3.Forms of Government
Democracy
Democracy is that form of government in which sovereign power of the state is in the hands of the people and the people are the source of the state power and the people take part in the government directly or through their representatives. The English word Democracy, which is derived from the Greek word Demos and Kratos or Kratia. Demos means people and Kratos or Kratia means ruling power. So literally democracy means ‘rule by the people’.
According to Abraham Lincoln, “Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
According to Dicey, “Democracy is a form of government in which the governing body is a comparatively large fraction of the entire population.”
According to Herodotus, ‘Democracy as that form of government in which the supreme power of the state is vested in the hands of the community as a whole’.
Finally we can say that, democracy refers to a system of governance or a social system in which everyone, regardless of caste, religion, caste, can participate in state work, form the government and manage it according to their qualifications. Modern democracy is representative governance.
Merits of Democracy-
1. It pays special heed to the interests of common people: In other forms of government special consideration is given to particular interests, but in democracy no special consideration is given to any class. The interests of common people are considered supreme. Thus, democracy is considered the best form of government.
2. It is based on equality: No special right is granted to any class of society in a democracy. All are considered equal and there is no discrimination on the basis of sex, color, caste or creed.
3. It is the greatest upholder of the lofty ideals of liberty and fraternity: The amount of liberty which one enjoys in a democracy is not found in any other forms of government.
4. It is based on public opinion: Democracy is based on public opinion. Democracy provides maximum opportunity to the people in self-government, the representatives of the people run the administration in democracy. Democratic government pays special attention to the interests of the people
5. It minimizes the chances of revolution: There is no need to seize power through revolution or bloodshed as there is a peaceful change of government in a democracy. Because through elections, the ruling ruling group can be removed from power without bloodshed or the preferred party and person can be installed in power.
6. It serves as a training school for good citizenship: Democracy gives as training in discipline, love, sympathy, co-operation and benevolence. In democracy, the administration is in the hands of the representatives of the people, and they receive a sort of training.
7.Establishment of Rule of Law: Democracy upholds the rule of law. No person shall be punished without reason and detained without trial. All people are equal in the eyes of the law.
8. Prevention of abuse of power: A democratic government cannot abuse power due to public awareness and constitutional restrictions. Because if the government is arbitrary or abuses its power, it will lose the election.
9. Increasing political awareness: Democracy makes people politically educated and aware of their rights and responsibilities. In democracy, people are informed about their own power. Democracy is the seat of political education
10. Accountability: In a democracy, the ruling government is legally and morally responsible to the people for their actions. The government has to be accountable to the people for their actions.
11. Public Welfare: In a democracy, all political authority is vested in the hands of the people. H. Lasky said, if public welfare is the goal of government, then political authority must rest in the hands of the people. So in a democracy, government power is used to provide for the overall welfare of the common people.
12. Promotes patriotism: Democracy is a government for the people, elected and run by the people. In democracy people’s sense of responsibility and duty and awareness increases. Patriotism arises in the people from this feeling of ‘Government is their own government.
Demerits of Democracy.
1.Democracy is the rule of incompetent person: Democracy is the rule of the majority. In democracy, emphasis is placed on quantity rather than quality. According to Lecky. “Democracy is the government of the most impoverished, ignorant and indolent people. Because this category of people is the most.”
2.Democracy gives more importance to the quantity rather than to quality: Democracy is also criticised for giving importance to quantity rather than quality, because in democracy the decision of victory and defeat lies on the number of votes one secures.
3.In democracy administration is very costly: In democracies elections area very expensive luxury. The huge amounts spent on elections could be put to better use in many other ways. The numerous bodies of legislature and ministries are also very expensive.
4.Incapable of quick decision making: Democracy is governance through discussion. This results in delay in decision making. A democratic government is therefore not able to take quick decisions in times of emergency.
5.Effect of Bureaucracy: Democracy is a bureaucratic system of governance where the people and their elected representatives are ignorant of the administration.
6.Temporary system of governance: Democracy is temporary and transitory system of governance. According to Henry Mayne, “Democracy is transitory and parliamentary government is the epitome of temporary government.”
7. It proves weak in times of war and crisis: Generally a democratic government is weak in war and crisis.
8. It lowers the moral standard of the people: Moneyed people dominate in democracy. They purchase votes and push out of the enlightened but poor persons from the arena of elections.
9.Nepotism and Corruption: Most of the less educated and middle classes are in charge of running a democratic government. They are busy with selfishness. Nepotism and corruption thus paralyze democratic government. They indulge in lack of money.
10.Long-term planning is not possible: Long-term development planning is not possible in a democratic regime. Because in democracy the government can fall from time to time. As a result, long-term planning is not possible.
Conditions for the success of Democracy-
To make the democracy a success in any country, the following conditions should be fulfilled:
1.Sound System of Education: Where there is illiteracy, it becomes difficult to make democracy successful because many qualities are needed to make democracy a success. The citizens can acquire these qualities only through literacy. As far as possible, education should be free and the rich and the poor should be given equal opportunities for their development.
2. Enlightened Citizenship: People should have the knowledge of their rights and duties to make democracy as success. So long as the citizens do not perform their duties, the question of the success of democracy cannot arise.
3. Political Awakening: It is essential to inculcate political awakening among the citizens to make democracy a success. Where there is no political awakening, the citizens fail to understand the political problems.
4. Freedom: Democracy guarantees the citizens the freedom of expression, freedom of profession, freedom of religion and freedom to form associations.
5. Equality: Democracy does not recognize class distinctions. It is based on social, economic and political equality. In democracy all are equal before law and there is no discrimination on the basis of caste, color, religion, sex and economic status.
6. Law and Order: The maintenance of law and order in society by the government is another essential condition for the success of democracy.
7.It is based on public opinion: Democracy is based on public opinion. Democracy provides maximum opportunity to the people in self-government, the representatives of the people run the administration in democracy. Democratic government pays special attention to the interests of the people.
8. Decentralization of Powers and Local Self-Government: For the success cracy, decentralization of powers is essential. The concentration of power makes the government autocratic. With the introduction of local self-government, people take interest in the administration and they give full support to the government.
9. High Moral Standard: The success of democracy also depends upon the high moral standard of the people as well as of the government. Where there is dishonesty, black-marketing, hoarding and smuggling and where the ministers and public servants are corrupt, the question of the success of democracy does not arise. People should have the spirit of patriotism, discipline, self-control, honesty in payment of taxes and willing obedience to the laws of the land.
10. Multi-Party System: A democracy must have more than one political party. Because democracy cannot be thought of without a multi-party system. However, care should be taken to ensure that numerous nameless parties are not formed again.
11. Written Constitution and Independent Judiciary: For the successful functioning of democracy, people are given fundamental rights and written constitutions are introduced with a view to checking autocratic activities of the government.
12. Political security, good administration, economic prosperity and wise leadership: Efficient administration is a another condition for the success of a democracy. In fact the success of democracy depends upon efficient administration.
Democracy in Bangladesh-
We have passed about forty years since independence but our achievements in the spheres of democracy and development are not noteworthy. Even the country today is riddled with numerous problems threatening the very development of democracy. Our society with an underdeveloped political culture and poverty ridden illiterate and incompetent masses is lacking in democratic
Political organizations, institutions and practices. However, the prospects for a politically developed and economically prosperous nation are marked by people’s eagerness to democracy and progress, nations march toward a two-party system and politician’s realization that there is no way but election to capture power.
Democracy in Bangladesh: Since her emergence in 1971, Bangladesh is continuously struggling to make herself a democratically developed nation. But several political ups and downs like introduction of one-party-system by Shiekh Mujibur Rahman, Military rule by Zia and Ershad and irresponsible competition of political parties to capture power have placed the democratic journey of the country at stake. However, the nation has restarted her journey to democracy with over through of Ershad in 1990 but the path is not moisturized still now.
What is to be done:
1. Our politicians should realize that they have a responsibility to build up the nation and they should pay due respect to people’s will and expectations.
2. Both the government and opposition should work under democratic norms and values instead of confrontation and egoism.
3. Attempts should be made to make our parliament as the center of all political activities. Thus, both govt, and opposition should have due respect to parliamentary norms, values and procedure. In this regard, the speaker must be neutral in playing his role in the parliament.
4. Consensus among political parties is a must to fight against corruption and terrorism. Otherwise, all the achievement would be null and void.
5. Our politicians should be positive in playing their role in the polity. They must realize that politics is not a zero-sum game rather it is a cooperative business for the greater will being of the nation.
6. Our political parties and politicians must work in cooperation with each other instead of opposition for the sake of opposition.
7. There should have consensus among political parties about national key issues. For this, our politicians must give up their egoism and realize that national interest is more than that of personal, group or interest.
In fine, effort should be continued of make our people politically aware and habituated to democratic norms, values and practices. As a result, the media, civil society and socio-political organizations and institutions must play the pioneering role.
We, all have to echo our voice against corruption otherwise, our main motto will be in vain.
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