DECLINING DEMOCRACY
Democracy in the world history is one of the vast subject to discuss it has many forms and structures it includes various characters. The ancient practice of democracy is always viewed in the context of upsurge or a raising form of development in the political scenario. The core feature of any democracy in the world is directly linked with the people for eg early democracy is an institution where rulers govern jointly with councils and assemblies of the people. Classical Greece provided many important instances of democratic practice they gave us a language of thinking about democracy including the word “demokratia”. Often people look early democracy or ancient democracy in a small closed unit. The governance took place only in a small community mostly territory extension, tax collection, imposing stricter sanctions all these are included in the early democracy. It also had many critical implications for eg the nature of politics is different, the correlation between countries i.e the bilateral ties are not defined foreign trade, diplomacy, constitutional questions are still a long term discussion. However ancient democracy gave a picture on its intensity and its wider knowledge throughout the globe.
After the demolition of Berlin wall in 1989 it stands as a powerful symbol in expansion of democratic process, the people power ensured respect for Fundamental human rights and enable human developments, the demonstration continues to stand out as the human urge for self-determination and freedom. From the historical events we understood democracy is all about people and their freedom as Lincoln said “government is for the people, by the people and of the people” in contrary the modern day democracy is still portrayed as a battered and weakened, in some cases people quote the democracy is declining and thriving to sustain in present day world. Ever wondered in todays world often these types of claims are put forth by the people. We understood that fourth wave of democracy is taking a shift and the challenges are unpredictable but the fact still the political system and the social institution in every country is driving because of the term democracy. Though many accepts modern day democracy is failing to protect individual freedom on the other hand todays democracy is widened polarization, immigration, multiethinic groups, globalization, economic inequality, democratic discontent, populism, institutional ethics are some categories emerged newly in the present day democracy.
The democratic breakdown had a large impact in the younger generation. Countries like India where the young population is abundant but the participation or the belief in democracy is very less than the predictions. Factors such as media intervention, corruption, right wing and left wing politics, poverty, illiteracy unemployment, regional fundamentalism, criminalization of politics, political violence, gender inequality are some major causes make people to dissent the idea of democracy in whole. As far as India is concerned the regional and secular politics made people to fragment the very basic ideology of democracy and in turn the participation level of younger generation getting decrease in a very fast forward way. Though social media, internet is the boom in present day world they also constitute an opportunity to open the discussion of democracy and the number of increase in participation of women in parliament are the significant improvement in democratic progress but the upsurge doesn’t cover the masses. After the covid era many countries claim that the essence or the ultimate spirit of democracy is questioned right from individual freedom till freedom of speech everything is curtailed and went into the hands of Government.
Pandemic is one such inevitable situation globally people around the world faced, it is one such incident in history when such devastation happens democracy is under threat. Often media plays an important role in manipulating the idea of democracy. The measures every country should take into consideration on such times in present day world are improvement in media literacy, digital safety, addressing the risk of suppression, interference, closing of civic space, Checking the measures to control the flow of information and crackdown on freedom of expression, press freedom, postponement of election, tackling constitutional issues, prosecution or persecution of political opponents, journalists, detention activists, Aggressive cyber policing and increasing online surveillance, empowering women against gender based violence, highlighting the challenges of inequality and weak service, specific focus on the needs and rights of women, youth, minorities and other marginalized populations, highlighting the government transparency and accountability are much necessary things to cover when democracy is under the threat. The participation and involvement of younger generation in social legislation is one such important aspect which the education system fails to cover. Teaching politics and civics is not only the way we grab people into democracy it is the active participation what we grow from the beginning is important than the literal education we give them. Countries like India where villages are the roots so beginning from rural people check index is necessary to track the peoples involvement in Municipal Institutions and Local body system. Often democracy is defined in terms of voting rights in political sphere so this confinement of right to vote is not the only aspect of democracy it is widened to meeting ones necessary freedom till fulfilling their rights and obligations. Every country has this civil society organizations where people from various groups participate it. kind of organizations must be created in schools and colleges, teach students to write their rights and duties also the problems which they face inside the school system and making them aware of how exactly the socio -political system works in real. These initiatives and up bringing are the most important one to keep the spirit of democracy. Democracy cannot be taken for granted at any level of Governance. Every individual has a responsibility to build, protect and safeguard democracy. Citizens, civil society, citites, villages, municipality, local governing body play a decisive role in building the country’s democracy.