Will the expectations of the people be met?

Opinion

By Dr R Neerunjun Gopee

As the campaigning for the forthcoming general election gets underway, the question that arises is which party or combination of parties will deliver solutions that people are in expectation of?

It is an issue which has always been at the centre of the political process in countries that have accepted the democratic system of governing, that is, the people voting for representatives whom they trust will meet their expectations, who they can replace at the next round if they don’t. That is what is meant by the elected ruling with the consent of the governed.

However, just as the strength of a chain depends on the weakest link in it, so too does the strength of a system or institution depend on the weaknesses of the men and women who conceive, set up and run them. There isn’t an ideal system ever – we have to fine-tune and consolidate as we evolve, that is the reality.

Of late, though, democracies have been under strain, showing up weaknesses and constraints. But again, the bottom-line remains that whatever happens in a democracy – or, for that matter, in any other set-up – boils down to the human beings who are involved in overseeing its proper functioning or being frontline actors in this process.

This concern about democratic functioning is widespread and has been present for quite some time, and several years ago was the subject of comment by Joergen Oerstroem Moeller, a visiting senior research fellow with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.

He noted that ‘there is uneasiness creeping into the soul while watching what is unfolding in the world — an apparent difficulty for democracy to score where it may matter as much as fundamental rights of freedom does: The ability to deliver solutions.’ (italics added). This ‘schism between the ability to deliver and freedom’ may result in the ‘possibility of people being disillusioned with democracy.’

He went on to say that ‘the first political philosopher revealing this danger was Baruch Spinoza, writing in 1675 that democracy is the most reasonable form of government but suffers from the defect of promoting mediocrity,’ adding that ‘Spinoza observed that the majority of people are steered by emotions and feelings, not reason. But without reason, logic and rationality, governing well becomes elusive.’  And this could lead to two scenarios: 

1. Demagogues and populists win elections because they flatter and humour the multitude of people not able or willing to see through the maze. But the danger is, they could be ineffective leaders as they pander to the populace – or worse, are closet dictators who eventually subvert the democratic system for their own interests.
2. Wise people cannot accept being governed by those they regard as inferior; they flee the political arena, thus making it easier for less qualified people to get elected into office. This leads to an inevitable decline in the quality of governance, causing people to doubt whether a democracy can produce good leaders.

It is true that there are several new combinations of newer parties that are lining up to field candidates for the coming elections. But it is also a fact that the electorate is still plagued with the recurrent dilemma of having to face as well parties that have all in some way or the other been perceived to be associated with corrupt practices, or not done enough to eradicate this evil from our society. Ostentation, abuse of privilege, nepotism, favouring of specific segments are some of the other sins which have been laid at their doors.

As regards the candidates, flaws in personal behaviour and character, arrogance and aloofness, absence most of the time in their constituencies, failure to come up to expectations of their electorate despite promises made are some of the charges that they share to a varying degree.

Given these realities, and the fact that both candidates and parties have in the past shared political beds as well as split among themselves, mutually praising and patting when they are allied and pouring calumny within moments of parting ways with a string of falsehoods and petty excuses, whatever they say in the coming days before the elections is going to sound terribly hollow. Already, we are seeing more of a clash of words than a clash of ideas, with trading of insults, innuendos and allegations as friends-turned-foes sentiments surge – not the best example to the future generations

However, the newer generations are moved by common needs and aspirations which go beyond any ethnicity, and that is a sign of hope – but it is a hope whose fulfillment rests upon the political dispensation which takes the reins of the country.Their expectations are non-negotiable and relate to jobs, security, leisure, a better future, fair deal from all institutions both private and public, from the police, the judiciary, the PSC; and access to finance, land, a civil service that delivers. They want to progress on the basis of their merit, not on the strength of political patronage, hanging to the trousers or hovering in the entourage of X or Y politician, minister or whoever in that bassecour. They want a sound polity that would allow them to match aspirations commensurate with their enlarged vista in an age of the connected world.

But above all, they want politicians who will live up to their promises. A tall order…

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 18 October 2024