. Voluntary organizations can only enrich legislations, add inputs based on ground realities and experience of the people, and thus bridge the gap between the people and the legislators.  It is in the interest of law-makers to avail of the rich experience and sound ideas coming from non-political sources through whatever means – dialogue or non-violent pressure. The trend all over the world and increasingly in India today is towards establishing participatory democracy.---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)