Often the failure of democracy in developing countries is blamed on corrupt politicians and some sort of lack of democratic fervor among common people. But that is not quite so. Democracy as a model of governance has some flaws and limitations that need deeper understanding. The book challenges Democracy as the right political system in the developing world with a view to finding transient models that should work in reality, and not just in theory.
The author is an Indian woman, born and brought up in India. She has also spent a few years living in China thus enabling her to understand the difference between an autocracy and democracy in terms of what it translates to for the life of common people.While Western developed world seems to be a really successful model centered around democracy as the cherished ideal and no doubt presents a good system to follow, the history has different lessons. Two to three centuries back when these countries were underdeveloped, democracy was not particularly successful there and there was general cynicism about it. Given to apprehensions about granting voting rights to general populace, the Western countries followed some sort of Republican models of restrictive freedoms democracy and the books explores this era of history in depth.Without any a priori theories, the author has studied the history of about 150 countries in depth and presented some analysis and conclusions. The book elucidates the wide gap between Democracy as a theory and as in practice. The solution to problems in the developing world has less to do with any social reforms or the rhetorical corrupt politicians and more with a cogent and practical approach to statecraft. The author believes that Democracy is a but a means and not the end and may not be the right model for developing countries. Its failures are not necessarily related to its implementation or execution and rather systemic. The book Democracy on Trial, All Rise! presents pointers to better governance in the developing world.
Author(s): Anuradha Kataria
Edition: ebook
Publisher: Algora Publishing
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 200
Contents
Chapter 1. Democracy Amidst Poverty: The Forbidden Fruit
Africa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo—the Most Violent Place on Planet Earth
Nigeria—Poor and Divided
Kenya—Riches to Rags
South Africa—What Went Wrong?
Others—The Ones that Got Away
The Middle East
Iraq—Uphill Democracy
Iran—Disputed Democracy
South Asia
India—A Nation in Denial
Western Europe
The United Kingdom—The Pioneer
The French Revolution—A Mirage
Chapter 2. Democracy Derails Development: How and Why?
The Course of Democracy and Development in the West
Why Industrialize, Why Not Stay Agrarian and Develop?
What Role Does Democracy play in the Development Process?
Democracy and Poverty Alleviation—The Alternatives
Chapter 3. Other Systems: Lessons Yet Unlearnt
Aristocracy / Monarchy
Afghanistan
Military Rule
Pakistan
Myanmar
Single Party Rule
Colombia
Spain
China
Oligarch Republics
Ancient Greece
Europe
The UK
The US
Chapter 4. Wooing the Voters: Rules of the Game
Instant Gratification—Rule by Freebies
India—The Tamil Nadu TV scheme
Cash and Other Bribes
Sweden
Use of Religion—How Faith Seals and Steals the Ballot
The United States
Turkey
Algeria
Other Divisive Factors
India—Vote Your Caste
Iraq
The Anti-Something Campaign
Other Lesser Evils
Democratic Dynasties—By Choice
Choice of Leaders—The X Factor
Smear Campaigns, Rumors, Horse Trading, et al.
Voter Ignorance—Last but Not Least
Chapter 5. Fundamentalism: Radical by Choice
South Africa: Zulu–Zuma Retrogression
Rwanda—War Over, Lesson not Learnt
Religious Fundamentalism
Egypt—Steadfast Secularism
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Chapter 6. Secession — The Right to Self Determination or National Disintegration?
Yugoslavia—Democratic Disintegration
Czech and Slovakia—The “Velvet Divorce”
Germany—Strength in Unity
Indonesia—Saved from Following Yugoslavia
The UN Charter: The Right to Self Determination
Chapter 7. Coalition Governments: Too Many Cooks
Italy—Immobilismo
Belgium Blues—“Velvet Divorce” On its Mind
Denmark—“Green” and Happy
Germany—The Quiet Pioneer
Additional Considerations regarding Coalition Governments
Environmental Movement and Coalitions
Minimum Threshold—Relevance
Positive Vote of Confidence
Factionalism—The Banal Problem
Chapter 8. Workaday Freedom: Differential Freedom Needs
Basic Liberty—The Freedom to Exist
Freedom from Poverty—and Helplessness
Higher Order Needs—Freedom of Expression
Measures of Freedom
Chapter 9. The Verdict: Development or Democracy?
Beginning with the End—Governance Goals
Development Goals—Doing It the Hard Way
War-Torn Nations—Emergency Call
The Democratic “Ruined” Republic of Congo
Iraq—Destiny Slipping, Yet Again
Afghanistan and Pakistan
The Misunderstood Exiles
Myanmar
Vietnam—Truth is Mightier than the Sword
Deteriorating yet Complacent—Most Developing World Democracies
Nigeria—The Borderline Nation
Cameroon—A Sleepy State
Kenya
India—The Looming Crisis
India—A Way Forward
Legislating the Flaws Away—Minimal Essential Changes
USSR to Russia—the Tumultuous Journey
China—The Last Word
Summing Up
Chapter 10. The Decree: What is Good Governance?
Defining the “End”—Measures of Good Governance
Additional Source Notes
Author’s Note
