Foundational challenge of making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government. Bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.
Challenge of expansion - applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Ensuring g reater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation, inclusion of women and minority groups, etc., Most countries including India and other democracies like the US face this challenge.
Challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy. This challenge takes different meanings and paths in different parts of the world. In general terms, it usually means strengthening those institutions
that help people's participation and control. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision.
Devising ways and means for political reforms in India:
(a) Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. But legal-constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.
(b) Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes the results may be counter-productive. The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. The Right to Information Act is a good example of a law that empowers the people to find out what is happening in government and act as watchdogs of democracy. Such a law helps to control corruption and supplements the existing laws that banned corruption and imposed strict penalties.
(c) Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. The main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.
(d) Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how. Measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens' organisations and the media are likely to succeed.
Challenge of expansion - applying the basic principle of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions. Ensuring g reater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all the units of the federation, inclusion of women and minority groups, etc., Most countries including India and other democracies like the US face this challenge.
Challenge of deepening of democracy is faced by every democracy in one form or another. This involves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy. This challenge takes different meanings and paths in different parts of the world. In general terms, it usually means strengthening those institutions
that help people's participation and control. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision.
Devising ways and means for political reforms in India:
(a) Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and encourage good ones. But legal-constitutional changes by themselves cannot overcome challenges to democracy. Democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by political activists, parties, movements and politically conscious citizens.
(b) Any legal change must carefully look at what results it will have on politics. Sometimes the results may be counter-productive. The best laws are those which empower people to carry out democratic reforms. The Right to Information Act is a good example of a law that empowers the people to find out what is happening in government and act as watchdogs of democracy. Such a law helps to control corruption and supplements the existing laws that banned corruption and imposed strict penalties.
(c) Democratic reforms are to be brought about principally through political practice. The main focus of political reforms should be on ways to strengthen democratic practice. The most important concern should be to increase and improve the quality of political participation by ordinary citizens.
(d) Any proposal for political reforms should think not only about what is a good solution but also about who will implement it and how. Measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens' organisations and the media are likely to succeed.
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