The World’s Fashionable Democracy

Dr VK Bahuguna

October 4, 2024, 15:20:48   

One of the remarkable characteristics of modern era is reflected in the progress of democracy,and rise of nation-states. The modern era in the real sense started after the end of Second World War with the establishment of United Nations (UN) on 25th October 1945 at the end of San Francisco conference which was attended by 50 countries and the UN Charter was adopted. United Nation is the global diplomatic and political platform for ensuring international peace, progress and security. The democratic form of governance, freedom, equality and dignity of humanity are the corner stone of modern era. In this regards world leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King played a very vital role in ending the colonial rules in Asia and Africa and other such countries. Since then the world leaders swear by the power of masses in democracy and rule of the elected leaders. The UN Security Council assumes the role of overseeing the peace and security of the world specially the five Veto yielding countries China, Britain, France, Russia and United States yield enormous clout in the Security Council. However, the Veto power in practice and particularly is used by these powers for thwarting any issue if one of them does not like it due to their geo-political interests and international alliance.

After more than 80 years of establishment of UN the world is still in the grip of intense conflicts and the noble objectives of UN for ensuring world peace and security are lost in the realpolitik of big powers which clearly smacks of hypocrisy and inherent bias. There are several examples of derailing the true democratic edifice of the world’s governments especially in third world countries by the United States and western powers. The recent example is dethroning of Sheikh Hasina Wazed government in Bangladesh a classical example of hypocrisy by America and its allies. Similarly, in dealing with terrorism the white race has double standards. I can kill my terrorist anywhere in the world like America did to Osama Bin laden and Khalistani terrorists and protagonist are provided platform to bash up India and recently when the American President and Bill Clinton former President hosted and hailed Muhammad Yunus as savour of democracy and human rights few weeks ago with promise of full support. Mr Yunus heads the puppet interim Government of Bangladesh as Chief Advisor. The world is asking the America the lone super power that is it permissible to oust a government by engineering well orchestrated violent agitation. When Indian Prime Minister was in USA last month the Khalistani leaders were hosted by the white house. Every such thing is done in the name of democracy. If this is allowed at the international level then any government can be ousted by the frustrated opposition in league with foreign powers. Is it not the neo colonialism being practiced under the nose of United Nation itself? Though Hasina government might have committed some blunders but after all it was an elected government and world should not support such illegal seize of power by student origin well planned violent agitations. United States, China and western block have been supporting such regimes routinely in African countries and in Pakistan and Bangladesh routinely for past several decades.

The anger against such hypocrisy of world leaders is growing and if the modern era has to survive the third world war which in any case is undergoing in a different pattern in Europe and Middle east, the people have to junk this system of United Nation which is becoming a talking machine, a burden on resources and sub-serving the geo-political undemocratic stance of powerful countries making mockery of the lofty UN Charter. The democracy western leaders in UN practice can aptly be termed as ‘Fashionable Democracy’. This fashionable democracy is a tool to perpetuate and support all kind of undemocratic regimes that comes to power in the name of democracy, human right and liberty. These lofty goals are being pooh-poohed by the powerful countries. There are talks about deep states interfering in the affairs of the countries to upset the ruling regimes that do not fall in line. In this regards the non-state actors play a significant role though the national governments may not be promoting it directly but in the name of democracy many outsiders do influence the government. The Indo-US relations built steadily after the end of cold war during last 25 years are a shining example of two democratic governments ensuring a global alliance of strategic importance to thwart the attempts of Chinese ambitions to browbeat other countries in Asia-pacific region. But the cold war psychology of white house is still promoting countries inimical to democratic values in Indian sub-continent specially Pakistan which is ruled by Army with a proxy government. This may derail the India USA strategic relationship. Even Sheikh Hasina opined that her government was toppled after she refused to part with San Martin Island to United States.

The China instead of supporting India, with which it has cultural affinity as well as trade interests, supports and aids Pakistan and has been fomenting trouble in the North-East and Ladakh for a long time with its expansionist vision and is a potential threat to world peace. Thus, it is clear indication that the geopolitics of the world needs a serious rethink. If one analyse the sequence of events over past 80 years or so the main reason of such behaviour of powerful countries is due to the patently undemocratic nature of assigning the Veto power to winners of the Second World War. As for democracy, I would appropriately call it fashionable democracy to fool the people around the world in the name of democracy and liberty and this disease is also spreading in most of the countries all over the world including India where democracy has give way to Dynastic Democracy. The state of present day democracies was aptly forecasted by Socrates the ancient Greek Philosopher like he said more than 2000 years ago that ‘Democracies would elect Demagogues’. India is a glaring example of such leaders in states who panders to this and skilfully uses democracies to perpetuate their family interests in power game and practising vote bank politics. Father of Athenian democracy was Cleisthenes who lived during 570 BC to 508 BC and who as Chief Magistrate successfully imposed democracy in the Athens assembly against the nobles and hence is appropriately called as Father of World Democracy must be weeping in his grave seeing how democracy is being run by the world leaders and thus people of modern era in the 21st Century.  Is it not a food for thought for all of us who believe in true democracy because there is no alternative to true democracy like the ancient Indian panchayats system? At least India should reform from within and then lead the rest of the world. 1062 words

   (Tripurainfo)