For durable democracy
THE ground reality is that the major opposition political party is not willing to recognise the legitimacy of the present government formed with the support and actual strength of another major political party. Apparently, there is an outward calm but undoubtedly there is tension underneath. Such a scenario will surely not strengthen the foundation of our democratic existence. The national political scene has alternated between elected dispensation and spells of autocratic rule. It is, therefore, desirable and necessary that we as a nation learn from our deficiencies and debacles and consolidate our democratic credentials.
The irony is that it took a less than elected ruling dispensation to tell us that the class divide in our society was complete. It is, thus, becoming clear that on one side were those who were in a position to exploit the resources of the country to their heart's desire, and on the other were the teeming millions who were powerless, and were left to fend for themselves.
A lesson learnt is that we as a nation have been sitting on a dangerous fault-line: a disconnect between government and the society. There was a wide and growing gulf between the rulers and the people. Government, with all its power, mandate and huge resources, had very little clue about the ground situation: how people think, how they live, how they perceive things, what their needs are, what their priorities are. People, on the other hand, started losing faith in the successive governments.
Another lesson learnt is that the coercive arm of the state has been used and misused by the ruling coterie. Thus, the near breakdown of civic services and ineffective maintenance of law and order were a painful reality. It appeared that protecting the status quo from all challenges was the prime activity of the state, and the deplorable scenario was one of state machinery being put to unabashed use for keeping rival political claimants to power in check. All these happened while violence in various forms and shades took firm root and continued to traumatise the people.
A crucial lesson learnt is perhaps the supreme necessity of building institutions because it is foolish to expect to be free while remaining ignorant. We forget that when a republic is born, it is the leaders who produce the institutions, and later such institutions produce leaders. We need nation-building institutions that will produce the leaders of tomorrow. One would fondly expect that institutions of excellence will create leaders who would not be poisoned by collective bad faith and polluted by individual avarice.
A point to remember would be the realisation that the staying power of our democracy depends upon the strength of our political institutions and the severity of economic crisis. However, we will not collapse due to economic failure if our political institutions acquire durability through experience and tradition. Economic stagnancy coupled with fragile institutions and a pliant constitution is the danger.
We have to do away with the pernicious divisiveness and polarisation on political lines, and stop displaying the tribal temper in political discussions. This temper is pressing a partisan advantage to its bitter end, thus failing to understand and respect the other side. The appreciation of unity between all citizens is lost.
It appears that our oligarchic system has proved to be effective only for a limited period and can achieve limited objectives because it suffers from two inherent weaknesses, lack of legitimacy and the unfortunate disconnection between the ruling class and the civil society.
The sad reality is that our establishment sustained itself mostly through brute force, fear, coercion and corruption. Despite having democratic identity our system has sought support of discredited politicians and in some cases people having criminal record. To go about political business, that is conducting affairs of state, with such people rules have been bent and relaxed that in effect led to a culture of loot and plunder.
The State's writ has to be effective in a redefined role where protecting status quo from all challenges shall not be its prime activity. The government machinery should not be used to keep the rival claimants to power in check. Our ruling class has to rise above narrow self or institutional interests. Pressure must be exerted on the rulers to make them accountable on a continuing basis.
The writer is a columnist of The Daily Star.
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