What is a challenge? Explain three major challenges before the countries of the world regarding democracy.
A challenge is a difficulty that carries within it an opportunity for progress. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher level than before.
The challenges faced by democracy are:
- Foundational challenge.
- Challenge of expansion.
- Challenge of deepening democracy.
Foundational Challenge: It relates to making the transition to democracy and then instituting democratic government.
- This involves bringing down the existing non-democratic regime, keeping military away from controlling government and establishing a sovereign and functional state.
Challenge of Expansion: Most of the established democracies face the challenge of expansion.
- This involves, applying the basic principles of democratic government across all the regions, different social groups and various institutions.
- Ensuring greater power to local governments, extension of federal principle to all its units of federation, inclusion of women and minority groups etc. falls under this challenge. Most established democracies including India and USA face this challenge.
Challenge of Deepening Democracy: Every democracy in one or another form is facing this challenge.
- This evolves strengthening of the institutions and practices of democracy. This should happen in such a way, that people can realise their expectations of democracy. But ordinary people have different expectations from democracy in different societies. Therefore, this challenge takes different meanings and paths in different parts of the world.
- In general terms, it usually means, strengthening those institutions that help people’s participation and control. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decisions.