• UGI USER
  • Mar 27, 2024
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THE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL PROCESS IS BROKEN”

Syllabus:

  • GS2 : Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure, Important Aspects of Governance.

Why in the News?

  • India’s democratic system is encountering significant challenges, impacting governance and public trust.
  • The institutional machinery seems to be captured, making power balance adjustments difficult.
  • The inability to foster collaboration hinders progress on crucial issues.
Source: Leverage Edu

Issues with Consensus-Building Sites:

  • Traditional consensus-building sites, like public discourse, are now obstacles to constructive dialogue.
  • The foundational role of public discourse in evolving consensus is being undermined.
  • Public forums should encourage open debate and mutual understanding.
  • Current discourse often leads to polarization rather than consensus.
  • There’s a growing inability to collectively address pressing challenges.

Institutional Capture vs. Collaborative Inability:

  • The problem extends beyond institutional capture to a broader inability to collaborate.
  • Institutions, while important, are downstream from the larger political process.
  • Collaborative efforts are hindered, even on issues with widespread public resonance.
  • Our political landscape is marked by outrage, protest, and resignation.

Nature of Public Discourse:

Credibility Crisis in Media:

  • Many mainstream media outlets have lost credibility, affecting the quality of public discourse.
  • Lack of factual baselines hampers informed debate and decision-making.
  • Public trust in media institutions is eroding, leading to skepticism and misinformation.

 Rise of Social Media:

  • Social media’s decentralization has altered the landscape of public discourse.
  • Content virality often takes precedence over substance and truth.
  • Engagement metrics drive content creation, sidelining quality and accuracy.

 Hyper-partisanship and Fragmentation:

  • News and content are increasingly used to promote factional interests rather than facilitate dialogue.
  • Public discourse has become a battleground for individual battles and tribal affiliations.
  • Fragmented attention spans and transient issues undermine collective action.

Role of Civil Society:

  1. Civil society’s increasing dependence on the state compromises its independence and effectiveness.
  2. Normative purity often takes precedence over representativeness and inclusivity.
  3. Civil society’s legitimacy is questioned due to its reliance on institutional support.
  4. The shift towards single-issue campaigns undermines broader consensus-building efforts.
  5. Civil society’s tendency to bypass political processes limits its ability to foster dialogue and consensus.
  6. Over-reliance on judicial and bureaucratic interventions reduces political engagement.
  7. Civil society should focus on long-term, systemic solutions rather than short-term interventions.

Challenges with Political Parties:

  1. Political parties often prioritize internal issues, neglecting broader public concerns.
  2. Deliberative spaces within parties are shrinking, limiting policy dialogue and development.
  3. Elected representatives often lack the autonomy and inclination to address constituency issues.
  4. Party dynamics and power struggles overshadow public interest and governance.
  5. Electoral dynamics favour party symbols over candidate qualifications and policy agendas.
  6. Candidates’ ability to influence policy is limited within the party structure.
  7. Local issues often take a backseat to state and national party priorities.
Criteria for State Party Recognition:

·    Achieve a minimum of 6% valid votes in a state’s Legislative Assembly or Lok Sabha election and secure at least 1 seat in the Legislative Assembly or 2 seats in Lok Sabha.

·    Secure a victory in Lok Sabha or state Legislative Assembly elections with at least 8% of total valid votes.

·    Win three legislative seats or 3% of the state’s assembly seats.

·    Secure at least one Lok Sabha seat out of the 25 allotted to states.

·    Election Commission currently recognizes 64 parties as State Political Parties.

Criteria for National Party Recognition (NPP):

·    Secure at least 6% valid votes in Lok Sabha or State’s Legislative Assembly elections in 4 or more states and win at least 4 Lok Sabha seats from one or more states.

·    Achieve at least 8% of valid votes in Lok Sabha or state legislature elections held in four or more states.

·    Garner votes from three or more states amounting to at least 2% of Lok Sabha’s total seats.

·    Election Commission currently recognizes 8 parties as National Political Parties.

·    The National People’s Party (NPP) is the latest addition as India’s eighth national party, marking the first from the northeast to receive this status.

Interconnected Pathologies and Challenges:

  • Dysfunctions in the media ecosystem impact civil society and political party dynamics.
  • The rise of social media influencers and the decline of credible journalism reshape political narratives.
  • Top-down party structures influence civil society’s organizational strategies and priorities.
  • Grassroots mobilization and political engagement are increasingly challenging due to centralized control.
  • Interdependent pathologies complicate solutions but highlight the need for comprehensive reforms.
  • The focus on top-down initiatives and bureaucratic projects undermines grassroots mobilization.
  • Civil society’s organizational strength and influence are diminishing, limiting its impact.

Way Forward:

  • Implement reforms to enhance media credibility and journalistic integrity.
  • Encourage fact-checking initiatives and promote transparency in news reporting.
  • Foster platforms that encourage open dialogue, mutual understanding, and consensus-building.
  • Support initiatives that prioritize substance and quality over virality in content dissemination.
  • Encourage civil society organizations to collaborate and engage with diverse stakeholders.
  • Promote inclusive and representative civil society initiatives that address broader societal issues.
  • Advocate for electoral reforms that prioritize constituency issues and reduce party-centric politics.
  • Encourage internal party deliberation, policy dialogue, and grassroots engagement to address public concerns.
  • Foster public awareness and civic education to encourage informed and active citizenship.
  • Promote public engagement in decision-making processes to ensure accountability and transparency.
  • Encourage collaboration between media, civil society, political parties, and the public to address systemic challenges.
  • Foster partnerships that leverage collective strengths and address interdependent pathologies.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive reforms that address the root causes of democratic dysfunction.
  • Engage with experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to design and implement effective reform strategies.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, revitalizing India’s democratic process requires collaborative efforts to rebuild media trust, promote inclusive discourse, strengthen civil society engagement, reform political party dynamics, enhance public participation, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and implement comprehensive reforms. Addressing these challenges is crucial to restoring the democratic potential and ensuring the collective well-being of the nation.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

GS 2

Discuss the challenges facing India’s democratic political process and their implications for governance and public trust. Examine the deteriorating role of traditional consensus-building sites, the influence of institutional capture, and the changing nature of public discourse.