And what sets it back
The first peaceful and orderly transfer of power from one elected government to another has rightly given birth to confidence about the future of democracy. Democracy has come to stay, it is maintained, as the world has no patience for military rule anymore. Government leaders are confident of the loyalty of the army to the constitution and the continuation of the system. What tends to be forgotten is that while the Turkish democracy has survived, elected governments in Thailand and Egypt have been replaced by military rule. What needs to be determined is what kind of circumstances cause setbacks to democracy.
The system has survived where politicians have proved that a democratic dispensation brings improvements in their livelihood, provides them security of life and property, adds to their freedoms, ensures a better future for their children and improves the country’s standing in the world. Unless people from all walks of life see a real change in their life, their interest in the preservation of the system will remain negligible. Politicians in emerging democracies have to remember that a relapse can take place if they fail to satisfy the masses. As the Indian example shows claims of secularism could not save the Congress government perceived to be inefficient, unresponsive and corrupt. Ten years earlier slogans like ‘Hindutva’ and ‘India shines’ had similarly failed to save the Hindu nationalist BJP from an ignominious defeat. The fight against anti-democratic forces of different kinds cannot be won through a single battle. What is required is constant vigilance by those in power. Any display of authoritarian tendencies, cronyism or corruption can turn the scales in favour of anti-democratic forces.
Politicians never tire of complaining about the shortage of time at their disposal. Mian Nawaz Sharif too wants ten years to produce results. The politicians can get more time only if during their first tenure they can make a perceptible breakthrough in poverty reduction, inflation control, and job generation. Pinning hopes on media campaigns will not help. Despite its reputed power to mould public opinion, media has failed whenever it has tried to paper over ugly realities. Unless the change is visible and the rulers are seen to be delivering on their promises none will believe the rosy pictures painted by the media.
The claims by a previous CJ that an independent judiciary has made the recurrence of martial law impossible have to be taken with a pinch of salt. If the masses in their millions are not willing to come out in support of democracy, judiciary and media can at best provide marginal support.