Indispensable Democracy

The current situation in Iran reflects the ongoing governance crisis being faced by a number of countries in the region. Authoritarian rule is being challenged wherever there is lack of democracy, or a closed version of it. It may be recalled that British PM Winston Churchill had said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for every other kind.” This implies that, while nations must function democratically, it needs constant work for improvement as societies evolve. As such, merely having some form of voting to elect a government is not enough, it has to be fair and open for all to participate in.
If one looks at the crises that inflict nations in India’s neighbourhood, shortcomings can be seen of various kinds in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Sri Lanka has only recently emerged from severe crisis of confidence in the system. Pakistan has its most popular leader ensconced in jail, with the military as usual pulling the strings and undermining anything like a representative governance structure. Its response to the separatist movement in Balochistan can only be violent as the structures required for democratically meeting people’s aspirations are non-existent. The same goes for Bangladesh, which is teetering on the edge as it prepares to hold elections without the involvement of its largest political party. The representative nature of governments in Afghanistan and Iran is sketchy, to say the least, as any form of modern democracy is limited by theological constraints.
But everywhere people continue to resist. The lives that have been lost in Iran in recent days show the great chasm that exists between basic aspirations and restrictive governance based on ideology. Iranians are one only in that they wish to retain their sovereignty and national pride in the face of foreign pressure. But why should these be under challenge in the first place? Is it not because their system has thrown up poor quality leaders who can only rule through executions and repression? It is not as though there are not functional autocracies, even flourishing ones, such as China, which is run on pragmatic lines with ideology having been consigned to the dustbin a long time ago. It has become a wealthy nation, but is still not able to ‘afford’ democracy.
Democracy often seems chaotic but being inclusive it allows the individual the freedom to make personal choices. India is an example of this, which is why it can have sustainable relations with even Afghanistan and Iran, Russia and the US, respecting sovereignty and human rights. It is a difficult path but, as Churchill said, there is no alternative.