Ribiang: But why do we need to work on a defi-nition? The other day you quoted Abraham Lin-coln to us: “Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people”. We in Meghalaya always ruled ourselves. That is ac-cepted by everyone. Why do we need to change that?

Merry: Ma’am, so basically what you are saying is that there is no shortcut to our thinking about the matter ourselves. We have to think about its meaning and evolve a definition.

Democracy is a form of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. 

This is a useful starting point. Used to distinguish obvious non- democracies like military coup. Its a reminder that democracy is people’s rule. But not government that holds an election a democracy.

1st feature
In a democracy the final decision-making power must rest with those elected by the people.  

Recall the preamble We the people of India having solemnly resolved … democratic..

2nd feature
A democracy must be based on a free and fair election where those currently in power have a fair chance of losing. 

The elections must offer a real choice between political alternatives.

3rd feature
In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote must have one value. 

Fundamental principle of political equality.

4th feature
A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens’ rights. 

It has to respect some basic rules. In particular it has to respect some guarantees to the minorities.

Pakistan: 1999- 2008- non democratic

1 of the newest democracies since 2008, with the first democratic elections held in 2013 to complete a 5-year term for the first time in its political history.

In August 2002 he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the Constitution of Pakistan. According to this Order, the President can dismiss the national and provincial assemblies

1930, Mexico holds elections after every six years to elect its President.

• PRI won every election till 2000.
• The PRI was known to use many dirty tricks to win electionsPRI won every election till 2000.
• All those who were employed in government offices had to attend its party meetings.
• Teachers of government schools used to force parents to vote for the PRI.
• Media largely ignored the activities of opposition political parties except to criticise them.
• Sometimes the polling booths were shifted.

Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
Democracy consists of choosing your dictators after they’ve told you what you think it is you want to hear.
Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary
Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.
All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

There are many instances of denial of equal right to vote.

In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote.
Estonia has made its citizenship rules in such a way that people belonging to Russian minority find it difficult to get the right to vote.
In Fiji, the electoral system is such that the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

They should be free to think, to have opinions, to express these in public, to form associations, to protest and take other political actions. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of law.

China

• The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country.
• A candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party.
• Government is always formed by the Communist Party

Zimbabwe attained independence from White minority rule in 1980.

• Since then the country has been ruled by ZANU-PF, the party that led the freedom struggle. Its leader,
• Robert Mugabe = leader of ZANU-PF
• President Mugabe is popular but also uses unfair practices in election
• There is a law that limits the right to criticise the President.
• The government has ignored some court judgments that went against it and has pressurised judges.

Jeni: Yes, it actually is a wrong path. What has democracy brought to our country? More than half a century of democracy and there is so much poverty in the country.

Ribiang: But what has democracy got to do with it? Do we have poverty because we are democratic or do we have poverty despite being a democracy?

Hui: ….You are comparing a real democracy with an ideal dictatorship. We should compare an ideal with an ideal, the real with the real….

Democracy is better than any other form of government in responding to the needs of the people.

Democracy is based on consultation and discussion.

People are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves.

Democracy is better than other forms of government because it allows us to correct its own mistakes.

Democracy cannot get us everything and is not the solution to all problems. But it is clearly better than any other alternative that we know. It offers better chances of a good decision, it is likely to respect people’s own wishes and allows different kinds of people to live together. Even when it fails to do some of these things, it allows a way of correcting its mistakes and offers more dignity to all citizens.

It must aim to become:
“True democracy will come to this country only when no one goes hungry to bed.”
“In a democracy every citizen must be able to play equal role in decision making. For this you don’t need just an equal right to vote. Every citizen needs to have equal information, basic education, equal resources and a lot of commitment.”

If we take these ideals seriously, then no country in the world is a democracy.

It enables us to judge an existing democracy and identify its weaknesses. It helps us to distinguish between a minimal democracy and a good democracy.