25 Issues of Democracy (with special reference to Africa, Asia and Latin America)

Dr. Kanwalpreet

Introduction

Democracy is a government where the will of the people prevails. It is a government in which equality as well as liberty is guaranteed to every individual irrespective of caste, color or religion. This is possible only because sovereignty rests with the people. Because of the huge population in every country, people rule but their will is exercised through their elected representatives. The latter are, though, responsible to the people who elect them. Democracy has a long and rich history. In fact, democracy has been interpreted differently over the ages. At present, democracy means a formal government in which people participate and have a say in the governance of their country. People, in a democracy, hold power and authority, albeit only to some extent. It also means that they actively participate in the decision-making process at every level. The word ‘democracy’ means ‘rule by the people’. But in ancient Greece, Plato differed from this idea of democracy. He felt that governing a state was a serious issue and everybody was not capable of taking up this responsibility. He believed that everyone could not take up the role for only the wise could rule. His ideal state was based on inequality for he was firmly of the view that equality was unnatural. He gave reasons as to why everyone could not participate in governing a state. He especially talked about excluding slaves and women. Difficult to digest his views today, democracy has become a trust for one and all. Today, it is looked upon as a panacea for all ills. Aristotle, Plato’s disciple believed that in a democracy, the masses have control on the political system. He says that democracy clearly is a rule of the people. He asserts that freedom is the essence of democracy. He believed that in a democracy everyone has a share in everything. Besides the philosophers of the Ancient Greece, we have the examples of the British, the French and the American revolutions which were milestones to achieve democracy. In United Kingdom, the Magna Carta signed in 1215, the Petition of Rights signed in 1628 and the Bill of Rights signed in 1689 were and continue to be landmarks in the history of democracy. The Magna Carta also known as the ‘Great Charter’ was a historic step against the Divine Right of the Kings. It recognised the liberties of the British citizens and made the King subject to the common law of the land. The Petition of Rights is another historic document that was sent from the British Parliament to the King, Charles I, apprising the King of the rights and liberties o the people. The Bill of Rights lays down the basic civil rights of the British citizens while limiting the powers of the Parliament of UK.

The American Revolution that took place between 1765 and 1783 with its slogan, ‘No taxation without representation’, was a demand by the Americans to participate in a system in which they contributed financially but had a little say. When they were denied this, they took up arms and fought for their dignity and equality. The motley but determined and hurriedly ‘put- together army’ of George Washington took on the mighty, well-equipped and well-trained army of the King of England. And the Americans managed to win the War for Independence because they were driven by nationalism. The desire to be treated equal, to practice liberty is justice and these are the essential components of democracy. The French Revolution from 1789 to 1799 with its slogan, ‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’ was yet another historic event in the heralding in of democracy. In France, the Czar and the landlords exploited the common people and denied them their due in the economic , political and social spheres. There was no justice as there was no equality among the people. The rich enjoyed, while the poor toiled in the fields. Liberty was unheard of and the rule under the Czar deprived people of a life of respect and dignity. The people rose as one and toppled the totalitarian regime and all that it supported. All the privileges enjoyed by the nobles the rich, the clergy were struck away. The slogan, ‘Liberty. Equality and Fraternity’ inspired the French and they set in motion the process of democracy in their country. The Russian Revolution of 1917, also known as October Revolution, was another step to end the autocratic rule of the Czar in Russia. Though the Russian Revolution put more emphasis on economic democracy, yet it indirectly emphasized the control of the common people on the resources of a country. Yet, it talks about greater participation of the people. The Bill of Rights notified in 1791 for the American citizens guarantees the American citizens rights through which they would be able to lead a fulfilled life. The Bill of Rights protects the citizens of America from any kind of arbitrary rule ever. It provides particular freedoms to the citizens while limiting the power of the government of the day. It guarantees the right of free speech, freedom of religion and trial by jury among other rights. Democracy promotes the interests of the common people better than any other government. The biggest advantage is that the people have the right to show the door to their representatives, if the latter do not care for the people who elect them. The representatives have to promote the interests of the greater number of people. The government has to be efficient in a democracy because of popular control and the responsibility that the people have reposed on their fragile but firm shoulders. It improves the moral standards of the people as they have to choose their representatives. Casting one’s vote is a serious task and needs to be undertaken after a lot of thought. Democracy helps in peaceful changes and avoids revolution. The ballot, it believes, has more power than the bullet. It also promotes patriotism among the people as they are playing an active role in their country’s development. Democracy has the power to persuade, plead and participate. It, as a form of government, encourages deliberation, discussion and debate. It also gives an equal chance of development to all as the representative of the people frame laws after consulting the experts of the respective fields. Thus, democracy is a great balancer. It balances among the elite as well as the masses. Giving ample opportunities to everybody, democracy matures every decade because of new influences, new adaptations and redundance of the obsolete. Yet, the basis of democracy remains the same, a life of dignity for all the individuals.

Democracy in Asia

But for democracy to function effectively there are a few necessary conditions to be fulfilled. These can also be dubbed as challenges to democracy. The people need to be alert and conscious of their rights as well as duties. Participation and running a state and a government is not a frivolous activity. When the Constitution of any country gives the ‘right to vote’ to the citizens of that country, it means that it is the beginning of a serious partnership between the individual and the state. The founding fathers of every country have faith in the coming generations to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them. The people should be able to comprehend the various problems faced by the country and be able to offer solutions. It is also essential that people should have full faith in democracy as a form of government and its various institutions. Besides these, the political parties and the various pressure groups should take their role very responsibility as well as seriously. When we talk of democracy in developed countries we observe that democracy has a firm foothold in these countries. Rather, the democratic institutions are evolving beautifully. On the other hand, democracy entered the Asian and African countries, only after the Second World War . As in other instances democracy took hesitant steps though people of these countries were very sure about heralding in democracy in their respective countries. Among the Asian countries, in India, the urge for democracy set in motion a spate of events which united the Indians and drove out the British. In Thailand, the military regime denied their citizens rights for many decades. Amidst political conflict, the country is trying to meet its deadline of holding elections in 2016 and in the process of drafting a new Constitution. But critics point out that the dominance of the military officers and the conservative elite in the bodies that are deliberating the new Constitution leave little scope for reforms under a new Constitution. Restrictions on freedom of speech under the Martial law are not a healthy sign. Indonesia faced chaotic years in the 1960’s under President Soekarno, the country’s first President. President Suharto rose during this turmoil and became the second President of Indonesia for thirty years. After plunging into an authoritarian rule after Suharto, the Reformation in Indonesia is helping the country limp back to democracy.

Singapore is one of the richest non-democratic countries in Asia. Ruled by the People’s Action Party (henceforth PAP) it guards all its secrets cards, keeping them close to its chest. The Party has full control and the opposition parties are subdued by hook or crook. The plebiscite of 2016, announced by the PAP holds a glimmer of hope for its people though many are skeptical about the plebiscite being held in the first place. China, the Super Power, one of the Permanent-5 has its own definition of democracy. China believes that the Communist Party is the vehicle for social change. It is the only party that can herald in equality in the country. The Communist Party gives more importance to economic rights than to social and political rights. So, the people have a choice between candidates but not between political parties because all the candidates over their allegiance to the Communist Party. Bangladesh is again one country which has elected democracy a number of times. The Army maintained its hold on the political system for a long time. Pakistan, again, is a curious mixture where democracy is finding it hard to establish itself. A Muslim country, there is infighting among the various regional sect groups and the Army’s over- powering presence only complicates the scenario further. Afghanistan, a resource-rich country is in shambles today because of the intervention of the big policies today because of the intervention of the big powers like the US, USSR etc. in the recent past. The country is in the midst of a civil war with elections taking place but under the shadow of the United States whose army has a formidable presence. Peace eludes the nation as some tribes of Afghanistan fight amongst each other as well as against the US forces. The country is in a no-win situation. Myanmar/Burma is under the control of military generals. Aung San Syu Kyi has been struggling to restore democracy in her country – Burma she has led the movement from the front and her movement has been non-violent. The military backed Union solidarity and Development Party won the 2010 elections which was criticized for being manipulated. The charge was refuted calculating their nation’s progress on Gross National Happiness and not Gross National Product or Gross Domestic Product. Bhutan lives peacefully as a State. With a King leading the country, the people are content for King Jigme Wanchuk welcomed participation of the people in 1998 by voluntarily curtailing absolute monarchy. He abdicated in favour of his son, Jigme Khesar Wanchuk. With a new Constitution, Bhutan is now a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy. Nepal has witnessed turbulent times since the last century. King Birender gave way to democratic institutions in 2008 on the demand of the people of the Country but his brother Gyander, became the King, after the former’s tragic murder in 2001. King Gyander assumed power after his brother’s death and wiped away all the democratic institutions in 2005. The people took on the streets and the King was forced to hand over powers to a seven party alliance in 2006. With the new Constitution, Nepal, presently, has to accept the dissent of the Madheshis or the hill people. It is trying to accommodate everybody’s interests. Sri Lanka has been ravaged by war in the last century. Progress has suffered and the country saw a civil war of the worst kind. The Liberation of Tamil Tiger’s Eelam (LTTE) fought for the rights of the Tamilians. It is only recently that peace has been restored in the country to the south of India. There are countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan which were a part of the defunct USSR and emerged as Independent States after the collapse of USSR in 1990-91. These countries are rich in natural resources and have the potential to grow. But some of these countries are facing problems because of deprivation felt by the respective citizens. When the people of a country are not happy and contended democracy cannot be secure for long. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania are three Baltic states that are facing turbulent times. Unrest in any one corner of Asia would lead to democracy being endangered. ‘India, South Asia’s largest and most diverse country, has displayed greater resistance in terms of economic performance, democratic rule and socio-political stability, but other countries in the same region, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, have been adversely affected by internal conflicts leading to diverse negative outcomes. A persisting challenge for these countries is how to achieve economic development, nurture good governance and overcome social and political conflict.1 It is also important to recognise the fact that South Asian countries have not evolved in isolation of each other but have continued to be influenced by historical, socio-cultural political and economic forces often speaking across geographical and national boundaries’.2

Thus, one needs to address and face the issues of democracy so that the people of this vast continent can enjoy the fruits of their labour while practicing their liberties and feeling equal. The issues of democracy among the Asian countries are many. Democracy has not been rooted firmly in many countries because of many factors. One of the biggest issues of democracy is corruption that has plagued all these nations. With the dawn of Independence in these countries, a small elite arose that has clung to power. This small elite, in a majority of these countries, while holding on to the reins of power has grown richer. The people of the  respective countries did not notice this earlier but the increasing corruption in the day to day life of the common man and the elite becoming more aloof and arrogant has made this phenomenon noticeable. This elite has practiced dynasty rule and has passed on the baton of power to their next generation. We have the example of the Gandhi family in India. Pt. Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister’s daughter, Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister after a brief spell in which Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister till his untimely death at Tashkent in January 1966. After Indira Gandhi’s assassination, her son, Rajiv Gandhi was inducted into politics. After his tragic assassination, his wife Sonia Gandhi and his son Rahul Gandhi continue to rule the roost. We have the examples of Sachin Pilot, Member of Parliament who is the son of Late Rajesh Pilot, one of the former Home Ministers of India, Madhav Rao Scindia, former Civil Aviation and Railways Minister, has passed on the reins of his son, Jyotirao Aditya Scindia. At the regional level, we have the examples of Badal family in Punjab, Chauthalas in Haryana, Abdullahs in Jammu and Kashmir, Deve Gowda family in Karnataka , Patnaik family in Odisha and the Royal family of Patiala in Punjab. This dynastic rule is a great challenge to democracy for democracy means rule of the common people. ‘The elites in India have fine-tuned the culture of evasion and repressions. We see efforts all the time to solve people’s problems through bureaucratic and technical means. It is only under intense pressure of popular movements and agitations that limited political recognition as agents is acknowledged vis-à-vis the people’.3 This aspect if emergence of an elite class is dangerous. And this phenomena is not restricted to India. In Bangladesh, in the last century, the Awami League with its President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was stopped from assuming power after elections even though they had won a majority in the 1970 elections. Since then democracy has not been able to flourish. In a coup Lt. Gen. Ziaur Rahman assumed power in 1977. He was assassinated in 1981 and Lt. Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad gained power in 1982 and ruled till December 1990. The tussle for power through elections continues between Sheikh Hasina, one of Mujib’s surviving daughter who heads the Awami League and Khaleda Zia, widow of former ruler, Lt. Gen. Ziaur Rahman. The military again stepped in to clean the system in 2007 but elections have been conducted since then and Awami League won in January 2009. So, the common person, the masses see corruption being practiced by their leaders as the latter also amass wealth. The ostentatious show of wealth by this elite is a trend-setter for the public to indulge in corruption. Casting one’s vote is a serious responsibility. But poverty does not either let people vote or they vote according to the dictates of money or because of some favours bestowed on them by the ruling elite. Democracy cannot fructify till poverty is eliminated or at least mitigated. Serious efforts have to be made to eradicate poverty. This problem of poverty is not the problem of one or two countries. A majority of the Asian countries have a substantial number of people who go to bed hungry. This feeling of deprivation and exploitation doesn’t augur well for any democracy. The booming population is another ban. With an increase in population, all the programmes to eradicate poverty go for a toss. The various plans of the government fail when there are no signs of control of population number. This leads to problems like lack of water and unequal distribution of resources. Because the resources do not reach everybody, there are pockets of abject poverty. ‘Water-hungry cash crops like sugarcane take over the command areas of irrigation projects, according to Roy, leaving farmers in these areas forced to produce crops for cash at the expense of food consumption’.4 This has led to stagnation of agriculture in the Continent. Agriculture is in dire strait and this leads to problems like hunger starvation, malnutrition and the feeling of deprivation. Such problems lead to instability in the region. There is a twin problem, the first that of wealth being unevenly distributed and the second, people being exploited. This prods the people to take up arms. Such armed revolutions bleed a country. It leads to damage of property, loss of lives and extra burden on the state exchequer. Development works suffer. Poverty also results in a fall in the standard of living. Another challenge of democracy in these countries is lack of social services that make the people feel neglected. Social services are necessary because they are the need of the weak, the old and the vulnerable. Besides the social services, improving the education level of the people is very important for democracy to be successful. And the education has to be secular in this age of migration, where an increasing number of people are moving across Continents for various purposes like education, employment etc. Secular education becomes a dire necessity because of the dangerous growth of terrorism worldwide. In the Central Asian Republics, which were once a part of the defunct U.S.S.R. primitive Islamic education is spreading. In the defunct U.S.S.R. , education was of high standard because of the state’s control over education. Paucity of funds has led to educational neglect. Secular education in these countries is available only with the availability of hard cash. Girls in the Central Asian countries are being married at an early age to men who are much older than them. The girls are often called, ‘ Second-wives,’ and become mothers at a very early age. While the world talks about equality among women, in these countries, women are moving back to Dark ages. For Democracy to succeed there has be a stop to abuse of any kind of human rights. There is rampant violation of human rights in many countries. This is denying justice to those people whose human rights are violated. These people would lose faith in democracy as well as in its Institutions. This is a serious issue for democracy. Besides this the rights of the migrant population has to be kept in mind. Democracy believes in freedom of movement, freedom of speech, occupation and any freedom that helps in the development of an individual’s personality. Any kind of racial remark, verbal abuse or discrimination to any person goes against the very essence of democracy. This leads to a rise in frustration. Terrorism is another big challenge to democracy. Terrorism takes lives; it shatters dreams and breaks families. The making of one terrorist destroys a family. The terrorist further attacks at the delicate social fabric of the society by firing at many. These countries have become the training ground of terrorists. These terrorists need to be flushed out and such training grounds need to be closed down. The increase in smuggling of drugs is another challenge for democracy. Drugs eat away at the vitality of a Nation. They corrode the youth and maim generations. The young are the future leaders, voters, administrators. The burden of running a country falls on their shoulders. If the young are disturbed, mentally as well as physically, democratic process would definitely suffer. Cross-border smuggling of drugs needs

In many of these countries, resources have to be managed otherwise the ill-gotten wealth by a few would lead to rise in frustrations. Such situations lead to Civil Wars as was the case in Sri Lanka. In these countries, caste influences people. Votes are cast on the basis of caste, as in India. Tickets are distributed according to caste. The influence of caste on the minds of people is overwhelming. This goes against the spirit of democracy. Besides caste, religion plays a very important role in deciding one‘s participation or non-participation in the policies. Fanaticism in any religion leads to rise in religious intolerance among the people. The State should play its role as a mature balancer so that while people can practice their religion without any fear, religion does not become an impediment in the way of the development of an area. Division of people into regions is another cause for concern. Regionalism makes people narrow minded and petty. This makes the people fight with each other. Tensions because of region, religion or caste are great obstacles for democracy.

Use of money and muscle power during elections goes against the ethics of democracy. Yet they are used liberally. Free and fair elections are the verdict of the people for the various political parties that would set in power or in opposition. But all tricks are tried to vitiate this noble process. Elections are the life-line of democracy. They reflect the mandate of the people in clear terms. Yet, this process is fiddled with. Either fraudulent methods are used to win or elections not held regularly. The interference of the armed forces in this pious process is worth criticizing. Any ruling party that involves the military in the political process is not to be pardoned. Once the army is out of the barracks and into the streets and then into the corridors of power, there is no choice but guaranteed ruin for the country. Authoritarian rule by leaders in these Asian countries is one main issue for democracy. In the past we had examples of President Zia-ul-Haq in Pakistan, President Ershad in Bangladesh, Emergency in 1975-77 by Mrs. Indira Gandhi in India etc. These leaders tried to snub democracy in their respective countries. This breed of leaders has to be discouraged. In the recent times, we have the examples of President Karimov in Uzbekistan and President Niyazov in Turkmeinstan, who are running their states as Police states. They are encouraging the cult of personality. Such leaders are an insult to democratic institutions. To curb these leaders one has no option but to encourage the participation of people in the democratic process. The people need to be aware about the necessity to actively participate in the electoral process. The system needs to be given a feedback. Only when people participate can democracy succeed. Mass mobilization that too, done responsibility is the need of the hour.

The voice from the margins need to be heard, otherwise separatist struggles would increase. The tribals and those in minority need to be included in the democratic process. We have to move towards establishing substantive democracy in all these countries. ‘Substantive democracy refers to the existence of citizens as ‘active agents capable of pursuing their interests with a measure of autonomy from entrenched structures of dominance and privilege’.5 The Civil War as in Afghanistan needs to end so that people of that country can be absorbed in the development process. The authoritarian regions need to be convinced to introduce democratic institutions in their respective countries. The idea of a Police state or establishing a dictatorship of any kind needs to be discouraged. In a Communist country like China, liberties need to be practiced. People should be given an open access to the various freedoms. Democracy is a very healthy environment which brings out the best in the people. It helps the people to blossom. Thus, in these countries, where a major chunk of the population lives, efforts should be made to mitigate the problems, be it economic, political or social so that people can have faith in democracy.

Democracy in African Countries

The African countries are rich in resources yet poor. Why? Africa stands at the crossroads today. Amidst tribal economy, where land was considered very important and thus,demarcated, democracy seems to be an alien concept. Yet, the African countries are eager to introduce democracy in their respective societies. People want economic reforms as well as a liberal democracy. But democracy, as many Africans say, is not an alien concept. Decisions in the tribes have always been taken democratically, with the elders of the tribe guiding because of their experience. Africa saw the first wave of democracy in the 1990’s with the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 after 27 long years in prison. South Africa led the movement towards democracy yet it has faltered on the way. It is bogged down by corruption and nepotism. The infighting among the elite especially Mandela’s family for power and control was a great discouragement for the people of South Africa. Though apartheid has ended, yet the control of resources is with a few. The African National Congress ( ANC) continues to remain in power because it does not have a strong rival to pit it down. The Democratic Alliance does not appeal to the black voters, so it cannot win as it terms itself as a conservative party and the people take it as a defender of the Whites and the privileges that the latter has amassed. People fear the ANC which has connections with the underworld. The latter, it is said, finances its elections. Mali, one of the largest countries of Africa is also one of the poorest countries. President Amadon Toumani Toure, also known as a soldier of democracy, saved the country from military dictatorship for many years but was overthrown by a coup led by Capt. Sanogo in 2012. The US trained many Malian soldiers, including the likes of Capt. Sanogo, so that the Islamic fundamentalists would not gain ground. Capt. Sanogo, since then, has handed over power to the civilian government but continues to oversee and supervise events on a daily basis. Burundi bade farewell to democracy in May 2015, when President Nkurunziza decided to run for the third term as President. When the opposition parties resisted, there was widespread police crackdown on the protesters. Nkurunziza remained in power citing the verdict in his favour by the judiciary. Electoral violence has marred the electoral process in countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Congo. In Kenya, democracy reigned for many years yet poll violence and rigging of votes during elections. This led to lot of protests which were put down when a new Constitution was introduced in 2010 which ensured a free and fair democratic process. Since the defeat of Constitutional referendum in 2000, Zimbabwe has moved away from democracy. Repressive laws, media censorship, ban on protests, violation of human rights have been the hallmarks of Zimbabwe. Elections are full of stories of intimidation by the ruling party. Congo is ravaged by Civil Wars. The unrest in neighbouring Rwanda led to Hutu population’s migration to Congo (Zaire) as refugees and are using it as a base to attack the Tutsi-led regime in Rwanda. President Joseph Kabila, got a bill passed by the Congolese lower house that states that Joseph Kabila would remain in power till the national census takes place, which would probably take years. This was to avoid elections in 2016. Civil war has torn the nation apart. Somalia has again been rocked by Civil Wars. Unemployment leads the youth boys to become pirates. The resources are for grabs and might is right prevails. Unequal control over resources by a small elite has led to frustration among the others. The opposition parties in countries like Gambia, Zambia are divided. In Madagascar, Andre Rajoclina came to power through a coup and remains in power without caring for the mandate of the people. Egypt ousted its long-ruling leader, Hosni Mubarak, in a big protest in 2011, better known as Arab spring. Hosni Mubarak had ruled the country since 1980. The army handed over power to a civilian government for a brief period but since then has taken back the power. In Malawi, President Bingu Wa Mutharika clings to power. He is a despot and runs the country like his personal fiefdom. Increasing human rights violations and harassing of officials who oppose him are some of the charges against him.

The issues of democracy in Africa are how to manage ethnic conflict and ethnic fragmentation. The people are divided into various ethnic groups and the fight is for hierarchy. The people don’t understand the concept of ‘equality’ which is vital to democracy. The electorate is poor and illiterate and always ready for hand-outs. The voters are then easy to be manipulated. This is a dangerous sign for democracy. Poverty makes the people cast their vote for personal interests that is harmful for democracy. The tribal chiefs and the elites of Africa, in the past, ran the country on the patronage system. There was a close relationship between the patron and the client. The former maintained his hold over his people through the client who received favours. In a democracy, this system broke down. The elite still maintain hold not understanding or willing to understand that in a democracy everybody is equal. The lack of trust among the people towards authority and democracy is another issue for democracy in Africa. The challenge is to build firm, strong democratic institutions. Crime is rampant among the population. Democracy can be successful only when crime is controlled. Another issue for democracy is the mismanagement of resources. From this stem many other problems like poverty, crime etc. Resources are there but are not used well. The other obstacles in the way of democracy are poor health standards.

Women die during childbirth, HIV-AIDS is on the rise, the region is infested with diseases that take away many precious lives. Lack of education means pushing children towards primitive Islamic education. This leads to making and churning out terrorists by dozens. The ethnic hatred among the various tribes is a matter of concern. Media is controlled by the rich and mighty or either not allowed to function. Journalists are beaten, harassed and often driven away from their country. Unemployment needs to be looked into. Idle youth of the country channel their energy towards destruction or death. This also gives rise to corruption. The opposition parties are either divided or indisciplined. The leaders with authoritarian regimes need to be dealt with. Their influence needs to be diluted. Such leaders think that heralding in democracy meant the western countries would side with them and they would also be able to maintain their old order. Such false thinking has to be rectified. There are countries like Botswana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana where democracy is gaining ground and there are countries like Eritrea where elections have never taken place. The effort should be to solve the various issues of democracy. The people as well as the leaders have to be committed to the idea of democracy both in word and in spirit. Capable institutions to establish democracy should be established. The task of these institutions is to see that democracy gets firmer stronghold in the African countries.

Democracy in Latin American Countries

The Latin American countries have their own share of stories of success as well problems. Venezuela goes to polls in December 2015 amidst an economic crisis. President Nicolas Maduro, very unpopular, who heads the Socialist party might be shown the door. This would be the Socialist’s first loss in Parliament since 2000. The only hope is that President Maduro should be able to accept the mandate of the people if it goes against the Socialist party. The main opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez has been sentenced to jail for 14 years on charges of promoting political violence among people. Maduro has conceded defeat but there is a fear of political violence till he hands over power to the Opposition Democratic Unity Coalition.

A majority of the Latin American countries have been through a very tumultuous past. The Civil Wars, the authoritarian regimes have ended but left the weapons; guns etc. in the hands of ex-soldiers or with those who could afford to buy them. The people of these countries do not feel safe on the streets because these weapons can be used anywhere. Street fights are common and dangerous. People fear for their own personal safety. The military, in a majority of these countries, is not ready to be subservient to the civilian authorities. This is a big issue for democracy. The people want an elected government and they want the government to bring about greater social and economic equality. The basic needs of the people have to be fulfilled in order for democracy to succeed. The political leaders in these countries are corrupt and more interested in promoting their own interests. The governments across countries have to see that health and education facilities have to realize that power comes with a lot of responsibility. They have to be accountable to the people. Though the governments vouch for separation for powers, in reality, there is none in a majority of the countries. Political violence and control over the opposition is a way of life. Low voter turn-out is another discouragement for the democratic process. The indigenous people have long been neglected. They form a major chunk of the population. They are natives of their own land yet are marginalized. They have not benefitted from democracy. The winds of change have touched them, albeit negatively. They have to be brought in the mainstream from the margins otherwise their frustration and anxieties can lead to political upheavals. Civil War is the immediate answer. Political parties have to play a more positive role. They have to participate keeping aside their vested interests. The aim should be development of the country and not only of a particular group or faction. Media has to be freed from the clutches of big business houses or regimes. The journalists have to report impartially without thinking about increasing the readership or ratings of their newspapers or channel.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, we can say that the issues facing the Asian, African and Latin countries are quite similar. Poverty is the main issue for when the needs of people are not satisfied they would have no interest in participating in the democratic process. Poverty rises because of increase in population as also the mismanagement of resources. These countries, rather continents, are rich in resources yet the latter are not tapped properly. They are either being wasted or are in the

hands of a few elites who are not ready to part with the excess they possess . The leaders of these countries are not self-less. They are corrupt and are more attracted to power and pelf. The entry of military into any political system is a blunder. Coups are to be discouraged. It is easy to call the army to the streets but very difficult to send it back to its barracks once they have tasted power. Health and education need to be improved as these are basic needs. The feeling of deprivation has to end for it creates a volatile environment where strife and hatred rule.

The marginalized people, women, children, the weak and the vulnerable have to be looked after. Media has to mature. It has to learn how to criticize rationally. Discrimination of any kind has to end because it is a direct blow to a person’s dignity and self-respect. People have got to be vigilant and alert so that they can give a mature verdict during the elections, when they are called upon to vote. There has to be a separation of power between the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary. They are the pillars of democracy. Only when we readdress these issues can democracy gain ground in these countries. Interference by external powers has to stop. Democracy is like a boon. Its fruits have to be enjoyed and they can be enjoyed only when certain conditions are made available. The Asian, African and Latin American countries have enjoyed the first wave of democracy, they have laid the foundation for democracy, now they need to exert a sturdy building over the foundation, a building that would be able be able to weather the storm and yet not collapse.

Suggested Readings

• Bertsche, Gary K., Clark, Robert P., Wood David, M., Comparing Political Systems: Power and Policy in Three Wolds, 1978, John Wiley and Sons.
• Bhadur, Kalini, and Uma Singh (eds.), Pakistan’s Transition to Democracy, Joint Study of Indian and Pakistani Schools, 1989, South Asia Books, New Delhi.
• Brass, Paul. The New Cambridge History of India, Vol. (rev.). The Politics of India since Independence, 1994, Cambridge University Press, New York.
• Brown, Louis T., The Challenge to Democracy in Nepal: A Political History, 1996, Routledge, London.
• Caramani, David, Comparative Politics, 2011, Oxford University Press.
• Chadda, Maya, Building Democracy in South Asia India, Nepal, Pakistan, 2000, Vistaar, New Delhi.
• Hague, Rod, Martin Harrop, Comparative Government and Politics, An Introduction, 2015, Palgrave Macmillan, Replika, New Delhi.
• Jayal, Niraja Gopal, Mehta, Pratap Basu, The Oxford Comparison to Politics in India, 2015, Oxford University Press.
• Palmer, Norman D., Perkins, Howard C., International Relations, The Word Community in Transition, 1997, A.I.T.B.S., New Delhi.
• Weiner, Myron, The Indian Paradox, 1989, New York.