Democracy & Crisis of Democracy

“Democracy is a political structure of administration carried out either directly by the
Brainstorming exercise on Democracy people (direct democracy) or by means of elected representatives of the people (representative democracy). The expression comes from the Greek: (dēmokratía) ‘rule of the people’, which was coined from (dêmos) ‘people’ and (krátos) ‘power’. There is no, collectively established exact definition of democracy. Equality, freedom and justice for all have been identified as central characteristics of democracy since prehistoric times.” Thus, Jami Chandio, FreedomGater Pakistan (FGP), goes back to the roots of this ancient and at the same time most modern form of governance.

In a two days workshop on “Democracy and Crisis of Democracy” by Freedom Gate Pakistan supported by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit Jami Chandio led from the basic concept of ancient Greeks to nowadays Pakistan. As democracy works on principle of the majority how far does this include individual and minority rights to be responsive and accessible for all and for this she stands on the groundings of free and fair elections in reality.

In order to analyze the current situation in Pakistan Ayesha Javed, Member of Provincial Assembly of Punjab and also a member of Freedom Gate Pakistan reinforced the Sindh-based Chandio. Together they highlighted among conditions the cultural factor: “Democracies are varied, and reflect each nation's different political, social, and cultural existence. Democracies stand upon basic ideologies not standardized practices.”

Further, Academic Chandio reminded that “Democracy is a kind of governance where authority, rights and civic responsibility comes in the same package. Indeed democracy is a composition of certain ‘DOs’ and ‘DON’Ts’ to guard positive human freedom.” Basing on the principles, the liberal thinker stresses that individually, man can struggle for his or her constitutional rights but jointly people can fight for a universal cause to shield and secure the civil rights of all but there are certain internal and external forces that drives and derails democracy and democratic values. Besides this, there are many more tools and vehicles on which democracy runs. Not all could
Group work on presentation on Democracy be explored – due to time limitation.

The workshop in Karachi was an amalgamation of presentations, group work and brain storming exercises. It evaluated logically and critically the roots causing the failure of democracy in underdeveloped countries. The participants from three provinces took a very active part and placed many valid questions on the table related the role, rights, duties and responsibilities of citizens. The gender-balanced group commented during the final session that welfare democratic states can be established only when social justice will be available for all. Any discrimination of region, community or nationality will hamper equality among citizens. “For that we have to strengthen civil society in general and empower the individual especially.” concluded the participants, thus outlining a fair liberal democracy.

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