The Liberty And The Democracy There is an essential difference between the eastern and the western model The Trafalgar square in London had its second major protest in less than a month. The only thing in common between the two is the concept on which the protests are based upon. Independence. One against it for Ireland and the latter supporting it for Kashmir. Pakistan Civil Society decided to take further leaps on to the road that their Government has taken in recent weeks i.e; taking Kashmir issue to international platforms which could be argued as an aftermath to the escalating tensions at the border that might have served as an opportunity to back the Kashmir dispute and draw attention towards it. And surely one expected to see this protest gathering major media attention considering the population of Kashmiris and Pakistanis in UK. If not a million but certainly a part of it did turn up to lead the procession that started from Trafaalgar Square and ended at PMs Residence at 10, Downing Street. But I wonder if the same protest was called in Lal Chowk, barricades would have been already moved in to the city centre and curfew orders would be issued in advance in the capital. No need to comment on the house arrest for the leaders as that is a the order of the day. Now UK Government was not happy to see a protest for Kashmir in their state being a close political ally of India. But protests have given a go ahead call by the authorities and conveyed the same to their Indian counterparts citing the ban on protests would be looked upon as undemocratic by its citizens. And this for me draws the thick line between the so-called two democracies. Great Britain is ready to compromise on their political principles. One can criticize democracy but still it is good to see that the European countries hold their basic laws and principles very dear even if it affects their foreign interests. While India banks on giving every one an equal right to vote for establishing their position as the largest democracy in the world, it denies to follow the actual liberal consensus that Democracy allows. As far as the West is concerned, democracy has become equal to liberal democracy. That is to say not only free and fair elections, but separation of powers, rule of law, and protection of at least the basic liberties, such as religion, speech, property and assembly. In a few words, this is what we call Constitutional Liberalism, and it has nothing to do with the process of selecting a government. Constitutional liberalism deals with the goals of the government. It was developed in Western Europe and the United States in order to protect individual’s right to life and dignity. The ideologies should change inorder to bring a political transformation. We need to debate whether the Western concept of Governance does suit us or not.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 04:01:47 +0000