Democracy has become an inseparable aspect of governance in present-day political dispensation globally. However, authoritarian regimes, be they autocratic dictators, military juntas, or communist governments, ironically prefer to adopt democratic nomenclatures, such as Democratic People's Republic, People's Republic or Republic, despite their inherent lack of democratic principles. Democratic credentials signify people-oriented governance based on popular will. However, with the advent of the 21st century, the principle-based democratic exercise has been dwindling globally with the emergence of nationalist leaders and conservatism being their guiding factors.
With the onset of rising conservatism and far-rightism, elections and electoral roles have been increasingly constrained. While democratic governance should have been ruled by the majoritarian system, in reality, the roles are being exercised by the business tycoons and new elitists through the back door. It was because of the financial contribution they made to the political parties during and after the election for their political success in outmaneuvering the opposition and other contending parties. Politics is simply a battle for one class to advance its interests over another.
One of the fundamental characteristics of liberal democracy is periodic elections where it is perceived that the people are governed by their representatives through the majoritarian principle. However, present-day scenarios in the world have enormously created space to question whether it is being upheld. Not only is the principle of majority rule overlooked, but meritocracy is also disregarded in administration, hindering the placement of qualified individuals in appropriate positions. Consequently, democracy's core principles are being systematically undermined by partisan interests, while scandals and corruption repeatedly damage and obstruct its proper functioning.
In a recent example, in the Trump administration, USA, it is learned that the Department of Government Efficiency is headed by an unelected but richest person in the world Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Tesla, Inc. and owner, and executive chairman of X (formerly Twitter), etc., is running the administration, advising the government on policy formulation is against the principle of representation.
With the advent of the 21st century, the principle-based democratic exercise has been dwindling globally with the emergence of nationalist leaders and conservatism being their guiding factors.
The failure of capitalism, socialism, communism, democratic socialism or any form of governance has proven serious lapses and drawbacks in their fundamental character to deliver as envisaged by the respective philosophies. Liberal democracies are particularly affected, where governments elected by popular vote and majority rule are often manipulated by wealthy interests operating behind the scenes.
Rich individuals and big corporate houses are exerting undue influence on many policy decisions, thereby distorting democratic processes. In most countries, media outlets—electronic, print, and others—often labeled the fourth estate and a watchdog, are controlled by media tycoons or business elites who maintain overt or covert financial ties with the ruling party through campaign donations.
In a democracy, political powers and governance should be exercised by the people’s representatives based on the political ideology they hold and endorsed by the people through periodic elections. If democracy is the outcome of an abstract social contract, it is meant to maximize the people’s welfare and happiness. But because of the failures to meet the people’s expectations, discontent, and dissenters are rising among people. After the Covid and global financial slowdown, the trend of dissenters is rising everywhere. Expression of dislike, where the elections are held, the disenchanted voters have cast their ballots for change- mostly toward the far-rightists as seen in the USA or Germany. In a recently held election, the far-right AfD surged to a historic second place in Germany.
Seemingly the days of market liberalism are counted and the demise of capitalism is apparent. The threat to impose taxes at the will of the American President is probably an indication of the end of globalization or the WTO regime. Verbal salvos by Trump himself to slap tariffs on America’s neighbors, buying Greenland and forcefully annexing Canada as its 51st state suggests gloomy days ahead in the global arena. The recent remarks by the US president on Gaza to take over for its reconstruction is itself a turbulent message for world peace and tranquility in the Middle East. President is ratcheting up pressure on both Nato allies to increase defense expenditure on one side and pressing Ukraine to surrender its natural minerals under terms imposed by the USA in its favor in exchange for war support against Russia. It is to contemplate that the political turmoil in Europe is imminent.
In Nepal, the persistent political instability following the two general elections highlights the constitution's failure to provide a stable path forward, creating a vacuum that demands a new political discourse for change.
In Bangladesh, an elected government was displaced by religious fanatics through student agitation and mass protests. Indonesia is also facing a crisis from opposition-backed student protests. Across the world’s advanced democracies, basic liberal and democratic values are under threat due to some demagogues as a democratically elected leader. Concerning Nepal, the political environment is as gloomy as in the other corners of the world. We should strengthen and find remedial means for the structural shortcomings that have prevented democratic progression and look after the public interest with priority.
In Nepal, the persistent political instability following the two general elections highlights the constitution's failure to provide a stable path forward, creating a vacuum that demands a new political discourse for change. Constantly breaking the alliances, changing the government, and outmaneuvering each other in trying to marginalize the opponent has become the new norm of the Nepali democracy, which has lost democratic accountability thereby reversing it backward. Unethical practices of the political parties irrespective of ideological leanings have crossed the limit with making and breaking alliances, mergers, unity, formation and dissolution of the parties’ organizations.
The 2022 elections proved itself the lowest ebb of democratic de-escalation due to political parties’ unholy alliances and breakdowns in a short period, often driven by narrow personal and party interests. Creating a setback for democratic progress and institutional growth, the parties have tarnished their democratic reputation. The brief merger between Nepal's two communist parties, CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Center), quickly dissolved, leading to a significant vertical split within the UML. Subsequently, the Maoist Center, traditionally considered far-left, formed an electoral alliance with the liberal Nepali Congress, a move widely perceived as an unholy alliance.
To transform and build a better society, politics should be guided by morality, accountability, and democratic values firmly rooted in robust philosophical principles.
The formation of new governments and breaking the partnerships in a quick succession of time was itself a mockery of democratic idealism. The actual cause for public disenchantment with the establishment, particularly the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML), is the abandonment of their fundamental ideological base—the working class and middle class—in favor of wealthy campaign contributors and so-called new oligarchs and elites.
The Constitution has written in its preamble that the state would work to create an egalitarian society. However, I have never seen the government’s interaction or healthy debate with the trade unions for their welfare program to be included in the budget. The Finance Ministry, from 2063 BS onward mostly represented by the communist parties, consulted with the industrialists and business elites before the formation of the national budget and their interests were served many times. While calling themselves socialists, they have become entwined with the new elites, prioritizing their comfort over socialist ideals.
To transform and build a better society, politics should be guided by morality, accountability, and democratic values firmly rooted in robust philosophical principles. However, the democratic system of governance in Nepal was established through the people’s mass movement. To our dismay, it has hopelessly proved to be corrupt and inept in meeting the people’s long-cherished aspirations for socio-economic advancement and the developmental goal as envisaged by the popular movement.
It seems that the world is undergoing a period of transition undergoing tremendous stress of ideological struggle of the past in various forms as capitalism, socialism, communism, liberalism, dictatorship, Marxism, democracy, and neoliberalism, to survive. Given the lack of moral and accountable leadership, Nepal needs to invent a 21st-century governance model driven by people's will and that embodies democratic, inclusive, and progressive principles.
(Mr. Bartaula is a former Diplomatic Officer of the Government of Nepal.)
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