Friday, May 15, 2009

Criticism of Democracy

This is the eve of the declaring of results of the largest democratic exercise in the world.

Strangely, there is very little understanding and debate on the merits and demerits of democracy. Democracy, as J Krishnamurti famously said, is flawed but better than other systems. But a discussion of its flaws, even amongst the intelligentsia, is strangely lacking. It is almost too easy to thump our chests just because we are a nation in which the leaders are elected.


For those interested, may I suggest that you contribute to the Criticism of Democracy section of the Democracy page on Wikipedia? Contribute links, references, excerpts from scholarly books and articles, etc. I started to contribute, and have contributed unreferenced text, but I am admittedly not a politically mature commentator.

(cartoon courtesy www.coxandforkum.com)

2 comments:

Erich Kofmel said...

Only too right. May I suggest, though, you check out my new blog, the "Anti-Democracy Agenda":

www.anti-democracy.com

and my book, "Anti-Democratic Thought" (Imprint Academic, 2008):

http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&id=KkMdJtaaeOYC

Cheers

A People said...

I agree, especially about the part you have highlighted that democracy does not work amidst large scale poverty.

I have also written a book:
www.democracyontrialallrise.com

and you may also visit my blog - where I am analysing India and its "democracy's" failures and reasons thereof.

www.democracyontrial.blogspot.com

I think it was a good idea to edit wikipedia. The article on democracy must incorporate developing world perspective on it.