By KN Kumar
In global governance, democracy is a concept that takes centre stage, universally regarded as the best model. It is viewed as the natural outcome of national development, closely tied to freedom, justice, human welfare, and progress. International organizations promote it, countries strive for it (or claim to), and its absence is frequently blamed for many of the world’s issues. The common belief is that solving democracy’s flaws requires more democracy. But what if this near-religious faith in the current democratic system blinds us to its limitations and, surprisingly, blocks the very progress we usually want? This is a question worth examining openly. Just a quick note: I will approach this topic as objectively as possible. This discussion is not a quiet endorsement of autocracy or a critique of discredited ideologies. Dictatorships, whether overt or subtle, continue to undermine human dignity, freedom, and sustainable well-being. I believe that the gap between democracy’s lofty promises and its often chaotic, inefficient, and unfair implementation is significant, and our hesitation to face this truth stops us from developing governance models that truly work.
The Narrative vs. Ground-Level Reality
Democracy’s strength mainly depends on its narrative—the compelling story of “rule by the people.” However, for many citizens, this story remains abstract and not a lived reality. The complex processes of checks and balances, uninformed public debate, and unaccountable representation often make it seem distant and unclear. Consider voter turnout: even in well-established democracies, participation rates can be surprisingly low (e.g., around 50-60%), indicating a sense of alienation or disillusionment among voters. Ironically, this commitment to voting is more substantial in developing countries and neo-democracies, where people still believe this model works. Even in countries where voting is compulsory (like Australia), citizen engagement still falls short.
My premise is that the ‘democratic’ label conceals vastly different realities. Countries may hold regular elections, which earns them a democratic label. At the same time, essential freedoms often remain limited (as seen in Hungary or the Philippines), or significant power resides with unelected bodies and influential elites operating behind the scenes. The narrative reassures citizens that they are in control, even when powerful corporations or entrenched political dynasties usually shape policy. This gap between the empowering story and the often-disempowering reality fosters cynicism among many of us, who are concerned about how our country functions. Some may not care because they feel rooted in their own struggles or have given up. Their world feels ‘normal’ to them; they see corruption as a way of life and accept violence as ‘natural’ during elections. They recognize that equality is essentially a myth in a diverse country like ours. So, most of us are resigned, settled, and go about our lives without questioning the system that governs us—precisely what I want to challenge.
The Cracks in Democracy’s Pillars: Imperfect Institutions
The institutional framework designed to turn popular will into effective governance — including the legislature, executive, and judiciary – is often plagued by dysfunction and, importantly, corruption.
The Legislature: Envisioned as the people’s assembly, legislatures often become battlegrounds for partisan conflict, leading to gridlocks that block necessary electoral, judicial, environmental, or tax reforms. Short-term electoral gains usually outweigh long-term national interests.
The Executive: Responsible for enforcing laws and running the state, the executive can easily fall prey to pressures and temptations of various kinds. Bureaucratic inefficiency and ‘red tape’ can obstruct service delivery, causing frustration among citizens and leaving basic needs unmet, especially in states with limited administrative capacity. Corruption scandals, in which public funds are misappropriated or officials plunder state assets, are frequently reported. It is a worldwide issue—betrayal of public trust is ‘normal’.
The Judicial system: Even the supposed ultimate guarantor of rights and the rule of law sometimes falters. Crippling backlogs are common; cases can drag on for decades, and the costly judicial system makes justice effectively out of reach for ordinary citizens. Access is often unequal, favouring those who can afford lengthy legal battles. Controversies over judicial appointment processes raise serious questions.
When these core institutions are compromised or fail to meet public expectations, the democratic promise feels hollow. They do not serve as effective channels for turning popular needs into tangible improvements in human welfare.
Flawed Elections and a Compromised Electorate
The electoral process, often considered the cornerstone of democracy, has its own flaws that raise questions about its ability to produce effective governance reliably. In many democracies, high campaign costs create an uneven playing field, favouring wealthy candidates or those backed by financial interests. Opaque political financing laws make it challenging to track who funds campaigns and potentially influences election outcomes. The digital era has weaponized both information and disinformation. Skilled campaigns on social media can manipulate public opinion, deepen divisions, and sway elections through targeted lies and emotionally charged propaganda. How can citizens make informed decisions when the information environment is intentionally polluted?
Populism and Identity Politics: Increasingly, electoral success relies less on thoughtful policy debates and more on unscrupulous leaders who exploit societal divisions—ethnic, religious, or economic. I am not explicitly referring to Meghalaya here; across our country, I see the same divisive and polemical rhetoric being spread. Therefore, no one is immune to populist messages that often oversimplify complex issues and scapegoat linguistic or religious minorities.
Criminalization of Politics: A significant and growing number of Members of Parliament (MPs) (43% of the elected MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) have serious criminal cases pending against them, including charges related to heinous crimes like murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women. Reports by organizations such as the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) consistently highlight this trend.
The Transactional Electorate: Perhaps the most sensitive point is the behaviour of the electorate itself. While celebrating voter choice, we must honestly face the reality that in many states of India (with some notable exceptions, such as Goa), voting decisions are not always based on careful consideration of long-term policy implications. Vote-buying, whether through direct cash payments or subtly disguised pre-election handouts and subsidies, remains a persistent issue. Clientelism, where votes are exchanged for specific favours or patronage, entrenches inequality. Identity politics often outweighs performance assessment. When a significant portion of the electorate can be swayed by immediate, usually unsustainable, inducements or identity-based appeals rather than competence and integrity, the claim that elections reflect the “enlightened will of the people” becomes questionable. Does the election process we have chosen (the first-past-the-post system) reliably select leaders best equipped to handle complex challenges and promote genuine human welfare? My experience tells me: an unequivocal NO.
Beyond Blind Faith
The convergence of these issues—a narrative gap, institutional decay, and flawed electoral mechanisms—suggests that our nearly unquestioning faith in democracy may be misplaced. We meticulously follow procedural rituals—holding elections and counting votes—but often fail to evaluate whether the outcomes truly serve the people critically. This focus on process over substance allows mediocrity, inefficiency, and even corruption to endure under the legitimizing banner of democracy. Recognizing these deep-rooted problems isn’t about despair or embracing authoritarian alternatives, which invariably lead to worse outcomes. It’s about intellectual honesty and a pragmatic desire for governance that truly benefits human betterment. The path forward requires moving beyond simplistic labels and dogma. I will write a series of articles to challenge some of the illusions of democracy that, willy-nilly, have become ingrained in our DNA. All of these are known, but none of these is questioned. Blind faith, of any kind, is a problem for mankind.
The writer is a former member of the IAS