The next step in democratic development is overdue

The human body, like a nation, is made up of structures and processes. A bony skeleton holds it all together. Processes such as breathing, blood circulation and the formation of new cells give life to the body. When the pranic processes become weak, the body becomes unhealthy even when it is strong. And when they are exhausted, overpowered by infection, life ends, and the bones are buried.

elements of democracy

A democratic nation or any nation is also made up of structures – its constitution and laws. What separates democratic nations from authoritarian nations is the vitality of citizens’ participation in the governance of their nation. In a healthy democracy, citizens participate effectively in shaping the policies and laws by which they are governed. Democratic constitutions provide for elected assemblies for citizens’ representatives to shape new policies and pass laws.

In order to meet the requirements of democracy, open-minded deliberations at these forums are essential. It is also necessary to find good solutions to systemic problems, which should be considered from multiple perspectives. When these platforms become chambers for partisan politics, they fail to find solutions to the complex, systemic problems that all nations must address in the 21st century: climate change, historical inequalities, growing economic inequalities, and discontent within. with violence. The American house of Congress is getting hit by partisan politics; The debate in the Indian Parliament has turned into a ground fight with missiles; And, citizens of many European democracies are disappointed with the performance of their elected institutions.

Constitution, elections and legislatures are not all that a democracy needs to function. Although this is exactly what the simplistic American approach of converting nations into democracies – on the heels of its armed intervention in many countries – seems to be. What happens outside the elected houses and what happens between elections is what gives life to a democracy. People who belong to different political factions, practice different religions, and have different histories in their nation’s history, must listen to each other, and learn to live together democratically every day of their lives. needed. Therefore, what is most needed by healthy democracies is the processes of democratic consultation among the citizens themselves.

wide cracks

Sadly, the cracks dividing ‘people like us’ from ‘people like us’ in the Indian nation are widening in the institutions at the top as well as in relationships on the ground. The majority electoral system of a democracy would harden these divisions in India, as they are in the United States. Therefore, there is an urgent need for robust processes for democratic discourses among citizens to tie the national fabric together before proceeding.

The media, which used to provide a place to hear diverse viewpoints, is divided along partisan lines. And social media, touted as the savior of democracy by enabling citizens to voice multiple points of view freely, has become a harbinger of division. Smart algorithms have created echo chambers of people who like each other, and who don’t listen to those in other chambers, and hate each other across walls.

Discussions of India’s old problems, which cry for new solutions, have led to a debate whether the problems originated in the times of the National Democratic Alliance or the United Progressive Alliance. It seems that in any discussion about what afflicts the country, whether in Parliament, in the media, or at social gatherings, one must be seen either supporting the political power in power, or its In protest. There is little room for discreet, non-partisan discussions among citizens.

a new step

It is time for the next step in the development of democratic institutions. “Governance consent is much more than periodic elections or referendums,” says Calypso Nicoladis of the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance. The process of deepening the reach of democracy has remained the same as for the past 200 years From: The struggle to expand suffrage. This time, it is a suffrage that expresses itself not necessarily through the right to vote in periodic elections, but through the political process pervasive in all its forms. Expresses through inclusion. A civil society movement, Citizens for Europe, has proposed a solution: a European Citizens’ Assembly – a permanent international forum for citizens’ participation and deliberation.

Words of caution though. Citizens of Europe explains the shortcomings of purely online methods, which have been tried by civil society groups in Europe, In other words., “Risk to widen ideological gaps and exclude groups affected by the digital divide”. Online forums should be supplemented by real meetings. On the other hand, simply keeping people in a room together does not create conditions for thoughtful discussions. Everywhere the elected assemblies are divided on partisan lines. It was anticipated by James Madison, the architect of the US Constitution. He wrote in Federalist Paper Number 55, “If every Athenian citizen was a Socrates, every Athenian gathering would still be a mob.” It’s not just the quality of the people in the room that matters. Citizens’ meetings, online or offline, should be appropriately designed and professionally facilitated so that all points of view can be heard for new insights to emerge.

I return to the analogy of the human body. The human body is a complex system made up of many complex organs and processes – heart, brain, liver, digestion, respiration, self-healing, etc. Breathing is a very simple process – it is the first that a baby learns as soon as it leaves its mother’s womb. Yet, we tend to forget how to breathe well as we get older. Yoga teaches us that learning to breathe well can tone all the complex systems of the body and mind.

missing dialogues

Human societies are also complex systems, composed of many formal institutions and many processes of interaction between people. Listening, like breathing, is a basic process.

We’ve forgotten how to listen well, especially “People Don’t Like Us”. In schools we are taught how to speak well and win speech contests and debates. There’s no lesson to listen well, and there’s no prize for the best listener. We only listen to what others say; We don’t listen to understand “why” they believe what they do. Often, we stop listening while the other is speaking, mentally preparing our riposte to win the debate. Dialogues for understanding are not debates to win. They are exploring complex issues by combining the knowledge of diverse people.

Monoculture of thought can be sterile in nature like monoculture. Diversity in the composition of participants is essential to ensure that complex issues are fully understood and new insights emerge. However, unless the discussions are managed well, the diversity of ideas can create a cacophony.

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The time has come to learn to listen well, not just learn to speak well; And to communicate, not to argue. The assemblies of Emperor Ashoka and Akbar centuries ago in India provide some role models. As James Fishkin points out, the techniques of democratic discussion have advanced since the time of the Athenians, Ashoka and Akbar. When People Speak: Thoughtful Democracy and Public Consultation. The soft power of India, the world’s richest diverse country, will grow as it returns from the currently elected authoritarianism to lead in the development of institutions for citizen participation in democratic governance.

Arun Maira is the author of TookIsting for good: interacting with people not like us