Dr John Mohan Razu
The world we live-in is gradually shrinking and thus becoming less free. Countries right across the world being governed and ruled on diverse ideological shades and political systems—dictatorial, democratic, monarchical, have invariably been curtailing the freedom of people. Why do they want to curtail the freedom of humans. The term ‘freedom’ is a comprehensive conception that accommodates speech, movement, expression, writing, eating, education, dressing, worshipping, and host of others. Why do they want to curb ‘freedom’ of citizens?
Freedom is an intrinsic ethical principle of humans and so none has the right to impede or secede. Freedom is comprised of those that concerns education, food, worship, and many others though enshrined in democracies, nowadays suffocates freedom its citizens, and so, is under serious scrutiny. Increasingly we come across flawed elections, armed conflicts, war, eliminating political enemies or opposition members, gaging the writers and journalists who criticize the ruling governments or its policies, throttling the speeches of those against the ruling regimes.
According to DC-based non-profit Freedom Houses highlights those political rights and civil liberties improved in 21 countries but declined in 52 others last year, affecting more than one-fifth of the global population. It was the 18th consecutive decline. The report says that violence and manipulation in elections are largely responsible for clipping people’s freedom. Polls have been manipulated in several ways, including by closing the field of rivals. “Another common method of pre-election manipulation is to change electoral rules in ways that help incumbents compete or simply allow them to run despite constitutional limits.”
The report adds that “poll violence not only sidelines candidates, but also keeps citizens away from the voting booth.” Elaborating on it, “A loss of confidence in electoral institutions can contribute to voter apathy significantly weakening the legitimacy of elected government …A chain reaction of disappointment and disengagement then opens the door to authoritarian threats from within the country as well as from abroad.” Coups are another form of violence that undermines democracy and erodes freedom. Example can be taken from recent times such as Beijing’s clampdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet, Russian repression in Crimea, war on Ukraine, and also Israel’s violation of basic rights and freedom of the Palestinians.
The report says that “Almost everywhere, the down-turn in right ways was driven by attacks on pluralism.” The horrifying examples in recent times have been Alexi Navalny, in his early forties who opposed the Russian dictator Putin died in prison in mysterious conditions. Those who attended his funeral have been surveilled and showed their condolences in diverse ways are monitored. Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks is facing extradition to the United States—which is the 3rd country for having charged for espionage involving the United States in other countries. The documents that have been considered as ‘classified’ by the USA.
Notably, India is considered as the number one country to spreading fake news and misinformation. In the forthcoming elections more and more fake news and misinformation be posted in the social media. In the United States and India, the ruling dispensation is tightening its control over freedom of the press, freedom expression, and political mobilizations. In India the mainline news channels and print media cover the photos and programs of the ruling dispensation. Crores of rupees and millions of dollars are spent in the news and social media. All kinds of news spreads with manipulated images are tracking across.
The dictum is ‘either you follow our line’ or face the consequences’. In tune to what is happening the report points out that “Manipulated elections affected the rankings of 26 countries last year. This year, almost half of the world population will vote to elect new govts. Polls are scheduled in India, South Africa and the United States – “three of the most influential democracies in the world”. Along these, far-right ideologies and populism are gaining momentum both in the United States as well as in India. Notion of democracy is changing its content and character at alarming levels. Democracy ought to be nurtured and safeguarded.
Survival of democracy is dependent on the citizens, who are the core and foundation. A glance at two of the world’s largest democracies shows serious problems. Since Trump’s presidency to his re-election bid, and to Joe Biden, we have been witnessing distrust in institutions and day by day continues to escalating amongst the younger voters. For example, on the 13th of December, 2023, the opposition members of parliament demanded the home minister who is a close confidante of PM Modi to make a statement on the breach has been met by presiding officers suspending 143 opposition MPS from the two houses. In the meantime, the Lok Sabha cleared three new criminal law bills without debates and deliberations—a spoiler of democracy.
In both the democracies passions of the citizens runs high. Citizens’ involvement in the democratic processes have been curbed— movement of those critical journalists, politicians, known members of civil societies, public intellectuals and many others are put behind the bars or silenced. The top political executive has garnered undue power and authority taking total control of the governance of institutions such as election commission, legislatures, Ed, and other organs of the state. These institutions act like pawns and show callousness and complicit.
Those under dictatorial or autocratic or theocratic regimes are going through hell facing all sorts of punitive measures. Many are buckling to the pressure. There are many who do not want to go through the vendetta politics. Freedom is important for all humans. When citizens’ freedom is undermined then they resort to their rights to retrieve. What is more disappointing and frustrating is that in the name of ‘democracy’ those who govern have abdicated the principles and the core of governance have resorted to non-democratic practices. What is borne is mind is that in the words of Jonathan Zittrain: “Democracy is not just an election, it is our daily life”.
