Democracy is a concept that sometimes lacks universal acceptance in terms of semantic and philosophical meaning. Scholars in the social sciences have at least agreed that every nation which practices democracy uses different approaches, resulting in a range of outcomes. Most of the European countries have liberal democracies; scholars like Robert Darl argue that such democracies have the highest level of individual liberty and freedoms. In any form that might be considered, democracy entails peoples’ participation in their own affairs, whether directly or through their elected representatives. From the time of the ancient Greeks to our era of advanced technology, people have tested the costs of democracy, which have changed their lives and made them desire changes, writes Godwin Gonde Amani especially for the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.
Under democracy comes the will of the people! Since democracy allows everyone to have an equal opportunity in decision making and those in power decide on behalf of the people through representation, the question is: Who are the people? Abraham Lincoln claimed to have “defined” democracy, which indeed wasn’t as direct as he intended, as ‘government of the people, for the people and by the people’, which goes beyond what the will of the people is all about. Democracy is not only about free and fair elections, it includes things like freedoms, equal opportunities for political parties, civil societies, the rule of law, liberties, and indeed, public participation. Citizens have the right to hold their leaders accountable, and all decisions made on behalf of the people should represent the will of the entire society, not the desire of an autocratic class.
In order to have a society that is built with democratic principles, there is a need for democratisation processes. Democratisation, as a process of democratising an institution, is a learning process. Unlike a regime, which can collapse overnight, democratisation is a process that requires time and experiences its own trials and errors. Democratisation is mostly influenced by socialisation (religion, the education of the youth and both genders). If democratisation has to do with governing, it is argued that governing is all about exercising power over the people, and power does not necessarily need to be exercised democratically.
In the world of today, the main challenge of democracy is respecting the will of the people, which is done through the manipulation of information. Misinformation and disinformation have been the tools used by the ruling class over the people. It is believed that half of the truth is never said, hence rulers stand on the realistic assumption that in order to ensure the survival of the state, they have the right to lie. The argument here is: people have the right to acquire information and that the information they acquire should be right and true. Misinformation has been a weapon used to divide the public for political gain; rulers, through the use of propaganda, can decide what is right and what is wrong for the public.
When talking about what to do about the will of the people in the world of manipulation, what comes to mind is that the world is already corrupt, and the chance for democracy to represent the will of the people is minimal. As of today, democracy is not only about a majority achieving happiness; it also includes the satisfaction of minorities. People might come from the same nation, speak the same language and share the common culture but they can never think the same. The disciples of Jesus who spent years with him learning directly from him through the good news and miracles, when asked by Jesus to describe him according to what people think he is, not even two had the same answer. Governments cannot deny people their right to exercise their thought, even when the rulers think that the people cannot think properly. Under democracy and human rights, it should be noted that people have the right to be wrong!
People have the freedom to express their desires and decisions, and that can be stipulated in different manners. Through the voting systems, people express their will in choosing the leaders they want, and it is through free and fair elections that the people can make their chosen leaders loyal and accountable to them. In most African states, the accountability of leaders to the will of the people is questioned since electoral systems are compromised. Elections need to be the process that assures both the voters and candidates the ability to make good on the desire for change. Professor Abdillah Omari, in his article “Civil Military Relations in Tanzania,” made an argument about the role of the security forces in observing elections in Africa, and raised a serious question for discussion: “who watches the watcher?” Such an argument poses solemn questions regarding the role of the security forces in ensuring a fair playing field for political parties to participate in elections. It has been observed in many counties in Africa that during elections, the police openly support the ruling parties against oppositions and act as a stepping stone to power in promise of better salaries and favourable working conditions. The Ugandan police force has been directly suppressing opposition, and beating and detaining their leaders, claiming that their moves jeopardise the state’s security. Enhancing public opinion is the role of a democratic government, which acknowledges the opinions of the elites and the masses alike through the use of their forums: social media, political rallies and the like.
Again, the ‘will of the people’ applies to political tolerance in that people should enjoy their political space and choose any party they would feel comfortable with. Like the freedom of civil societies within the state, political parties provide alternative forms of governance, hence the people can choose the best manifesto for their economic and social wellbeing. Freedom of expression and the right to be happy are a fundamental key to political tolerance. Unlike the United States of America, where the dominant Democrats and Republicans have been exchanging power for a long time, Africa has a wide variety of party systems, where some countries, like Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa, have been ruled by a single party since independence, while in others, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, alliances among parties are needed for the government to be formed. Political tolerance is observed in Ghana, Botswana and Malawi, in which people have experienced a peaceful transition of power among parties, but a lot needs to be done to other regions of the continent.
In order to achieve democracy through the acknowledgement of the will of the people, democratisation processes are important. The democratisation process can be achieved through a total revolution of systems, where the elites and masses will opt to adopt instantaneous changes, hence the idea of trial and error exists with the aim of searching for a democratic institution which would work. Countries that have managed to apply such a move include Argentina, the Philippines, Chile and Greece. Again, there is a need for the evolutionary processes, which allow time for the creation of rule of law and the institution of civil society to develop. Evolution calls for the gradual change towards the total achievement, and Tanzania is noted as country that struggled to consolidate socialism and its policies. Lastly, an abrupt democratisation can stand as a means of democratising and representing the peoples’ will. This abrupt change includes both nations with total democratic elements and those which lack them. The few elites face a task of negotiation through compromise and cooperation and search for any means necessary to change the regimes. The change can be done under a civilian movement backed by the military, like how Madagascar under Rajoelina transformed in 2009.
The will of the people in a democratic world needs to be a systematic step, so that those in power understand the rights of the people they lead, and the people reciprocate through performing their responsibilities accordingly. It is in democratic societies where elected officials are chosen in free, fair and frequent elections and all adults, practically, have the right to vote in elections. In the same democratic society, citizens have the right to express themselves on political matters without fear, and everyone has the right to form parties and participate in party politics. On the question of information provided to the public, the issue of the people’s will provides the public with alternative sources of information, and that information is freely and legally available to all. The power to make decisions always resides in the hands of the majorities. and the minorities are satisfied with the fairness of the decisions.
In conclusion, democracy is evolving, and democratisation itself is not enough if we only consider elections alone to be the main issue. Democracy goes beyond the representation of the will of the people and touches individual civil rights and the rights of minorities. Since democracy cannot be transferred from one society to another, it is the call for the international community to respect the will of the people through public awareness on the merits of democracy. Constitutions and constitutional processes should be implemented in most states so that an economic boost can be achieved to prevent total dependence and create free societies. Julius Nyerere, the founding father of Tanzania, once said that an argument is opposed by another argument, not by a stick, and therefore those in power should learn that men are not ruled by fear or by the will of other men, but through the power of ideas and inclusiveness.
