Challenge is a difficulty which carries opportunity in itself for the progress i.e. by overcoming a difficulty we go on a next higher level.
Categories of Challenges
- Foundational Challenge
- Challenge of Expansion
- Deepening of Democracy
Different Context, Different Challenges: Different context may have different challenges such as
- In Chile: In Chile even if general Pinochet government was Defeated still the military has control over many institutions. this situation describe that the challenges are to establish democratic control over all Governmental institutions Hold the Multiparty Elections and recall the barred native Leaders into the country.
- In US: The blacks won equal rights but are still poor Less Educated and Uncared. So the challenges include Making policies to Equalise All making Education Compulsory for all and Care for these people.
- In Ghana: Ghana Just attained independence Nkrumah elected as President. The challenges include developing new policies & Programmes so as to form an effective government that take care of the people.
Different Types of Challenges –
- Constitutional Design
- Democratic Rights
- Working of Institutions
- Elections
- Federalism Decentralisation
- Accommodation of Diversity
- Political Organisations
Political Reforms
- In General all the suggestions and proposals given for overcoming the challenges to the democracy are called Political Reforms or Democracy Reforms.
- Countries could not have similar challenges hence the political reforms differs between countries.
- By Making Laws: Making laws against undesirable things would help to discourage wrong politics and ultimately encourage better democracy. But these rules may be effective only if political activists parties movements and politically conscious citizens follows them.
- Nature of Successful Laws: We think that making laws can improve democracy but sometimes these laws may have bad effects too. For example in many states people who have more than two children are banned from contesting panchayat elections. This law resulted in denial of democratic opportunity to many people. Under such situation the best choice is those laws that empower people to bring democratic reforms. e.g. making ‘Right to Information’ Act enabled people to seek information from any government official thus it helped in bringing awareness among individuals and also helped to control corruption.
- Improvements in Political Practices: Basically democratic reforms are mainly done by political practices. Thus if ordinary citizen involve in strengthening the democratic practices ultimately political practices will function properly thus forming democratic reforms.
- Implementation is necessary: formulation of good solution does not bring political reforms the solution need to be implemented successfully.
Redefining Democracy
- Democracy must provide –
- Election must involve multiple parties so that people would get choice to choose the rulers.
- Every citizen should get equal rights to choose the ruler.
- The formed government should respect and follow basic rules of constitution and citizen’s rights.
- A democracy must provide basic rights such as right to vote right to stand in elections and right to form political organisations. With this a democracy should also provide other rights such as social and economic rights.
- A democracy should help in power sharing so that different social groups and communities can live with peace and harmony.
- Democracy is not a rule by only majority it should understand the opinion of minority too.
- Democracy should work for discrimination based on caste religion and gender.
Outcomes of Democracy
- Major outcomes of democracy include accountable responsive and legitimate government focuses on economic growth and development reduction of inequality and poverty and brings dignity and freedom to citizens.