Litmus test of democracy
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Holding periodic elections, calling into sessions a parliament and related exercises, are important to prove that a polity is getting ruled democratically. But if it could be so easy to prove that a country is being ruled democratically from only the above, then true democrats would not be shouting all the time for real democratic practices. As it is, the practice of democracy leaves a lot desired, apart from only holding elections and forming an elected government.
There is a notion that democracy is all about rule by the majority. But if one talks to someone knowledgeable in any one of the mature and respected democracies in the world, he or she would say that the test of how deep rooted democratic values are in a country involves showing how well the ruling party or government there treats the opposition and the political minorities.
The stronger and better working a democracy, the more is found in it the practice of tolerance and careful protection of the rights and freedoms of the non- dominant groups. In fact, such unhindered rights allowed to political minorities are considered to be the hallmarks of a true democracy.
The ruling party in Bangladesh must not lose sight of the fact that extreme authoritarian behaviour and the consequences thereof in the form of political instability and violence, can only help the demise of even a pretentious democratic order and such a development does nobody any good.
Faridul Islam
Rampura, Dhaka.
There is a notion that democracy is all about rule by the majority. But if one talks to someone knowledgeable in any one of the mature and respected democracies in the world, he or she would say that the test of how deep rooted democratic values are in a country involves showing how well the ruling party or government there treats the opposition and the political minorities.
The stronger and better working a democracy, the more is found in it the practice of tolerance and careful protection of the rights and freedoms of the non- dominant groups. In fact, such unhindered rights allowed to political minorities are considered to be the hallmarks of a true democracy.
The ruling party in Bangladesh must not lose sight of the fact that extreme authoritarian behaviour and the consequences thereof in the form of political instability and violence, can only help the demise of even a pretentious democratic order and such a development does nobody any good.
Faridul Islam
Rampura, Dhaka.