Democracy and Governance

I. introduction

From 19^th century several political science have showed their interest in politics and government. They were more interested in the ways of selection, approval and removal of government. They were also interested in how fragments of political parties affect the effectiveness and stability of the government. Their interest was because at that time it was believed that Government have governance power under their control. From 1990 several social and political scientists have switched their interest from government to governance.

After 1990 the word governance was raised by scholars by their different meanings. In 1996 one of the scholars named Rhodes³ said that the word governance is associated with 6 different meanings i.e. self organising networks, socio-cybernetic systems, good governance, the new public management, corporate governance and the minimal state.

Based on research we tried to show the relationship between democracy and governance by dividing article into several parts. In the first part the word democracy and its types has been defined. In the second part governance and the conditions for good governance is covered. In the third part the article discuss about democracy, governance and political parties. The fourth part deals with the complete knowledge of democratic governance.

II. Democracy

The word Democracy is derived from two Greek words, “demos” which means 'the community' and “kratos” that means ' superior power' i.e. the representatives elected as government by the people. In other words, it is a government which is ruled by its citizens. In democracy there are some basic rights that are internationally recognised. These rights are guaranteed to people and cannot be taken by government in any way.

Seeing the modern world, democracy has developed from French and American Revolution. We can call political system as democratic system if the government is removed by the majority decision of people i.e. with open and fair elections. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights expressed that values of democracy includes “the authority of government to be elected by will of people” mentioned under Article 21 of the Constitution and made it necessary that “ human rights shall be protected by rule of law” mentioned under Preamble.

Types:

The different types⁴ of Government are:

1. Direct Democracy: It is a type of democracy where citizens give vote to the policy directly without any interference of houses of parliament or representatives. If the Government wish to pass any policy or law, it goes to citizens; they give their vote on the issue and decide the law for their country. For example, Switzerland has direct democracy since ancient.

2. Representative Democracy: It is an indirect democracy where citizens vote for person who will represent them in the house of parliament. This is the most common democracy across the nation. This democracy not only protects the rights of majority of the State but also protect the right of minority too. Minorities can also raise their grievances by electing qualified representative.

3. Presidential Democracy: In this democracy the President of State is given certain amount of power greater than the power of Government. The president is elected by people of the States directly or indirectly. In this the head of government is also the head of the state. Nations like Argentina and USA have presidential democracy.

4. Parliamentary Democracy: In this democracy, the legislature is given more power. The executive branch of Government gets its democratic legitimacy or power from legislature. The Parliament is given right to choose or remove Prime Minister (head of the government). The president is different from Parliament and both of different powers. Countries like India and UK have this democracy.

5. Authoritarian Democracy: In this democracy the elites are part of Parliament. The people of the State can vote their chosen representative. Countries like Russia and Hong Kong have this democracy.

6. Participatory democracy: This democracy is the opposite of Authoritarian democracy. This democracy creates opportunities for people so that they can give their useful contributions to decision making process. It values discussion and deliberation instead of merely voting. Currently, no country follow this democracy although the social movements like Narmada bachao andolan, Bolivarian movement of Venizuela and International Occupy movement followed participatory democracy.

III. Governance

When we come to the definition of Governance different people have defined it based on their perspective and context. Webster’s Dictionary says that Governance is the act of exercising or governing authority. UNDP says that it is a system of institutions, values and policies through which society manage its political, social and economic affairs by communicating with and among the private sector, civil society and States. It is the set of practices and rules that provides limitations and incentives to organisations, firms and individuals.

European Commission Communication on Governance and Development defines Governance as the capability of State to serve its people. It is the process, rules, behaviours by which resources are handled, interests are segmented and powers are exercised by the authorities.

Asian Development Bank says that it is the process in which management of a country exercise power for economic and social development.

In general language, the process of implementing decision in decision-making making for betterment of the country is known as Governance. It is the process by which society manage itself to implement actions, agreement and decisions making mutual understandings. In system of every country, the government plays most important role in decision making which is influenced by others. Non- state heads such as civil society, trade unions, major landowners, tribal or religious leaders, military and community groups and financial institutions also play very important role.

To have good governance in country, the government should follow eight dimensions of good governance and they are as follows:

1. Participation: In this two political parties participatetogether and attend a rally or campaign and contact political or government officials for election purpose.

2. Rule of law: This deals with the independent judiciary to check the working of government according to Constitution.

3. Transparency: Citizens have free availability and accessibility of information. How a government can take away the important information away from people?

4. Responsiveness: This deals with the response of government to the needs of people. Steps taken by government to solve the matter of people are concerned under this.

5. Consensus oriented: Government and society are focused consensus building behaviour instead of conflict producing behaviour.

6. Equity and inclusiveness: All the members of society have support of each other for their survival. They all are treated equally to avoid conflict.

7. Effectiveness and efficiency: Government works in such way and performs such processes that it meets the wants of society effectively and efficiently.

8. Accountability: Government authorities are accountable to the civil society, private sector and public sector to meet their basic needs.

IV. Democracy, governance and political parties

Political parties play an important role in strengthening democracy and governance. Political Parties act as an intermediate between State and society. In 2001 Gunther and Diamond⁵ showed 7 different roles of political parties, such as social integration role, performing and sustaining governments, interest aggregation, represent various social groups, issue structuring, electoral mobilisation, and candidate nomination. They also act as mode of political recruitment and political employment, interest articulation, and political education. The main role of political parties in democracy and governance is to encouragecitizens to go to elections and contribute to the election procedure. Elections are very important in States because they provide the freedom to actively contribute in electing their representatives to citizens. Political parties structure the voting choice of people which is ensured byrecruitment.

But the function that political parties played is quite controversial in nature. At one side, there are several negative sentiments of people towards them. George Washington said that the political parties are spirits of revenge to the people. Political Parties are the most corrupt institutions in the world. They are the nests of corruption. They are involved in corruption in various ways such as by buying votes of people, accepting illegal donations of other parties and selling public decisions. They are the nests of corruption.

V. Democratic governance

The term 'democratic governance' is recently added to politics vocabulary. Democratic governance⁶ signifies that it is not either understood as Democracy as it is usually used in government form where peoples representative are elected by free and fair election procedure nor it is completely governance as one of the authority have task to enforce law and order. It is a situation in which the principle of justice, liberty and equity is concerned and government seeks identities of people, security and needs of its citizens.

It guarantees citizens, the decision making process by ensuring that democracy is present in every society. The characteristics of strong democracy are that there is accountability and transparency in both private and public sectors.

ESSENTIALS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

1. UNESCAP:Government is the importance person in governance. Other people involved in governance are based on the various levels of government. E.g. other people may involve the military, finance institutions political parties, religious leaders, research institutes, NGOs, cooperatives, peasant farmers, influential land lords etc. At national level, with above people several others like multinational corporations, international donors, lobbyists and media can also play an active role in promoting decision making process.

All people except military and the government are collectively referred as part of the “civil society”. In some countries, organised crime along with civil society people affects decision making especially at national level and in urban areas.In some States the decision making process is influenced by the local powerful families. This includes results in corrupt practices which further leads to corruption.

2. USAID:Democratic Governance deals with following things:

1. Respect to Human Rights and Fundamental rights of citizens so that they can live their life with dignity.

2. Women are treated equally with men in decision making process and in every aspect of Life.

3. No citizen is discriminated on the basis of gender, class, ethnicity, race etc.

4. Social and economic policies are made to meet the needs of people.

5. Social and economic policies are made to remove poverty and expand the choices of people.

6. Current policies reflect the needs and wants of future generations.

To achieve and promote democracy and governance, four areas needs to be strictly considered:

1. Enhance the Rule of law and respect Human Rights of people.

2. Strengthen Political processes and Genuine and Competitive elections.

3. Increase Politically active civil society

4. Develop more transparent and accountable governance.

3. Freedom House: Freedom is only possible in Democratic Political system where respect and belief for the women and minorities are given, association, freedom of speech and expression exists in the society, the rule of law prevails and government are accountable to their citizens. Freedom of society depends on the actions of men and women i.e. whether they commit the act in wrong way or right way.

VI. Role of international policies in the advanced women’s participation in good governance:

The following are the existing international instruments⁷ that facilitate active participation of women in good governance: -

1. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: In order to make sure that both the men and women equally can exercise all the political and civil rights that are set in the Covenant, the policy of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was accepted for the purpose of impression, approval and enrolment by the UN General Assembly (in 1966) and it came into action in 1976. The Covenant is monitored by the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights.

2. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women:

The purpose of this policy of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was taken into consideration by the UN General Assembly (in 1979) and came into action in 1981. This is also monitored by its committee under the control of the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights. It focuses on the removal of any kind of discrimination with the women irrespective either of her marital status,of human rights, or fundamental rights which becomes a hurdle in enjoyment of all the rights by the females.

3. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (31^st October, 2000):

This resolution aimed at the participation of women in planning (i.e., decision making), dispute resolution and restoration after the dispute. The Security Council reassured that women’s equal contribution and complete inclusion is required for maintaining safety and peace in order to avoid the disputes.

VII. Global aspect of democracy and governance: -

Democratic governance” gives an idea to the citizens of a country about the decision making. Its foremost motive is to serve in the interest of the public. The strength of good democratic governance in both the public as well as private sectors depends upon its clarity and reporting. The more participation in a governance process, much fairer and better will be the government policies.

The key institutions⁸ of democratic governance are as follows:

a) A system of representation constituting proper functional political groups and the concerned alliances.

b) An elective system that ensures unbound as well as impartial polls and worldwide ballot.

c) An equaliser system on the grounds of segregation of powers, along with self-sufficient legal and governmental branches.

d) A stimulating secular community, that is capable to supervise the public and private business and facilitate alternate ways of active political participation.

e) An unbound, distinct media.

f) Helpful control by the civilians over the army and rest of the defence groups.

The countries indulged in the peace processes, demand for democratisation, along with proper elections and span for transformation is addressed. Other elements consists the nature of political association, discretionary systems, matters of clarity and estrangement of powers.

Democracy cannot work out without the presence of good governance. Also, good governance requires worthwhile representative institutions for democratizing the society. The living standard of the public cannot be improved in a place where people do not take part in governance, absence of due respect to the human rights, poor communication of information, and especially where the civilian community and the tribunals are weak. Elections alone cannot lead to a democracy. In lieu of votes for the political parties, such parties should figure out their views and theories related to the democracy which they want to bring into action for the citizens of the country. The political parties must have a clear vision of the appropriate way and time for the application of the policies, by keeping in mind the aim of setting up a democratic society that assures rule of law, equal distribution of wealth, justice and right to speech.

Usually the Constitution of the concepts “democracy” and “good governance”, often depends on various sets of indicators because of which it becomes hard to make it certain whether these are concerned to any significant degree or not. Irrespective of the fact that the two concepts are based on completely different criteria, which hence is not clear that, in the discourse, “good governance” includes “democracy” as well. And therefore, only “democracy” is not sufficiently a cause of “good governance.”

VIII. Position⁹ of democratic governance in india:

• Development of a country like India democratically was a great challenge. Since, India was under the control of the British rulers for about 200 long years; its condition became bad as it became a country inhabited by those citizens who were helpless, uneducated, illiterate, multi linguistic with varying religious, social and cultural values and ethics. India being a prominent country for agriculture, never had sufficient capital, technology and workers so as to carry out the manufacturing activities before the British Period.
• Emerging challenges were required to be faced in order to assure primarily the political and secular rights, equity, to develop economically and remove poverty, to build up a sovereign state and indigenous government. Irrespective of the poor economic conditions and increasing risks, India has sustained as a democratic nation and still continues to be so.
• Even at present people belonging to distinct economic, social classes and communities may differ in their beliefs and opinions but most of them don’t believe in the socio-economic and religious variations. India has been targeting to become an optimistic as well as a vibrant nation. India always needed a government that works for the underprivileged people, however, there may arise conflicts based on the execution of certain public policies.
• The public views and orientations towards the problems of governance are due to the ideas of unbiasedness and economic supremacy. A person’s poor economic condition or poor lifestyle is not the only reason behind the economic backwardness of a country.
• A citizen’s learning and earnings have a straight connection with the satisfaction level of the working democracy. The earlier Indian democracy was unsuccessful to facilitate the general public with the basic requirements because of the lower income of most of the people.

ROLE OF DECENTRALIZATION INDIAN DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE:

Decentralization¹⁰ refers to the process of delegating powers to the chosen local level governments. Therefore, the local governments get the political authority and responsibilities, facilitated with more financial resources (either via transfers or higher tax authority) and sometimes even more responsibilities regarding the administration.

The process of “democratic decentralization” provides straight opportunities for the involvement of the public in governance by the transmission of functions and help of the State and the Centre to the selected representatives at the subordinate levels. Decentralization, visualised by the Constitution, is not just deputation. This indicates that the functions or the duties of the governance are given by the law itself to the lower level governments, which is supported by sufficient transfer of money grants and tariff handles and handed over to the staff members so that they would be have requisite resources to perform their responsibilities respectively.

PROJECTS¹¹ INITIATED BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN INDIA:

1. Supporting Democratic Electoral Management (September 2013 - December 2017): This promotes the reciprocation of command and experiences in the area of general election management and authority with the other progressing nations via the EC (Election Commission) of India.

2. Increasing Access to Justice for Marginalized People (September 2008 - December 2017):It was executed with the contribution of Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice and Government of India.This project emphasizes on providing the helpless poor, especially the women, the backward classes, communities and minorities access to justice by making strategies and initiatives that resolve the problems faced by them legally, socially, economically as well as on the political domains.

3. Strengthening Planning and Reporting for Human Development (October 2011 - December 2017):The initiation of this project was done with the involvement of the Planning Commission. It focuses on providing creative policy choices for resolving the social differences and continuous exclusion of some groups in India.

4. Strengthening Capacities for Decentralised Planning (2013-2017):In partnership with the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Ayog, this project focuses on demonstrating beneficial models of decentralized decision-making, to help different state governments in order to enhance their capacities for better performance and application of good practices.

5. Strengthening Capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (September 2013 - December 2017): This project was formulated for stronger functioning of the panchayats by much fairer application of the RGPSA (Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan at both the Central as well as the State levels. This scheme of the Government of India works on increasing the capabilities of the Gram Sabhas and Panchayats and also to allow democratic planning in the Panchayats.

6. Strengthening Public Administration and Governance (2013-2017): With the involvement of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Government of India, this project work focuses to impart creative solutions and best possible practices. Measures were taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public administration along with the governance with the support of global collaborations.

7. Strengthening Human Resource Management of Civil Services (2013-2017):With the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Government of India, targets on improving the capacities of the civil workers and making the environment much more effective and efficient towards the HR (Human Resource) management both at the Central and State level. It provides technical assistance to execute the application of recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission.

IX. Present Scenario: -

• This year of 2020 has been badly affected with the emergence of wide-spreading infectious disease due to the corona virus. The situations of poverty, unemployment, higher death rates, illness and homelessness can be seen clearly in each and every part of our country India.
• The crisis taking place due to COVID-19¹² (spread of corona virus) has totally now threatened the great success of India of rescuing and helping 271 million people out of the multi-dimensional poverty situation (somewhat, between the year 2006 and 2016) and further supporting the remaining nearly 300 million people who were constantly surviving in poverty.
• The vulnerable communities are overburdened both socially and economically due to the increased caring of the women, gender-based violence and the other family conflicts. The Government of India has taken certain measures to overcome this epidemic situation in the country, by facilitating care, treatment, economic reliefs and assure the accessibility of the required services and necessary things by utilising the relief package of about $22.5 billion.

X. Conclusion:

The electoral democracy of India allows all the citizens equally to cast a vote and choose the government within every five years, which is therefore a significant aspect of democracy. Around 900 million Indian people are possessing the eligibility to vote, which is the largest practice in democracy anywhere in the world.

A country like India with large international aspirations, it lacked an objective analysis of the performance of its government in terms of the policies related to the welfare of the citizens, economic progress as well as functioning of the public institutions. Later on, a framework with three attributes were made for the performance evaluation i.e,.data-driven operations of growth across a wider scale of scheme goals; growth against a comparable rival group of upcoming markets; and greater emphasis of the Indian government on technology as a policy driver, conventions against international technology standards laid down by the world’s most digitally strong governments.

The three broad areas that were taken into consideration globally for the evaluation of any nation’s policy performance were: welfare of its people; a vibrant economy; and proper working of its institutions. For the analysis of the performance of the ‘Digital 5’ (D5) countries[established in the year 2014] including Estonia, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, a global standard was used to capture the measures set by the technologically upgraded governments in the world.

In order to adapt a framework to the performance of Indian policies, India perpetuated the D5 as an international benchmark and created a new standard as well by using a comparable rival group including the five Emerging Market (EM5) countries: India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Mexico, and Poland. This regionally diverse group aimed at various stages of economic development as well as have grown much in terms of digital economies. Hence, these emerging markets or in other words there developing countries shifted from being the traditional economies (that depended on agriculture and exporting raw materials) to rapidly industrializing mixed economy. The Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Market Index (MSCI Index) has listed out 26 countries including India. As a whole, the stronger performance of India against the benchmarks is due to the emphasis on promotion of digital services as well as prioritization of a vigorous ICT (Information and Communication Technology) industry by the government.

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