Democracy and Development - Essay Example

Democracy and Development Democracy and Development Ideally, democracy has four primary elements and most countries across the world experience difficulties to balance a genuine democratic governance and facilitate development. First, citizens elect their government through a free and fair election. Second, democracy champions for active participation and involvement of the citizens in affairs of their nations. Third, protection of human rights such as liberty, speech, and others. Lastly, democracy outlines a particular rule of law for any situation. In short, fair democratic leadership should exhibit legal equality, freedom, and the rule of law. Development has many dimensions such as economic, political, and social (Heo and Hahm, 2015). Economic development involves growth, stability, and efficiency of economy. Social development may cover equity of resource distribution, security, cultural diversity, employment, and the rule of law. Moreover, political development encompasses aspects such as participation, neutrality and independence of electoral commissions, and political freedom. Slightly related to democracy is a natural development, which entails sustainability, healthy surrounding, and conservation of resources. Whether development and democracy aspects intersect at the right coordinates for the well-being of society is arguable. This paper evaluates the connection between development and democracy. Understandably, equity in resource distribution is a democracy principle that enhances many thinkers to associate with positive development progress. Elected governments in democratic nations are responsible for the equal spread of resources to the subjects. For example, land, employment opportunities, infrastructural development, and social amenities, are essential factors that exhibit advancement of the region. A real democratic leadership enacts laws that promote sharing of economic resources to the grassroots levels rather than harboring wealth in the hands of a few individuals. Regional development should get support from national governments or federal state without any discrimination whatsoever. Therefore, if leaders observe democratic spirit in their governance, citizens should enjoy. Social development is a crucial tool for democratic nations. Freedom of expression and liberty promotes cultural diversity. For example, Saudi Arabia women have many limitations dictated by both culture and the rule of law (Saudiembassy.net, 2015). Until recently, Saudi women could not vote in elections, a case that most human rights described as a violation of human development. Additionally, driving a car was not a thing for Saudi women because the unwritten law stipulates that they cannot. In 2011, Saudi women triggered a campaign to champion for them to drive but it was not that successful. Compared to their American counterparts, Saudi Women have limited rights. As a matter of point, the participation of Saudi women in Olympic sports has been very contentious. From a human reasoning, one may argue that America women enjoy significant advantages compared to Saudi women. Consequently, they can have equal employment opportunity as men, excel in education, and take part in sports. Apparently, the comparative analysis of Saudi society and American one portrays two nations at the extreme opposite of democracy barometer. No wonder many American women participate in sports. It is not wrong for one to argue that lack of social democracy impedes development. Economic is a measure of democratic developments, but advancements in some Middle East countries make this point debatable. Dubai is among the fastest growing nations, and its economic significance is impeccable. Tourism in Dubai makes the region join the top five most growing economies globally. According to Everington (2015), Dubai is fifth-best performing metropolitan economy in the world with 4.5% GDP growth and positive change in unemployment of 6.6%. Some of the world’s attractive buildings and innovations are in Dubai. Probably, some Cities in democratically proclaimed countries such as the United States and Germany cannot march economic advancement of Dubai. Classical democratic theory defines an ideal society where community decisions are subject to direct democracy by the people in meetings. Protective democracy is another democratic model that enhance rights of citizens through a representative government (Wäckerle, 2015). Currently, Dubai is under the rule of Mohammed Bin Rashid from the dynasty of Maktoum, which has been governing the States since 1933. The constitutional monarchy in Dubai is not what any American or French describes as a democracy. As a matter of point, protective or classical theories of democracy are not near perfect definition of Dubai’s democracy. However, the economic development in Dubai and openness to foreigners is not a characteristic feature, which disputes the assertion that development and democracy go hand in hand. Just before the fall of Egypt during the Arab Spring, the nation was and remains one of the strongest economies in Africa. Despite the rule under Mubarak lacking a near-perfect democracy standards, economic development, and cultural diversity was a common feature in the country. Not far from Egypt is Libya whose friendly environment under the rule of Gadhafi was a pure autocratic rule that lasted for nearly 42 years (Masoud, 2015). However, evidence indicates that Libyans never had one of the best economic systems in the world, if not Africa only. According to Chengu (2015), Libya dropped from the richest African State to a failed nation immediately after the fall of the Gadhafi. After inheriting one of the poorest nations, Gaddafi developed the countries through direct democracy where citizens participated in governance through Jamahiriya’s. Without a doubt, Libya had the highest GDP and life expectancy compared to other African nations. Some of the free social amenities in Libya during Gaddafi rein include health care, education, free electricity as well as free loans. Petrol price was approximate $0.14 per litre. In fact, UN recognized Libya as the 53rd richest country in the world. However, Gaddafi ruled the nation as a family affair with no elections at all. A section of Libyans complained that governance was not democratic, and it was no long before NATO led an onslaught on the perceived dictatorial Gaddafi (Chengu, 2013). In as much as Egypt held an election after Mubarak’s fall, the new leader did worse, a factor that led to his arrest (Robbins, 2015). Apparently, Egypt’s Libya’s case indicate that development and democracy are not close partners after all. Jean-Jacques suggested another view to the democratic theory, which roots for liberal democracy. At the focal point of Jean’s argument is that society should depict a genuine interest of collaborative approach for common good. In short, the theorist asserts that each should act selflessly, and no citizens should be wealthy enough to buy another. Karl Max also rooted for people’s democracy that advocated for social justice (Howard, 2004). The United States Constitution has democracy as its fundamental cornerstone but perhaps it just exist on paper. Capitalism in the United States increases the gap between the poor and the rich every day. Despite having one of the celebrated democratic systems, a section of Americans still languishes in poverty. As health care cost increases, many Americans cannot access quality care because of resource limitation (Salter, 2015). The highly privatized American health systems make many miss health care. Though government attempts to bridge the gap, many still suffer. Therefore, Jean’s and Max’s view of democracy do not hold in American society where capitalists act with high-level of self-interest. Again, it indicates that democracy alone is not necessary for development. During the second world war, Harry Truman, the president of the U.S had difficult decision to make concerning whether to bomb Hiroshima or not. In a normal democratic environment, the president is expected to seek a mandate from the people through a referendum or awaiting a decision from an expansive bureaucracy. Truman did the unthinkable without considering the democratic right of U.S citizens. Reasonably, citizens would not even approve the proposal. The U.S benefited much from the decision of Truman. First, U.S emerged as the winner of the war that was killing so many people and causing global disruptions. While Germany and Russia were causing havoc to other nations, the U.S went against its isolation policy to involve in the war. The incident marked a fundamental political development of the U.S at a time when it needed it most. Second, the decision enhanced the U.S economic development both locally and overseas. It could influence world affairs and partner with many countries for economic development. At times, leaders need to exercise non-democratic decisions to achieve development either economically or politically. In conclusion, democracy is a significant political tool that determine nature of governance. Critically, justice advocates for the participation of subjects in matters of political rule and decisions. Most democratic nations indicate a high level of development, but still evidence shows that strict adherence to democratic principles is not suitable for development. Some of the challenges that democratic societies face are the dominance of majority because even minority deserve fair representation. Without democratic leadership, societies witness tyranny of the majority. Some of the non-democratic nations that exhibited good developments include Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt, and Libya. Democracy is necessary for development but only through a critical framework that manages conflicting interest of society members. Otherwise, focused autocratic governments can promote developments better than traditional ones due to the speed of decision-making process. Bibliography Chengu, C., 2015, Libya: From Africas Richest State under Gaddafi, to Failed State after NATO Intervention. [online] Global Research. Available at: http://www.globalresearch.ca/libya-from-africas-richest-state-under-gaddafi-to-failed-state-after-nato-intervention/5408740 [Accessed 6 Dec. 2015]. Chengu, G., 2013, Gaddafis Libya was Africas Most Prosperous Democracy | Foreign Policy Journal. [online] Foreign Policy Journal. Available at: http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2013/01/12/gaddafis-libya-was-africas-most-prosperous-democracy/ [Accessed 6 Dec. 2015]. Everington, J., 2015, Dubai enters top five ranked fastest growing economies | The National. [online] Thenational.ae. Available at: http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/dubai-enters-top-five-ranked-fastest-growing-economies [Accessed 6 Dec. 2015]. Heo, U. and Hahm, S., 2015, ‘Democracy, Institutional Maturity, and Economic Development’, Social Science Quarterly, 96(4), pp.1041-1058. Howard, M., 2004, Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction Frank Cunningham Routledge Contemporary Political Philosophy New York: Routledge, 2002, 248 pp. Dialogue, 43(04), p.822. Masoud, T., 2015, ‘Has the Door Closed on Arab Democracy?’ Journal of Democracy, 26(1), pp.74-87. Robbins, M., 2015, ‘People Still Want Democracy’, Journal of Democracy, 26(4), pp.80-89. Salter, A., 2015, ‘Rights to the Realm: Reconsidering Western Political Development’, Am Polit Sci Rev, pp.1-10. Saudiembassy.net, 2015, The basic law of governance. [online] Available at: https://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/laws/The_Basic_Law_Of_Governance.aspx [Accessed 6 Dec. 2015]. Wackerle, M., 2015, ‘Transitions of Democracy: An Evolutionary Political Economy Perspective’, Societies in Transition, pp.135-158. Read More