by Jayram Daya
Editors’ foreword:
Today we see tensions and conflicts in many parts of the world, caused by internal strife and external pressures, which affect the lives of ordinary people. The former colonial order has disintegrated, giving way to countries which – in theory – are sovereign. A sovereign country should aim to improve the lives of her citizens, but the country is also affected by pressures from the outside. Meanwhile, the old colonial powers find their own backyards affected by globalization, leading to backlash against immigrants. Western power is being challenged by emerging nations which have come together to resist hegemony and improve the lives of their citizens.
We all seem to be visited by that famous Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times!
In this context, our friend Jayram Daya shares his insights from his hometown of Standerton in South Africa. Readers are invited to post their views as comments.
Is every democracy a ticking time bomb destined for explosion? When cunning, fanatical cults supplant law and order, they exploit the population for their agenda, seeking power through elections. However, in the pursuit of their objectives, they often turn against each other, ultimately failing to govern their societies effectively.
Globally, elections of 2024 have been marked by intense turbulence, with two active war fronts dominating the landscape. Right-wing parties are calling for reforms, polarizing the electorates. At the same time, democratically elected governments face unprecedented challenges, with some even being overthrown by angry mobs driven by emotive slogans. Nations deeply embedded in initiating and backing deadly conflicts are involved in fake election propaganda, as they navigate slyly between their true motives and their self-proclaimed global responsibilities.
The convergence of violence, political conflict and ideological disagreements has unsettled the world. The future of democracy is being questioned in this time of deep division and turmoil.
Rigging election outcomes by foreign influence is today a purposeful plan to install subservient governments in power. These governments, once installed, derail the progress and the values of the countries involved, effectively making them work for western interests. The West’s continuous need for riches and manpower from the global majority fuels this process, under the cover of promoting democracy, a political system that is easy to manipulate. Electing governments is the responsibility of the people, but bribery, corruption and misinformation can sway voter choices, resulting in outcomes that benefit foreign powers.
It is no wonder that the western countries are interested in establishing such democracies in resource-rich nations. By doing so, they create a mechanism through which they can exert control and extract resources, while maintaining the facade of helping to establish self-governance. Their cunning tactic of thus using democracy as a double-edged sword has been exposed. While championing democratic values, they use the cover of these same values to further their own exploitative geopolitical and economic agendas.
The West’s complicated historical relationship with the Abrahamic religions makes the matter more intractable Discord has led to a fractured global landscape, where ideological conflicts are masked by superficial alliances, further destabilizing the countries involved.
In this background, India is a shining example of true democracy. Unlike many western countries, where democracy is akin to an intolerant neo-liberal social order fashioned by so-called Judeo-Christian beliefs, India has largely preserved its rich culture, avoiding undue influence of external interests. With its deep roots in historical traditions and values, the Indian democratic system differs from those of other countries by offering its inhabitants a route that aligns with their values, as well as their natural desire for wealth and sovereignty.
The global 2024 elections, therefore, need to be seen as a time to re-examine the true meaning of democracy and recognize the dangers of allowing it to be co-opted by those with nefarious aims. The path forward lies in vigilance, integrity and commitment to democratic principles that serve the country‘s own people, not foreign powers.
My concern is also about democracy being vulnerable to exploitation by fanatical cults or extremists, reflecting historical fault-lines. Democracies are designed to be inclusive, allowing diverse voices to be heard and represented. However, this openness is often exploited by parties with extreme beliefs who use democratic tactics to achieve power, only to subvert democratic norms once in power.
When such groups come to power, they can erode democratic institutions, manipulate legal systems, and suppress dissent, leading to a breakdown of law and order. Internal conflicts arise as different factions turn against each other, leading to governance failures and social chaos.
Ideally, democracies should have mechanisms to resist these takeovers, such as rule of law, system of checks and balances, independent judiciary, free press, and active civil society. Democracy’s resilience often depends on the strength and vigilance of these institutions and the willingness of the population to defend democratic values.
Many governance systems in the world today are rooted in democratic principles, with each country having its own approach. However, many former colonies continue to rely on governance systems inherited from their colonizers. While these systems may offer outward stability, they also come with significant disadvantages.
In many cases, the former colonizers still influence these supposedly independent nations. Such modern exploitation mirrors the control over trade and resources established during colonial times. Such actions are against national sovereignty and democratic norms. Minds which are still colonized become impediments to clear thinking, and remain vulnerable to exploitation.
Let us take a brief look at the governance systems of some of the major global powers.
Western countries: The present trends in most western governance systems are fascinating, especially with the rise of far-right parties challenging the status quo. These trends only underscore the global demand for change, indicating waning confidence in ‘traditional’ democratic systems. In most western countries, it is difficult to separate reality from narrative, since big media and big finance play a dominating role in these nominal democracies.
China: This one-party socialist republic is designed to maintain social stability, foster economic growth and secure one-party rule. By all economic measures, it has performed very well over several decades.
India: The federal parliamentary republic places primary emphasis on representation, individual rights and inclusivity.
Russia: The Russian Federation is often described as an ‘electoral autocracy’, where the ruling party and president hold significant control over political processes and the civil society. The Orthodox Christian Church has significant influence amongst most people.
India and China, having emerged from Western colonialism, are now claiming their rightful place on the global stage. India’s democratic structure, focused on technological advancement and education, positions it as a future global leader.
Meanwhile, China’s state-driven capitalism and strategic investments have propelled it to superpower status.
These two nations’ resurgence reflects their capacity to adapt governance models to contemporary challenges, while also drawing on their rich cultural heritage. As India and China continue to grow, their influence will contribute to a multipolar and fairer world, presenting viable alternatives to the much-touted ‘western democratic ideals’.
With population growth, governments must prioritize people’s basic needs such as food, jobs and essential services. The internet is producing a middle class that is highly aware of the issues surrounding corruption, as the corruption of past and present governments is being exposed. Inevitably, wealth plays a role in any political system. However, in my view, voters will bring about true democracy only when they support political parties that place the needs of the poorer, weaker citizens at the forefront of their agenda.
seeker-of-root-causes 
I am sorry to say that arguments based on the past are not relevant in appraising the status of democracy as it exists now.
I feel that any system, political or any other; over time, is exploited for the benefit of a powerful minority.
The problems of any country are intrinsically complex. Opinions, unsupported by facts, cannot substitute for sound analysis.
More details supporting the proposition that A is better than B or C, are needed.
unfortunately they are largely absent in this opinion piece.
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Pradeep, Since we are sharing viewpoints, we will dispense with “details supporting propositions”. The key assumption is that every contributor’s views are supported by his or her education, life experiences, reflection and sincerity. Adding “details supporting propositions” will make for much duller reading! In any case, nobody here is trying to either win an argument or impose his or her views on others!
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Pradeep nice to read your comments . Ofcourse ideally an academic writing requires data to back it up. But in our blog approach where the focus is on sharing view points we assume that the writer has some data either documented or experienced to influence his thoughts and articulate them. Remember the real world runs not on data but people’s views and opinions formed based on multitude of influences. So we have decided in our wisdomto use our blog platform to get people to share their views without judgement and give various perspectives of thoughts to the reader. I hope you will appreciate this and look forward to your views too in these comments or write a blog in this or any other topic which focuses on seeking truth. With your background in Finance you can give some interesting insights on developments in that area having impact on ordinary human life and society as a whole.
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Thank you, Pradeep for providing your perspective. I believe that historical context alone cannot adequately explain the challenges of democracy today. However, knowing how systems have evolved over time can provide significant insights into their current strengths and weaknesses. Over time, many political institutions, including democracies, have been corrupted to benefit a privileged minority. This is a valid worry when evaluating the health of any democratic system
You are true that the difficulties confronting any country are inherently complicated; need careful, fact-based analysis. While this post may not have presented a full analysis of A, B, and C, the goal was to spark more discussion about the systemic faults that remain across political frameworks. More factual backing and specific examples would improve the case, and I appreciate your request for a more in-depth comparison.
Can you provide us a direction? This topic needs clarity. I value your opinion and will consider it in future debates and articles.
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Jayaram, l think that my perspective differs from yours because of a key divergence of underlying views.
I do not know much about how European democratic principles have evolved since the French Revolution.
So I will restrict my thoughts to my opinions on American and Canadian Democracies.
in my view, both these nations were founded not on true democratic notions of Equality, Fraternity & Brotherhood, but on privileges accorded to a subset of the population.
in the case of the Union to form the USofA, the core difference was the problem of slaves. The black population was marginalized by restrictions, policing, and enforced segregation. Even after the Civil War, overt and covert restrictions ensured that the black population remained economically disadvantaged.
In the case of Canada, privileges were provided to the 2 founding nations of England and Canada, while marginalizing the Native aboriginal population.
Discriminatory laws and rules were applied to progressive waves of immigrants. In Canada, it meant that land for farming was given to Europeon settlers in the early years, while Chinese, Japanese and Sikh origin immigrants were brought in to provide manual labor, with tight restrictions regulating their ability to free movement and build homes wherever they desired.
The current situation is much better, in both the 900USA and Canada. So I think that democracy, as it is practiced, is much improved.
I will not go into other issues such as the subjugation of women, who got voting rights only in the early 1900s, and real economic power only in the later part of the 20th century.
So, in my opinion, things are better today, as far as North zamerica is concerned; despite the current chaotic political discourse of the last decade in the USA.
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While no system is perfect, true democracy is better than all the systems available — compared to Communism, autocracy, fascism, religious fanaticism and the like. Democracy is ingrained in Indian political and religious thought from times immemorial. This is because the ideal form of democracy is the one ingrained in the concept of Dharma. That provides a sense of fairness in society and not just blind adherence to rules and laws. Additional pillars of that ingrained culture are equality, fraternity and justice for all. The original form and culture of Indian subcontinent was the thought of Shramana,https://images.app.goo.gl/b1XrmuZm46xxxasJA, which is the original culture of the world ingrained in Jainism and later in Buddhism. It would be incorrect to say that these principles were fully Incorporated in the Vedic principles later on which seem to be incorporation and conglomeration of Shramanic principles, into the latter Vedic principles; however, not all these principles were fully Incorporated in what became the dominant culture of India or Hinduism. Some ideals like practice of caste system, the practice of Sati, and brahminical control of society do not fully do justice to the principles of equality, fraternity and justice for all. Hence you see what may have been a dilemma for the main architect of the Indian constitution, Dr Ambedkar’s for anchoring and incorporating the main cultural principles of society by it’s major religion, Hinduism . It seems to me that he attempted to incorporate the principles of Dharma and those of equality, fraternity and justice into the Constitution to the extent possible. He even became my Buddhist towards the end of his life . Salient features of the Constitution like Ashoka chakra on the flag, the four headed lion as a seal of the government and equality for every person regardless of race or religion or gender giving everyone, regardless of their status, equal rights to participate in governance should they chose to do it. However, we find that no matter what the form of democracy in whatever country, including the Western World and India, has a built-in mechanism that it starts with high ideals and principles, as you can see with the French Revolution incorporating the same principles or the American Revolutionary War or during the onset of “Rama Rajay” in India based on dharmic or idealistic principles BUT eventually, over a period of time, metamorphs into a state where minorities who are unable to capture governance or financial power, learn to manipulate the system so that it favors them….in other words minority ruling the majority and ignoring principles while honoring rules and regulations they have been able to put in place over time to manipulate to society to their advantage. That is when the conflict starts in the democracy and generally leads to minor to major conflicts including serious Wars. The examples of Hitler and fascism in the modern era in the western world and conflicts such as those of Mahabharata in the ancient Indian times and those of the Shankaracharya in the more modern Indian Era, after rule of Ashoka and the Guptas or Mayuras, which is rightfully called the Golden Age of India, led to elimination of Buddhism and decrease of Jainism’s control over India, which were the dominant cultures of India. The attempt by the current constitution of India which is around 70 years and written primarily by its main architect Dr. Ambedkar I believe was an attempt to bring back the Democratic principles which are enshrined in Indian thought from times immemorial into the Contemporary Indian Society. It’s a work in progress and much needs to be learnt. At the same time rise of white nationalism, fascism, totalitarianism, and other non-democratic principles, including Abrahamic religious stranglehold on countries especially in the middle east, are attempted efforts by a small slivers of population or minorities in society, unable to get power based on rule of and principle of “one person one vote”, each vote being equal, and it’s determined effort to pass rules in its favor over time, to get power which favors them. That is totally undemocratic and non-dharmic. The dilemma is incorporation of principles into contemporary democratic thought and continuous refreshment of those ideals to make democracy work for all and not for just a few.
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Ashokji, Nameste
Dhanyawad, Thank you for your opinion, which has helped me better understand my underlying thoughts about democracy. This is an opportunity for intellectuals like you to participate. We, as Sanatanis, need a wake-up call to understand the facts.
My opinion is based on India’s deeply ingrained democratic spirit, which is founded in Sanatan Dharma. In my opinion, India’s beliefs, attitudes, and deeds, guided by Dharma, form an intrinsically democratic society in which individuals can identify and follow their own Dharma (responsibility, righteousness). This personal decision within the greater framework of Sanatan Dharma enables individuals to connect their responsibilities with their inner ideals, resulting in a system that balances individual freedom and group welfare.
The concept of Ram Rajya, often associated with an ideal Dharma-based administration, is considered a blend of democratic values and a socialist approach. This governance approach is not only fair and just, but it also benefits everyone by encouraging equality and fraternity while not constraining personal liberty. Even in modern times, I believe India has managed to strike a balance between individual liberty and collective benefit through fusion democracy—a system in which various ideologies live under a broad democratic umbrella.
In contrast, I argue that Western religious systems, particularly those founded on Abrahamic traditions, operate more like communist systems in that they impose a strict set of beliefs and actions on individuals, limiting their freedom of choice. According to this viewpoint, while Western countries claim to defend democracy by electing rulers, religious and political systems can become dominated by wealth and power, limiting actual expressions of democracy and individual liberty. I also address the role of religious intolerance and economic elites in these systems, suggesting that such societies inevitably fail to embody true democratic principles because they prioritize the interests of a few over the freedoms of the many.
From this vantage point, India, founded on Sanatan Dharma and its ancient ideals of individual choice, fairness, and well-being for everyone, emerges as the cradle of democracy, upholding democratic standards more deeply than many modern Western regimes.
In this situation, I wonder: Who exactly is a democratic nation? According to my analysis, India’s respect for individual choice within the context of Dharma, combined with its collective welfare-oriented governance, represents a more authentic and evolved form of democracy than Western nations that claim democratic status but are constrained by outdated religious or economic systems.
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