Internal and External Challenges Affecting Modern Democracy - Essay Example

To what extent have internal and external challenges fundamentally changed the nature of the modern liberal democratic To what extent have internal and external challenges fundamentally changed the nature of the modern liberal democratic state? Democracy was born from the public debates in the streets of Athens. Since then, democracy has evolved with the changing world. In its evolution, democracy has faced numerous challenges. In particular, there have been internal and external challenges affecting democracy. This paper evaluates these internal and external challenges. Specifically, the paper seeks to determine the extent to which both the internal and external challenges have affected democracy. The paper does not evaluate these challenges in democracy as a whole; it evaluates the extent of these challenges in modern liberal democracy. The question that arises first is what is modern liberal democracy? Modern liberal democracy can be termed as a democracy that places importance on the rule that all people are created by God. Since all people are created by God, it argues that the perfect society should sustain the inherent value of each individual by guarding the equality and freedom of each person. Internal challenges that have affected the nature of modern liberal democracy can be regarded to originate from within the state. The institutions of the government are a challenge which has affected the nature of modern liberal democracy. They are regarded as a challenge depending on their strength, the manner in which they are structured, and the transparency in them. These institutions define the modern liberal democratic state’s nature of government. The strength of these institutions is a challenge that defines the nature of modern liberal democracy because if they are weak, then the government’s role of ensuring equality and freedom for each individual is weak. In cases of regional and ethnic clashes, it is the work of the government to protect the lives of endangered individuals such as children and women (Klijin, 2012). Many liberal democratic states that have weak institutions have failed in ensuring the rights and freedoms of each individual as liberal democracy requires. This has allowed for the emergence of authoritarian rulers who exert their power against the true concept of democracy. Present day Russia is an example where due to weak government institutions, its leader Vladimir Putin has exerted a single authoritarian rule to ensure the governments legitimacy. However, by acting this way, he has corroded modern liberal democracy in Russia. The transparency of the current government presents a challenge to modern liberal democracy if the government is not transparent. When a government is not transparent, it implies that it is corrupt (Klijin, 2012). Corruption is a challenge to modern liberal democracy that erodes its concepts. There are various types of corruption such as appointments based on ethnicity, and misdeeds during an election. Corruption reduces the people’s faith of a modern liberal democratic state. It also obstructs each individual’s access to information. By obstructing access to information, then every individual is denied the right to information. Each person is guaranteed equality in terms of opportunity in a modern liberal democracy. However, corruption impedes this equality due to preferential treatment offered by a corrupt system of governance. It is especially evident in modern developing nations mostly in Asia and Africa (Dryzek & Dunleavy, 2009). In modern liberal democracy, this right is mainly achieved through an independent press. A press that is free from the control of the government. However, if the press is constantly under the influence of the government to air or not to air, to write or not to write, certain information, then this presents a challenge in modern liberal democracy (Dryzek & Dunleavy, 2009). An example is the case of Kenya, a country in Africa whereby the government through its security minister ordered the storming of the offices of the Kenya Television Network which is a national broadcaster that is privately owned. This move was aimed at stopping what the government thought was secret information. It stopped the broadcaster, a member of the press from informing people of that country. This is just but one example of the many that are there in the world. Considering the United States of America, a country that is considered as the pioneer of modern liberal democracy, it has also faced challenges in spite of its advancement in modern liberal democracy in particular concerning its media. Accusations have risen of distortion, manipulation, omission, and lack of accuracy in the media. These issues associated with the media have led to obscurity in the access of information that is free for all, non-secretive, and that touches on the very detail which affects each individual in the country (Drogus & Orvis, 2012). It is important to note that the media plays a huge role in shaping the nature of modern liberal democracy. As the pioneer of modern liberal democracy, countries in other parts of the world looking to follow in the steps of America will take up these forms of the press which in reality pose a challenge to the aims of modern liberal democracy. If the media is free, then a modern liberal democracy is bound to function properly. However, if it is not, then it weakens modern liberal democracy. According to Jensen (2011), Jean Cohen and Andrew Arato view a civil society that is thriving as a determinant of the level up to which a modern liberal democratic state achieves the rules and ideas of modern liberal democracy. Jensen (2011) goes on to say that if individuals who are part of a liberal democracy fail to energetically contribute in civil societies, then the modern liberal democracy will fail in upholding the expected democratic principles. This is evident in the political customs and social norms of the state. Civil societies are viewed by governments as opponents to the said government’s rule. In the current world where modern liberal democracy is practiced, civil societies form an intricate constituent. For modern liberal democracy to fully functional, there is no way that the leaders can be authoritative. Leaders are bound by its principles to embrace dialogue. If there is no dialogue, then modern liberal democracy is affected in that not all views of individual citizens are considered. It is a challenge if the civil society of a modern liberal democracy is weak because it fails to effect deliberation effectively. Civil societies offer thoughtful deliberation and allow equality in the dialogue process of modern liberal democracy. Weak civil societies or those that are biased in their representation are a challenge in the implementation of modern liberal democracy. It is a challenge because if it is an issue of the affected, then not all sides will accept the outcome of the deliberation process. As a result, this degrades the sense and importance of modern liberal democracy. Through this degradation, the purposeful dialogue that is needed in modern liberal democracy fails (Jensen, 2011). China is a one party state that follows an authoritarian form of government. In recent times, it has made huge steps in enhancing trade and cooperation in the developing world especially in Africa. By taking advantage of the problems affecting developing countries, China can be said to be influencing modern liberal democracies in adopting various ideologies that contradict the ideologies of modern liberal democracy. Examples of countries where this influence is evident are Sudan and Zimbabwe. In Sudan, President Bashar al Assad and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe have used authoritarian rule to crush liberal democratic principles by force. This scenario can be attributed to China’s influence on their mode of governance as China is their strongest ally from the East (Marsh, et al., 2006). The influence from non-democratic states on modern liberal democracies brings about an aspect of confusion in the country practicing modern liberal democracy hence challenging the validity of this form of democracy. Its implementation becomes more of a problem rather than a solution to the issues facing that country. Apart from the influence of non democratic countries, the international markets and the global finance system is an external challenge that affects the nature of modern liberal democracies. Countries that practice modern liberal democracy for instance embrace economic liberalism. Economic liberalism advocates for alignment of the county’s economy in line with the individual needs of citizens of that country. Various economic rules are used but the market needs are given preferential consideration. If the government seems to impede free trade in the market, then economic liberalism seeks to curb such a case (Hay & Wincott, 2012). On consideration of the global and international, a challenge arises when say an international financial crisis occurs. Financial crisis affects the economic liberalism that is practiced in modern liberal democracies. Similarly, due to the interconnectivity of the global market, in cases of a global financial crisis, modern liberal democracies are forced to effect measures which themselves contradict the expectations of modern liberal democracy (Hay & Wincott, 2012). Austerity measures undertaken by modern liberal democracies such as Greece, a member of the European Union do not serve to enhance democratic practices in these countries. They fuel public anger, riots, and forceful means which are not part of modern liberal democracy. This was evident in Greece when such measures were applied under the pressure of the European Union so that Greece could receive a bail out. Thus, the global market and international financial institutions highly affect the nature of modern liberal democracy. A characteristic feature of modernization is promotion of ideologies. Promotion of modern liberal democracy by regional and international organizations has itself presented a challenge to modern liberal democracy. The reason is that many of the countries in which democracy is being promoted have the notion of hypocrisy. They regard these organizations, especially international organizations as having other intentions other than the promotion of democracy. The challenge that lies here in is that some of this countries in which democracy is being promoted in lack the required prerequisite conditions for democracy promotion. Instead of promoting democratic principles constituting modern liberal democracy, it results in conflict and disagreements (Caramani, 2011). An example is the current conflict in Ukraine. The conflict resulted from the European Union’s push for Ukraine to join the union. Obviously, Ukraine, a state formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union lacked the prerequisite conditions for promotion of democracy. Further, the Ukrainian public was divided on their opinion regarding joining the European Union which advocates for modern liberal democracy. As a result, the conflict arose. This presents a scenario all over the world that is in occurrence. Modern Liberal democracy calls for the appreciation of the right of each individual. This is regardless of the individual’s views or inclination. One contentious issue in modern liberal democracy has been that of same sex marriages. Due to the different religious and cultural beliefs of each country, same sex marriages have resulted in disagreements and conflicts in modern liberal democracy. Uganda, the West, and European nations which are advocating for the recognition of the rights of individuals practicing same sex marriages are currently caught up in such a conflict after Uganda adopted a harsh law that discriminated against individuals practicing same sex relationships. Conclusion It is evident from the discussion of the various internal and external challenges that they have greatly influenced the nature of modern liberal democracy. If these challenges did not exist, then modern liberal democracy could be near perfect in its implementation by all countries that embrace it in the world. However, due to the described challenges, then, modern liberal democracy has been caught up in a never ending circus. Steps have been made towards realization of its core values, principles, and rules. Nevertheless, the challenges faced have not been effectively dealt with to hinder deterioration of modern liberal practices associated with modern liberal democracy. As a result, it can be said that the extent to which these factors, both internal and external have affected the nature of modern liberal democracy is great. Bibliography Caramani, D., 2011. Comparative Politics. 2nd edn ed. Oxford: Oxfrod University Press. Drogus, C. A. & Orvis, S., 2012. Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and cases in context. Washington: CQ Press. Dryzek, J. & Dunleavy, P., 2009. Theories of the Democratic State. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Hay, C. & Wincott, D., 2012. Political Economy of European Welfare Capitalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Jensen, M., 2011. Civil Society in Liberal Democracy. s.l.:Routledge. Klijin, E. H., 2012. New Public Mnagement and Governance: a Comparison. Oxford Handbook of Governance, pp. 201-214. Marsh, D., Smith, N. J. & Hothi, N., 2006. Globalization and the State. The State: Theories and Issues, pp. 172-189. Read More