Rule of the Majority

Democracy stands out as the widely accepted form of government among most of the nations for decades now mainly due to its cherished principle of rule of law. Presence of some checks and balances in the political system is a necessity to guard against any attempts by its leaders to tamper with it. It is indeed these checks and balances in the rule of the majority that provide for an opportunity for the people to control their leaders and to dethrone them without the need for any revolution. These checks and balances come mainly, apart from the judiciary, in the form of the opposition party or parties in the representative democracies. As such, the opposition is one of the prerequisites for a healthy democracy in any country.

In the background of historical evidence that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely, the opposition is but indispensable to pre-empt any attempts of the party in power to act against the will and interests of the people.

For an effective democracy, at least two political parties with comparable strength are required to avert the danger of “the tyranny of the majority”  looming large over the heads of the people. A united, strong, meaningful, committed, credible and responsible opposition is very much needed in a democracy to ensure that the elected government would perform “with minimum government and maximum governance” and be responsive and accountable without becoming arbitrary.

But the current scenario in India paints a grim picture in this regard as there is no strong opposition party. 

Moment of merriment for Global Democracy

The failure of Donald Trump in his re-election bid and the United States getting ready to move to a democratic party government under  Joe Biden’s presidency are expected to fortify global democracy and promote a better world order.  Democratic Party's philosophy of modern liberalism blends notions of civil liberty and social equality with support for a mixed economy. Biden’s win is expected to provide an improved outlook for stability going forward. Kamala Harris made history as the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and more importantly the first Black woman to become vice president, an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice.

After four years of madness, the world may feel relieved that the large truck that is the United States will be steered by someone with experience, who respects speed limits, obeys traffic lights, and follows rules.

Biden’s victory is perceived as a repudiation of Trump’s divisive leadership. The president-elect now inherits a deeply polarized nation grappling with foundational questions of racial justice and economic fairness while in the grips of a virus that has killed more than 236,000 Americans and reshaped the norms of everyday life.

The entire global community waits with bated breath for a refreshing change expected from a shift in policy and strategy by the new US government, given the influence US administration has been wielding on the world order.

May Biden government adopt an approach of  ‘Power Through Peace’.