Discussion on developmental Democracy - Research Paper Example

To better comprehend the strands of republican impression it is crucial to understand its origin in early liberal thought (Held, 2006). The concept of ‘social democratic’ politics has emerged from the beliefs and theories of developmental democracy but it actually fructified in the real politics and policies of the popular Keynesian and interventionist state only after the 2nd World War. The fast economic development after the 2nd World War helped finance a program of make-believe sort of greater welfare but the worldwide economic recession of the 1970s reduced the appeal of the welfare program for not serving the cause of common welfare by both the left and the right.

Various stakeholders of the concept of greater social welfare such as politicians, trade unionists and industrialists could not hold the torch together any more but the concept of equality and justice for all cleared the path of a comprehensive program of state intervention in civil society. But no decisive limitations were stipulated for the state intervention, thus promoting paternalism, bureaucracy and hierarchy throughout the state politics, which had their own outcomes on the dynamics of democracy (Held, 2006).

Developmental democracy is one of the classical models of democracy. It holds that people can bring about change for the better in society through participation in government and community matters for the common welfare of all. Developmental is a part of democracy that states the process used by people to inculcate human prowess to help in creating consciousness of their actions aimed at people themselves to take care of their overall welfare. Citizens play an active role in government and local administrative matters via voting and sharing their opinion with the elected representatives, and also with the government spokespersons.

Democracy becomes a medium of educating people and increasing their self-welfare potential. Politics offers a platform to them to use their power of taking crucial decisions in other fields. The developmental model employs indirect representation just for the reason that direct involvement is not practically possible like participatory democracy. Developmental democracy offers the possibility of political and social equality. In general, the development model takes it for granted that people can gain civic traits and improve upon their human virtues by actively playing their part in democracy (Library, Think Quest).

The purpose of electoral democracy is to promote social and political awareness but this notion inclines to provide greater attention to the ‘professionalization of public policy’ by laying increased focus on political parties and civil society ignoring the fact that democracy is not only of the people and by the people but for the people. Worldwide, a new inclination is being observed towards consumer democracy taking the place of citizen democracy with citizens playing various roles such as consumers, customers, users, and observing of government offerings as products available in the reach of those only who have the resources to buy (Edigheji, 2005).

Thus, negative trends can be observed in the form of sectarian disputes, parties divided on the distribution of private wealth, and disinterest of