Gore clearly shows the evidence that the increase in global temperature over the last 100 years is, to a large extent, due to greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. He then presents the three ‘causes’: population, technology and barriers to new thinking
Here I bring to you the presentation of civics chapter-1 class-9
in this you can show the ppt to the teacher or else you can make the notes of this . Thank you and pls download, comment and like
Here I bring to you the presentation of civics chapter-1 class-9
in this you can show the ppt to the teacher or else you can make the notes of this . Thank you and pls download, comment and like
The goal of this work is to address, from the conceptual framework of theories on “deliberative
democracy”, the role played by the Judicial Power, being an integral part of the State, as the institutionalized
field of deliberation for making collective decisions.
In order to do this I will start by analyzing, from a legal-institutional perspective, the way in which the
National Constitution of Argentina distributes the functions of the State and how it divides the competences to
decide on the Public Thing. Furthermore, I will analyze which are the degrees of deliberation and of citizen
participation (direct or indirect) in each portion of the constituted power. Then, I will develop my intuition about
the way Justice operates as an institutional form of citizen participation within a Social State of Law, comparing
such proposal with the opinion of authors that highlight the countermajoritarian nature of the Judicial Power. I
will present some representative cases of the intervention of the Judicial Power in the making of
institutionalized public decisions, generated by the action of minorities with little or no political representation
and in which, after a deliberative practice, government measures that gave a positive response to the proposals
of the actors were ordered.
As an anticipation of my opinion, I will say that in our current Argentinian constitutional system there
is a paradox in which the Judicial Power (being, due to its origin, the least democratic of the powers) allows for
the development of procedural discursive practices, enabling the Public Decision Making to be the product of
the deliberation between parties (citizens and governments) on a level of equality and freedom of speech in
which arguments are exchanged in a rational way and in a previously regulated framework within a formalized
procedure.
Essay on Democracy in America
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Forms Of Democracy
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Democracy: An Analysis Essay
The goal of this work is to address, from the conceptual framework of theories on “deliberative
democracy”, the role played by the Judicial Power, being an integral part of the State, as the institutionalized
field of deliberation for making collective decisions.
In order to do this I will start by analyzing, from a legal-institutional perspective, the way in which the
National Constitution of Argentina distributes the functions of the State and how it divides the competences to
decide on the Public Thing. Furthermore, I will analyze which are the degrees of deliberation and of citizen
participation (direct or indirect) in each portion of the constituted power. Then, I will develop my intuition about
the way Justice operates as an institutional form of citizen participation within a Social State of Law, comparing
such proposal with the opinion of authors that highlight the countermajoritarian nature of the Judicial Power. I
will present some representative cases of the intervention of the Judicial Power in the making of
institutionalized public decisions, generated by the action of minorities with little or no political representation
and in which, after a deliberative practice, government measures that gave a positive response to the proposals
of the actors were ordered.
As an anticipation of my opinion, I will say that in our current Argentinian constitutional system there
is a paradox in which the Judicial Power (being, due to its origin, the least democratic of the powers) allows for
the development of procedural discursive practices, enabling the Public Decision Making to be the product of
the deliberation between parties (citizens and governments) on a level of equality and freedom of speech in
which arguments are exchanged in a rational way and in a previously regulated framework within a formalized
procedure.
Essay on Democracy in America
A Democratic Society Essay
Essay about Digital Democracy
Democracy Essay examples
Forms Of Democracy
Essay about Democracy
Democracy: An Analysis Essay
Essay on Democracy in America
A Democratic Society Essay
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Democracy And Democracy
Types of the political system
There are different states and governments around the world. In this context, the state is a political entity in which power and authority reside. This unit can be an entire country or a subdivision within a country. As such, countries of the world are sometimes called states (or nations), as are subdivisions within nations such as California, New York, and Texas in the United States.
Government means the people who direct a nation's political affairs, but it can also mean the rules by which a country is run. Another term for this second meaning of government is a political system, which we use here with the government. The type of government people lives in intensely impacts their freedom, happiness, and even lives. So let us take a quick look at the major political systems in the world today.
1 Democracy
The type of government we are most familiar with is a democracy, a political system in which citizens directly or indirectly govern themselves. The term democracy comes from Greek and means "rule by the people." In Lincoln's moving words in the Gettysburg Address, democracy is "government of the people, by the people, for the people." In a direct (or pure) democracy, people make decisions about policies and resource allocations that directly affect them.
An example of such democracy is the New England Town Meeting, where townspeople meet yearly to vote on budgets and other issues. However, direct democracy is unrealistic when the population exceeds a few hundred. So representative democracy is much more common. In this type of democracy, people elect civil servants to represent them in parliamentary votes on issues that affect the public.
Wajid khan explains that In large societies, representative democracy is more practical than direct democracy, but political scientists cite another advantage of representative democracy. It ensures, at least in theory, that the individuals who govern society and contribute to its functioning possess the right talents, skills, and knowledge.
In this way of thinking, the masses are too ignorant, uneducated, and apathetic to run society independently. In this way, representative democracy is "Cream at the top." Those who enable and govern societies are best suited to carry out this vital task (Seward, 2010). While this argument has many merits, it is also true that many of those elected to office are either impotent or corrupt.
Regardless of our political leanings, Americans can think of many politicians who fit these labels, from presidents to local civil servants. As Chapter 14, Politics and Government, Section 14.4, "U.S. Politics," discusses political lobbying, elected officials are unduly influenced by campaign funds from corporations and other interest groups. You may receive it. As far as this influence goes, representative democracy falls short of the ideals proclaimed by political theorists.
A defining feature of representative democracy is voting in elections
Debate on Future Democracy and Corruption, in the Digital Age (from Theory to...AJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT: This article is a reflection on the future of humanity, especially for young people. In my opinion, this
model of World Society, where inequalities are increasing, where there are men who send other men to war, where men order
men to be killed for political differences and or economic interests, where Corruption reigns. We need to change the
paradigm. But the change will be long.
Democracy is a political regime in which all citizens, in the enjoyment of their Human and Political Rights, participate in
the choice of the governance model for the country and/or region, who in their activity create the laws and implement them,
exercising the power of governance, through universal suffrage. It encompasses the social, political, economic and cultural
conditions that allow the exercise of power, free and equal, in political self-determination.
Democracy is both a normative ideal and a set of true world institutions. We have competing ideals of what democracy
should be, and there are many institutional forms of democracy around the world. Both as an idea and as an institutional
form, democracy has evolved over time, as changing circumstances make it possible to modify and solidify some of the
democratic institutions, sometimes for the benefit of democracy and sometimes not. One of the reasons democracy has
evolved, as an idea or institutionally, is people's disappointment with existing democratic institutions.
KEYWORDS: Democracy, Democracy of the Future, Corruption, Bribery, Systemic Corruption, Political
Corruption.
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Debate on the Democracy of the Future, in the Digital Era (from Theory to Pra...AJHSSR Journal
ABSTRACT : This article addresses the Democracy of the Future in a context of dynamic change in the reality
of people's lives in the Digital Age. Democracy is a political regime in which all citizens in the enjoyment of
their political rights also participate — directly or through elected representatives — in choosing the model of
governance for the country and or region, in its development and in the creation of laws, exercising the power
of governance through universal suffrage . It covers the social, economic and cultural conditions that allow the
exercise of power, free and equal to political self-determination.
Effective and efficient political leadership in representative democracy poses new challenges to political
powers. Traditional theoretical and practical political leadership needs a new systematic approach to seeking a
holistic vision for the constant improvement of meeting the social and economic needs of populations.
The greatest challenge that theory and practice face is the identification of effective
instruments for democracy of the future and deliberative practices so that the decisions
taken are considered rational, transparent, legitimate, in Freedom and protect the human
rights of all citizens and that they feel respected, represented and committed to their
implementation.
KEYWORDS: Information , Democracy, Democracy of the Future, Digital Age.
ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY v/s Union of India.pptxshweeta209
transfer of the P.I.L filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in Delhi High Court to Supreme Court.
on the issue of UNIFORM MARRIAGE AGE of men and women.
How to Obtain Permanent Residency in the NetherlandsBridgeWest.eu
You can rely on our assistance if you are ready to apply for permanent residency. Find out more at: https://immigration-netherlands.com/obtain-a-permanent-residence-permit-in-the-netherlands/.
A "File Trademark" is a legal term referring to the registration of a unique symbol, logo, or name used to identify and distinguish products or services. This process provides legal protection, granting exclusive rights to the trademark owner, and helps prevent unauthorized use by competitors.
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PRECEDENT AS A SOURCE OF LAW (SAIF JAVED).pptxOmGod1
Precedent, or stare decisis, is a cornerstone of common law systems where past judicial decisions guide future cases, ensuring consistency and predictability in the legal system. Binding precedents from higher courts must be followed by lower courts, while persuasive precedents may influence but are not obligatory. This principle promotes fairness and efficiency, allowing for the evolution of the law as higher courts can overrule outdated decisions. Despite criticisms of rigidity and complexity, precedent ensures similar cases are treated alike, balancing stability with flexibility in judicial decision-making.
WINDING UP of COMPANY, Modes of DissolutionKHURRAMWALI
Winding up, also known as liquidation, refers to the legal and financial process of dissolving a company. It involves ceasing operations, selling assets, settling debts, and ultimately removing the company from the official business registry.
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of winding up:
Reasons for Winding Up:
Insolvency: This is the most common reason, where the company cannot pay its debts. Creditors may initiate a compulsory winding up to recover their dues.
Voluntary Closure: The owners may decide to close the company due to reasons like reaching business goals, facing losses, or merging with another company.
Deadlock: If shareholders or directors cannot agree on how to run the company, a court may order a winding up.
Types of Winding Up:
Voluntary Winding Up: This is initiated by the company's shareholders through a resolution passed by a majority vote. There are two main types:
Members' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is solvent (has enough assets to pay off its debts) and shareholders will receive any remaining assets after debts are settled.
Creditors' Voluntary Winding Up: The company is insolvent and creditors will be prioritized in receiving payment from the sale of assets.
Compulsory Winding Up: This is initiated by a court order, typically at the request of creditors, government agencies, or even by the company itself if it's insolvent.
Process of Winding Up:
Appointment of Liquidator: A qualified professional is appointed to oversee the winding-up process. They are responsible for selling assets, paying off debts, and distributing any remaining funds.
Cease Trading: The company stops its regular business operations.
Notification of Creditors: Creditors are informed about the winding up and invited to submit their claims.
Sale of Assets: The company's assets are sold to generate cash to pay off creditors.
Payment of Debts: Creditors are paid according to a set order of priority, with secured creditors receiving payment before unsecured creditors.
Distribution to Shareholders: If there are any remaining funds after all debts are settled, they are distributed to shareholders according to their ownership stake.
Dissolution: Once all claims are settled and distributions made, the company is officially dissolved and removed from the business register.
Impact of Winding Up:
Employees: Employees will likely lose their jobs during the winding-up process.
Creditors: Creditors may not recover their debts in full, especially if the company is insolvent.
Shareholders: Shareholders may not receive any payout if the company's debts exceed its assets.
Winding up is a complex legal and financial process that can have significant consequences for all parties involved. It's important to seek professional legal and financial advice when considering winding up a company.
Responsibilities of the office bearers while registering multi-state cooperat...Finlaw Consultancy Pvt Ltd
Introduction-
The process of register multi-state cooperative society in India is governed by the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. This process requires the office bearers to undertake several crucial responsibilities to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. The key office bearers typically include the President, Secretary, and Treasurer, along with other elected members of the managing committee. Their responsibilities encompass administrative, legal, and financial duties essential for the successful registration and operation of the society.
Car Accident Injury Do I Have a Case....Knowyourright
Every year, thousands of Minnesotans are injured in car accidents. These injuries can be severe – even life-changing. Under Minnesota law, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
ALL EYES ON RAFAH BUT WHY Explain more.pdf46adnanshahzad
All eyes on Rafah: But why?. The Rafah border crossing, a crucial point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, often finds itself at the center of global attention. As we explore the significance of Rafah, we’ll uncover why all eyes are on Rafah and the complexities surrounding this pivotal region.
INTRODUCTION
What makes Rafah so significant that it captures global attention? The phrase ‘All eyes are on Rafah’ resonates not just with those in the region but with people worldwide who recognize its strategic, humanitarian, and political importance. In this guide, we will delve into the factors that make Rafah a focal point for international interest, examining its historical context, humanitarian challenges, and political dimensions.
Agrarian Reform Policies in the Philippines: a quiz
What is democracy
1. Democracy
Democracy in a nation (or organization) or the official representative of a government policy
where every citizen has the right to vote or equal elections. Democracy, law proposals,
formulated and equal participation of all citizens in making opportunity, which is either directly
or through elected representatives. Although the term is generally applied in a political state,
however, applies to other agencies or organizations, such as universities, labor unions, the
state-owned institutions.
There are two types of democracy:
Direct
Representative.
There are three systems of democracies:
o Parliamentary,
o Presidential,
o Mixed.
Parliamentary systems are distinct because of the power that they place in the. Hands of the
legislative branch. In such systems, the executive is split between.In a historical perspective it
seems useful to distinguish between three types of democracy which exist or existed as
2. institutionalized realities. Firstly, pre-modern or classical democracy like the ancient Athenian
democracy on the level of a city state or the “Landsgemeinde” that was born in the Middle
Ages in rural communities of the alpine region.
Secondly, modern democracy which comes in two types: representative democracy (RD) and
activating democracy (AD). The mainstream type of representative democracy is mainly
indirect: elected politicians decide on behalf of the people. The alternative type of activating
democracy combines representation with real and effective direct democracy, giving citizens
direct access to lawmaking. This classification emphasizes qualitative differences not only
between pre-modern and modern democracy but also between “representative democracy”
and “activating democracy”, which are considered by many as being merely gradually different.
Modern direct democracy (MDD) or a comprehensive set of initiative and referendum rights
give citizens the right to exercise popular sovereignty by voting on substantive issues.
Combining RD with direct democracy brings about a qualitative change in the relationship
between people (citizens) and elected politicians, and with it a new type of democracy. I call it
“activating democracy” (AD), basically for two reasons. First, adding well-designed and
comprehensive initiative and referendum rights (MDD) to electoral-representative democracy
(RD) turns the low energy representative system into a high energy democracy; with MDD a
dynamic and challenging element is introduced which activates RD and prevents it from
becoming ossified (see, for example, Luciani 1998). Second, by including people (citizens) in the
political process armed with their own decision-making power, AD activates citizens to
participate and take responsibility for their decisions – in contrast to the representative system,
which excludes people from the decision-making process and thereby promotes the
3. deactivating idea that making political decisions on substantive issues belongs to politicians
only and not to all the citizens alike.
In the Athenian democracy, political officials were chosen by lot (the democratic method), and
not through elections (the aristocratic method). Sortition gives everyone – rich and poor – an
equal chance to be selected for office. Elections confer advantages to people by birth, wealth
and education; they serve to elevate the superior into a position of power. They are at the very
heart of what nowadays is called “representative democracy”. A closer look reveals that our
constitutions establish the rule of the elected politicians (the few) over the people (the many).
Citizens are given very limited powers to influence politicians and government. Elections do not
empower citizens to make their own laws and constitution, direct democracy does. In other
words, “representative democracy” is not a democracy, but an elective and constitutional
oligarchy; this is not a matter of opinion, but a matter of fact set up by law and constitution. If
this argument is correct, we are left with only two types of really existing democracy: classical
democracy and activating democracy or pre-modern and modern democracy.
In AD citizens and politicians are interconnected and interdependent in a fundamentally
different way and their relationship gains a new quality. The elected politicians, no more able to
monopolize the power to make political decisions, have to share this power with the
citizens.Thanks to their rights to initiative and referendum, citizens have access to political
decision-making and to the making of the political agenda. They have the right to make laws
and to constantly renew laws and the constitution; therefore, institutional change is possible
without crisis or calamity. They regularly have opportunities to really act as politicians and to
become what Max Weber called “occasional politicians”. In this type of democracy people are
encouraged to participate, they have the right and opportunities to become actively involved in
political decision-making and this not just on rare occasions but on a regular basis. Hence the
name “activating democracy”.
The French revolution opened a rift between the modern and the premodern world. It gave us
new eyes, it changed our imagination, it catapulted democracy on the agenda of history and
4. made it a dominant idea. The traditional relationship between ruler and ruled is inverted. In the
new image of society power flows bottom-up, and this image is going to subvert the old one
Democracy and Development
Understanding the link between democracy and development could be crucial for policy-
making at the national and international level. In addition to giving citizens more political
freedoms, democracies are on average less likely to be at war with each other than
dictatorships
The relationshipbetweendemocracyanddevelopmenthasproducedample debate, research, and even
puzzlement.Thisarticle exploresthe actual mechanismsbywhichdemocracyaffectsgrowth,in order to
identifyimportantinfluencesaswell ascountervailingeffects. Democracy’s advantages revolve around
itsabilitytoimprove the certaintyandpredictabilityof institutionsthatestablish the framework for the
business environment
where power flows top-down. No longer should we look at society through the eyes of a
sovereign prince to whom the subjects owe obedience. Instead we can imagine a society of free
and equal individuals who have the right to make their own laws and constitution. This is called
popular sovereignty. People and their rights come before the state, and it is the duty of the
state to defend these rights which belong to every individual by nature.
The 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (see Articles 1 and 2) is an
expression for the new relationship between state and citizens. Article 6 states that popular
sovereignty is exercised both ways, by the citizens themselves and by their representatives;
accordingly direct and indirect democracy are compatible.
Democracy Good For Economic Development
Democracy Good for Political Development
5. Democracy Good for Social Development
Democracy Is Good for Business Development: Recent diplomatic breakthroughs involving
Iran and Cuba could pave the way for major investment by U.S. companies. But despite the
excitement generated when an isolated and repressive regime begins to open up its market, an
open political system would be much better for business.
Stable, transparent governments built on respect for human rights and the rule of law tend to
foster environments that are conducive to the establishment and unfettered operation of
private enterprises. This is clearly illustrated in the World Bank’s “Doing business”survey and
“Freedom House’s “Freedom in the world” report: On average, countries that perform well in
one assessment also excel in the other.
Publised on report Sayes:
Democracy in Bangladesh: Prospects and Problem
In Bangladesh appeal for democratic values has always been great. Democratic ideals have
always inspired the people of Bangladesh and democratic political system has been their
cherished goal. But unfortunately they have not yet had the cherished goal achieved, not to
speak of its full flowering in the society.
Liberal democracy functions in the West mainly on two fundamental assumptions. First, the
authority the government exercises is a trust, exercised on behalf of the society, in a manner
approved by it. It implies that there is a consensus in the society in regard to the nature of its
political authority, nature of those who exercise it, mode of its application and so on. Second, it
is law that safeguards the interests of all classes of people, and law is obeyed (even if it is a bad
law) until it is changed. Only the representatives of people are entitled to make or change a
law. In the environment of liberal democracy it is the force of argument and not the argument
offered that reigns and a spirit of compromise, not of confrontation, prevails in the society.
Liberal democracy has succeeded principally because of two reasons. First, the social terrain,
which is the fountain of democratic ethos, is marked more by egalitarianism than oppressive
hierarchy. Second, economic gains of the society, which constitute the lifeblood of happiness
for all classes of people, are distributed in such a fashion that every group or class is assured of
a minimum level of living. The key to success of this system lies in the willingness of those with
grievances to submit to law and seek a remedy through orderly discussion. The conditions for
6. the success of democracy, from that standpoint, are related more to social norms than to
political activities and institutional support. In fact democracy emerged in the West as a social
system and when it attained a workable form, then it turned into a political arrangement.
In Bangladesh democracy has been imposed on a highly inegalitarian society, marked by all
kinds of discriminations and inequities, where social ethos is yet to be democratic. Political
prudence demands therefore a highly creative and dynamic political leadership which can
prepare a fertile ground for the luxuriant growth of democratic values. The ruling elite in
Bangladesh have however not yet been prepared for this crucial role. Most often the gems of
democratic values have been grossly ignored by them. They have treated political authority not
as a trust but as a source of limitless privileges and opportunities. They have abused and
handled it without any accountability. Once they assume political power, they try to perpetuate
it by means, fair or foul. Those who oppose the incumbents and try to be on the saddle of
power do not also hesitate to adopt any means, right or wrong. This has been the practice in
Bangladesh since its birth and every political party during the last four decades has been found
to indulge in such extravaganza while wielding state power, most often violating democratic
norms and constitutional practices.
Democracy has been successful in the west not only because the citizens are politically
conscious but manly because the political leaders are democratically oriented and committed
to constitutionalism. For the effective working of democratic system in Bangladesh political
leaders must realise the subtleties of the system, go extra miles, take additional responsibilities,
develop sound judgement, generate positive synergy, achieve brilliance and must be soaked
with democratic ethos. In this era of knowledge societies there are no shortcuts. The political
leaders have to be properly dressed up for handling these problems. They have to learn a lot
and unlearn a lot more. They have to raise themselves much above the petty foibles of
partisanship, narrow interests of groups and parties and look to the sky for being useful to the
people, whose hopes and aspirations they are supposed to represent and realise. The general
people of Bangladesh, who have always been in the forefront of democratic movements, look
for bright sunny days and a better future, and much of all that depends on the creative role of
the political leaders. Democracy implies a political system marked not only by free and fair
elections, but also by the rule of law, a separation of powers and protection of basic liberties of
speech, assembly, religion and property. Historically, two streams of philosophical tradition
have made the soil fertile for the growth and development of democracy as a system of
governance. It has thus two faces. It is liberal because it draws on the philosophical strain of the
Greek scholastics, emphasising individual liberty and popular involvement. It is constitutional
because it rests on the Roman tradition emphasising the rule of law and protection of basic
human rights. These two philosophical strains, fused together with innate human cravings for
self-fulfilment, have brought forth, the ideal of self-rule. And ‘self-rule’ has become the
cherished goal for many nations, who began to put hands on both the traditions with varying
degrees of emphasis.
7. Britain, which was “in some ways the most democratic European nation,” became
constitutional and election-oriented all at the same time. It began to adopt constitutional
liberalism by emphasising the rule of law, protection of basic human rights, and separation of
powers and so on. Elections were held, but franchise rights were limited. In 1830 only 2 per
cent of the British population voted for the House of Commons. It rose to 7% after 1867 and
40% in the 1880s. Britain became fully-fledged elective democracy only since the 1930s. Other
European nations, especially the Scandinavian countries, imitated Britain in this area and
became fully-fledged democracies simultaneously through the golden gates of constitutional
liberalism and elections.
In the post-colonial countries like ours the political elite however wanted to gatecrash the
democratic world through the iron gate of election, ignoring the tenets of constitutional
liberalism. But in most cases they fumbled, faltered and ultimately failed because of heavy
strains at the societal level, arising out of imbalance between rights and responsibilities,
demands and legal norms, order and violence, expectation and performance. Since elections
have turned out to be the summumbonum, a win or loss becomes the moot point for the
political elite. If the election becomes free, fair and credible they feel contented. Then they cry
hoarse and proclaim that at long last they have got it. Then they enjoy the glory of democratic
aura. They never care to realise that it’s practically half-done. They never think that they have
to go miles for getting that charmed goose which may lay golden eggs of constitutional
democracy. They have to opt for the rule of law instead of rule of persons. They have to go for
institutionalising the processes of decision-making at all levels in the system. They are to
concentrate on protecting the rights of the people, especially those of free speech, assembly,
religion, property. For safeguarding these rights they have to go for a balanced system of
governance with proper checks and balance in the polity. Moreover, the political elite
themselves must be accountable to the populace and ensure accountability of all state
functionaries for their actions and policies. They have to see that their policies are transparent.
They are to make all the citizens participant citizens. This is how the democratic dispensation all
over the democratic world has been conceived of. In Bangladesh, it was nothing more than
panoply of power proposition, and the people, for all that, are constantly trampled on and
grounded under the cruel feet of democratic juggernaut.
In Bangladesh, the institutional framework for democratic order has already been built, but no
heart is heard ticking. No blood is circulating through these skeletal structures. Instead of giving
lifeblood to democratic values, these structures have become the abiding seats of personalized
power. Election only accords recognition to a kind of autocratic orientation. These must change.
It has been evident on many occasions that Bangladesh has an innate propensity for democratic
order. It started its political journey with the Westminster-type parliamentary democracy since
1972. It could not sustain it for long, however. Slowly but steadily it degenerated into an
authoritarian system in the mid-1970s, and became locked up in a one-party BKSAL monolith. It
was followed by a period of uncertainty. A series of coup and counter-coup rocked the polity
and Bangladesh had to groan under the heavy pressure of martial law for quite some time till
the major political parties of the country fought successfully for the restoration of democracy
and succeeded in early 1990s. The parliamentary system of government was finally re-
8. introduced in 1991. Many observers expected that democratic order would at last stabilise in
Bangladesh. That was not to be, unfortunately.
Democratic culture, which helps build consensus among the politically relevant social sectors
including the political parties, has not yet got off the ground. Tolerance among the political
activists has remained conspicuous by its absence. The consensual approach involving mutual
give and take, being respectful to one another’s views and the overriding concern of the
majority party to work together with the minor ones has yet to be effective. The party in power
has always ignored the opposition and opposition goes on opposing anything and everything
the party in power proposes. Politics, in consequence, has turned out to be confrontational and
the social forces divided and fragmented, thus making it very difficult for any government to
build consensus. When politics becomes confrontational, partisanship becomes intense. That
leads to immunity to the party followers even for their worst excesses and corrupt practices,
and vengeance to the opponents. Since the JatiyaSangsad has failed to absorb the demands of
the opposition political parties, politics comes down to the stormy streets in the form of
processions and demonstrations. Occasional hartals keep shops, work centres, business houses,
offices and educational institutions closed, thus affecting law and order in the society seriously.
Politics gets transformed into power politics and democratic values get dissipated.
Elections are held, though not regularly in all cases, and quite often these are rigged. The
political leaders, instead of competing for people’s votes, try either to purchase them with their
black money or cajole them to vote for them through questionable means. In some cases they
use their muscle power, often with hired goons, to force the recalcitrant voters either to
abstain from voting or to vote for them, for getting themselves elected. They take election as
the veritable gateway to political power and win they must, by means fair or foul. If they win,
everything is fine. When they lose, they go on discovering conspiracies all around, as if the
whole world were busy conspiring to bring about their defeat. Then they start campaigning
about rigging or vote-robbery, whether subtle or blatant, even if an angel were in charge of the
whole electoral exercise. In fact the political leaders in our country do not trust the people nor
do they trust themselves. These are the background conditions of the Non-Party Caretaker
Government, the unique political creature in our history, brought forth through the Thirteenth
Constitutional Amendment Act, and in essence this reflects more than anything else a kind of
no-confidence of the political leaders against the political leaders themselves.
In sum, the future of democratic order is not bleak in Bangladesh. The people by and large love
it and they are prepared to fight for it as they did in the past. Some such essentials as the
freedom of press, a vibrant civil society, and independence of judiciary are gaining ground day
by day. The constitutional bodies of the country have been re-formed and reconstituted. The
interregnum i.e. 28 October 2006 to December 2008 is most likely to be an educative period for
most of the political leaders and politically relevant sectors of the society. The environment for
the growth and development of democratic system, both national and international, has
become more propitious than ever before. At this point of time the destiny of democratic
Bangladesh largely depends on the positive attitude of the two groups of role players, i.e. the
BNP-led joteand Awami League-led mahajote. We only wait with our fingers crossed.
The writer is an eminent educationist of the country
9. Is Democracy Obstacle to Democracy?
Main Anylisis and My view:
Development can be defined as organized growth associated with the desired change in
attitude, institutions, and conditions of production and living standard of people. It ensures the
availability of basic life sustaining goods, creates more jobs, provides better education, health
and security, uplift the social and cultural conditions and restores self-respect and humanistic
values. By democracy we mean legitimate government originating from freely given consent of
the citizens, existence of competitive political parties in which the majority respects the rights
of minorities, access to alternative sources of information, freedom of association and active
involvement of institutions which limit the power of the government and ensure accountability.
In democracy political leaders become accountable to the citizens through the electoral
channel at specified points in time; state institutions and employees are accountable to some
other specified state institutions by law, rules and regulations and finally the state is
accountable through ongoing watchdog functions of civic associations, NGOs and independent
mass media. The scale of democracy in a country is measured by a set of political
characteristics: such as the manner in which political leaders are selected, the degree of
freedom of assembly and mass media, the extent of political representation and suffrage, the
existence of political parties that are based on political and social ideologies rather than on
religion or ethnicity, the manner of functioning of the judicial system, reasonable expectation of
the rotation of power and the means of achieving it.
Development and democracy have numerous channels of association. Many of the socio-
economic conditions necessary for development overlap with those that are also required for
the evolution of democracy. First, for economic development, the sufficient growth of a
domestic professional middle class is needed to increase aggregate demand of an economy. It
also lessens overall domestic inequality by bridging the gaps between vast degree of wealth on
the one hand, and widespread abject poverty, on the other. The growth of educated middle
class permits informed political choices, which helps establish participatory democracy in a
country. Second, both the quantity and quality of education enable an agrarian economy to
transform into one that is industrial. This transition is essential to the process of economic
development. Increasing levels of literacy permit wide exposure to multiple types of mass
communication and has the potential to generate an informed community which is essential for
democracy. Third, the process of urbanization has impact on both economic and political
development. Urbanization reduces the cost of industrialization and increases political
awareness. But it enhances economic and social dualism by raising social and political tensions
and impedes the rise of democracy. Finally, shifting economic development towards open
development strategies politically generates a higher degree of exposure to developed-country
political ideologies, especially through the spread of mass media and internet. The
internalization of the new political norms by the middle class can lead to the articulation of
demands for greater domestic democracy. It may lead to anti-government sentiments that take
the form of anti-government demonstrations and hence political instability.
Irma Adelman and Morris in their study of 1960 and 1990 discussed the factors behind the
10. association between democracy and developments. They found that, during the 1960s, in the
least developed countries (mainly Sub-Saharan Africa) the statistical relationship between the
rate of growth of per capita GNP and democracy was quite weak and negative. Countries with
more autocratic, more repressive regimes had more economic growth. By the 1990s, the mild
indication that less democracy was associated with faster economic growth has been replaced
by an equally mild indication that greater democracy is associated with more rapid growth. The
study also found close association between the strength of leadership commitment to
economic development and the rate of economic growth. The Adelman-Morris statistical
results are consistent with those of other empirical studies by Alesina (1997) and Barro (1991,
1997). Alisena found small correlation between indicators of democracy and growth, whereas,
Barro found large correlations between rates of growth of per capita GNP and indicators of
democracy. Authors believe that higher levels of social and institutional development are
essential to the attainment of both greater democracy and higher levels of economic
development. All the developed countries in the world are matured democracies and most of
them are located in Europe and North America. However, experience of democracy in Asia is
variable. Some sort of benevolent authoritarianism with priority based economic development
worked better for the development of South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. However,
South Korea is a matured democracy today.
Bangladesh after its independence in 1971 had passed through various directions like one
party system, military rule, autocracy, democracy etc. Our average GDP growth rate was only
1.2 per cent between 1975 and1988 under the military and autocratic regimes (World Bank
data). After 1991 in democratic regime two main political parties, alternately won the elections
and formed governments. Smaller parties also contested and have joined the major parties in
forming coalition governments. The growth rate increased to more than 5 per cent in the
decade after 2000. Democratic environment boosted our economic growth and enhanced the
ability of attaining international obligations like MDGs. We had robust GDP growth of 3.3 per
11. cent between 1991 and 2003 and more than 5 per cent average annual growth onwards from
2005 (World Bank data). The per capita GNI has been rising steadily and Bangladesh has already
crossed the threshold level to become a low middle-income country. Agriculture, apparel, small
and medium enterprises and the service sectors are playing major role in the development
process.
Our past experience tells that a weaker democracy eventually leads to the weakening of checks
and balances between the organs of the state, creating a favourable environment for lack of
transparency, accountability, bad governance and widespread corruption. Within such an
environment, even if larger steps by the state are taken to accelerate development, negative
externalities will damage the efforts of the government, reduce effectiveness of the measures
taken and decrease returns from the investments made. Investment scenario continues to
remain less than expected level due to uncertainty and apprehensions about the reappearance
of political violence. Corruption is a burden on development and it raises the cost of
development, thus undermining the prospect of future and further development. This vicious
cycle should be stopped to accelerate the pace of development and to take advantage of our
regional and global position. Bangladesh is developing and further progress is beyond doubt.
But we are going through a transition period in terms of economic and political
transformations. Absence of democratic political culture within the political parties is a negative
side of our political transformation. Corruption and politicization of civil-military bureaucracy is
putting barriers in front of our path towards progress. Civil society advocacy and observations
are not welcomed mostly. But on the brighter side we have a growing middle class, vibrant
male female workforce, and free print/electronic media that can contribute largely to the
establishment of an inclusive democracy within society. We need to bear in mind that
democracy alone may not be sufficient to ensure economic development rather good
governance and rule of law will also be needed. A smoothly functioning democracy with sound
governance ensured by strong state institutions can secure all-round development. The spirit of
our liberation war is adequately captured in the four principles which have guided our
constitution --- Democracy, Nationalism, Secularism and Social justice ---have to be protected
by any means. Those who try to justify by telling that there is a trade-off between democracy
and development may end up with neither.my point said that either Bangladesh have no
Democracy and the development in our country are rising day by day .Now Bangladesh has
democracy according to the Constitution. And the government want to obeythe rule of
constitution and Development of the nation is good position before the past we all know. I
think Democracy is not obstacle to development