Return of Democracy to the Global Agenda

the last 4 paragraphs shud be a must read. democracy is great, but its just a political skeleton. society is what really forms a nation.

well commented!!

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A blooming example of Weak intellectualism

Subhash

Egypt is a democracy, but not Pakistan? Please clarify.

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You could improve this in a couple of ways.

First, move the focus away from where democracy can or cannot exist. Concentrate on factors that either faciliate movement toward democracy or away from democracy. The basic assumption in this alternative approach would be that in every human population there are people who want to establish ``democracy`` as they see it. The question then becomes: well, why do we always see so much of variation across groups?

Second, don`t jumble up different kinds of arguments. Separate them. For example, in your second last para you state: ``a stable democracy needs a heavy dose of internal dialogue, public participation, good leadership and a tradition of fairness.``

True. But immediately, in the last paragraph, you weaken the force of the argument by shifting attention to Tocqueville`s ``habits of the heart`` - which seems to be an individual level construct. Someone who knows Tocqueville`s work well can see the linkage, but for others the connection will not be as apparent.

A person who counts afghanistan and Iraq as democracies should get his head examined

subash:

welcome to chowk.

for a person who asks a lot of questions like these:

Democracy as an idea and practice has been around for over two millennia, at least since the time of Plato. But the concept is still tricky. In fact, the turf is getting more slippery all the time, what with competing adherence amongst the faithful to newer concepts like globalisation and multiculturism. Has globalisation made people more conscious of their rights or does it make them more complacent and distracted? Are democracy and governance rooted in cultural values and social norms? Is religion inherently at odds with democracy?

you have been quick to jump the gun and condemn others


why?