We should support democracy
Some people might have the view that many countries may not be “fit” for democracy. The economist and philosopher Amartya Sen has a ready answer for this view in an essay entitled “Democracy as a Universal Value” (Journal of Democracy, july, 1999) “A country does not have to be deemed fit for democracy, rather, it has to become fit through democracy.”
Let me suggest several ways that democracy contributes to a country. The first is by offering the means by which the citizenry can hold governments accountable for their policies and integrity. The political scientist Larry Diamond has written that “predatory, corrupt, wasteful, abusive, tyrannical, incompetent government is the bane of development. There is simple no way to control or eliminate corruption if people don’t have access to the fundamental institutions of democracy such as a free media that can expose corruption’ an independent judiciary that can punish its perpetrators, and a system of free and fair elections that can hold political leaders accountable and, where appropriate, kick the rascals out. This doesn’t mean that democracy will automatically reduce corruption or produce good democracy. Responsible governance requires political will, effective institutions, professional officials, and an informed, alert, and aroused citizenry. But without democracy none of these things are possible, and the absence of political and legal restraints leads inevitably to abusive and corrupt behavior.
The second way democracy helps the people in developing societies is by giving them the means to influence the actions of their respective governments in countering the effects of economic and social disasters. Here we are especially indebted to the work of Amartys Sen, who has shown that “in the terrible history of famines in the world, no substantial famine has ever occurred in any independent and democratic country with a relatively free press.” Precisely because famine or other kinds of disasters would be fatal to the citizens, not taking protective measures would be fatal to any government in a situation where the people are in a position to register their views.
The third way democracy helps people in developing societies is by making it possible for them to learn from one another through public discussion, thereby facilitating the definition of needs, priorities, and duties. Through public discussion the people of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have come to understand and internalize the harmful effects of high fertility rates on the community and on the lives of young women. The result is that Kerala now has a fertility rate similar to that of Britain and France and lower that China’s, a result achieved without coercion. Having people take ownership of an approach to solving a social problem through the formation of new values is ultimately far more effective than having a solution imposed or mandated by the government or by international assistance agencies. But such constructive action can’t happen without democracy.
Throughout the developing world there are people and organization that are prepared to make great sacrifices in the pursuit of democracy, human rights, and political freedom. It is not surprising that democracy’s most impassioned advocates today should come from countries where democracy is least secure. Perhaps this will remind those who are fortunate enough to live in secure democracies to value what they have – and also to help those living where freedom is less secure to fulfill their aspirations for a democratic future.
We should support democracy Some people might have the view that many countries may not be “fit” for democracy. The economist and philosopher Amartya Sen has a ready answer for this view in an essay entitled “Democracy as a Universal Value” (Journal of Democracy, july, 1999) “A country does not have to be deemed fit for democracy, rather, it has to become fit through democracy.” Let me suggest several ways that democracy contributes to a country. The first is by offering the means by which the citizenry can hold governments accountable for their policies and integrity. The political scientist Larry Diamond has written that “predatory, corrupt, wasteful, abusive, tyrannical, incompetent government is the bane of development. There is simple no way to control or eliminate corruption if people don’t have access to the fundamental institutions of democracy such as a free media that can expose corruption’ an independent judiciary that can punish its perpetrators, and a system of free and fair elections that can hold political leaders accountable and, where appropriate, kick the rascals out. This doesn’t mean that democracy will automatically reduce corruption or produce good democracy. Responsible governance requires political will, effective institutions, professional officials, and an informed, alert, and aroused citizenry. But without democracy none of these things are possible, and the absence of political and legal restraints leads inevitably to abusive and corrupt behavior. The second way democracy helps the people in developing societies is by giving them the means to influence the actions of their respective governments in countering the effects of economic and social disasters. Here we are especially indebted to the work of Amartys Sen, who has shown that “in the terrible history of famines in the world, no substantial famine has ever occurred in any independent and democratic country with a relatively free press.” Precisely because famine or other kinds of disasters would be fatal to the citizens, not taking protective measures would be fatal to any government in a situation where the people are in a position to register their views. The third way democracy helps people in developing societies is by making it possible for them to learn from one another through public discussion, thereby facilitating the definition of needs, priorities, and duties. Through public discussion the people of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have come to understand and internalize the harmful effects of high fertility rates on the community and on the lives of young women. The result is that Kerala now has a fertility rate similar to that of Britain and France and lower that China’s, a result achieved without coercion. Having people take ownership of an approach to solving a social problem through the formation of new values is ultimately far more effective than having a solution imposed or mandated by the government or by international assistance agencies. But such constructive action can’t happen without democracy. Throughout the developing world there are people and organization that are prepared to make great sacrifices in the pursuit of democracy, human rights, and political freedom. It is not surprising that democracy’s most impassioned advocates today should come from countries where democracy is least secure. Perhaps this will remind those who are fortunate enough to live in secure democracies to value what they have – and also to help those living where freedom is less secure to fulfill their aspirations for a democratic future.
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