The Changing History Of Democracy

Assessing the Quality of Indian Democracy - The Hindustan Times - Rahul Verma

In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed seven years in office and the comprehensive economic regress of India has become the chief rubric of assessment of his work. Also, the course of action implemented during the pandemic has added to the anxieties. 

Numerous global ranks in 2021 (by V-Dem Institute, Freedom House, etc.) called India a "flawed democracy" or an "electoral autocracy". Several questions are being asked regarding how the strength and robustness of democracies are assessed, what variables define the internal and external democratic health, and finally why is liberal democracy in a quandary.

The question however remains, that whatever is happening today, is this anomaly or an unrecognizable pattern? Samuel Huntington, in the 1990s, spoke of global democratization as a progression of three waves and reverse waves. The first wave was long and began during the 1820s and concluded in 1919 along with World War I. The second short wave lasted from 1945 to 1970. Finally, the third mediumwave started in the 1970s and continued till the 2000s. With the end of the three waves and reverse waves, began a democratic recession throughout the globe, and 'democracies started dying'. 

Every report that evaluates a democracy can ultimately be contested and opposed, as eventually, every report is subjective that is it is based on the tastes and opinions of the one assessing the situation rather than facts. A democracy is always a very complex social phenomenon and each report may contain only specific portions of reality but never be complete. However, their methods are extremely rigorous and painstaking and their data is used by several global institutions.

Democracies of the world have undoubtedly modified in the past several decades, and for now, don't look in the best state they could be in. As for India, an inclusive policy seems an ideal solution.

- Aindri Abhishek Singh