Question

How are the challenges to democracy linked to the possibility of political reforms? Explain.

Answer 1

The term "Challenges to Democracy" means the difficulties that a democracy has to overcome in order to flourish. To overcome these challenges, there is a need of reforms. These reforms are known as the political reforms or democratic reforms.

Problems of a Democracy

• Foundational challenges deal with the problems that arise at the time of establishment of democracy. Military regimes go through revolutions before democracy is brought into system.
• Challenges of expansion deal with the problem of spreading democracy in other areas across the region. Most democracies face this issue. For example, the right to information was brought about after a lot of debate.  
• Deepening of democracy deals with the strengthening the institutions and practices of  democracy like decreasing the inequalities of income.

Political/Democratic Reforms

All the above mentioned challenges can be resolved with the introduction of the following reforms:

Democratic reforms can be achieved through the following:

a. Through the passage of various laws like Right to Recall, a law must be passed empowering people to recall political representatives who fail to perform or deliver.

b. Political parties must come under the ambit of right to information and share details like who funds them, how much money they spend and how they select candidates for elections to the public.

c. Ensure quick disposal of cases related to corruption scams involving politicians. Fast track courts for corruption related cases should be set up.

d. Active and vigilant citizenry can go a long way in attaining democratic reforms. People can pass resolutions, put pressure on parties through petitions, protest and demand parties to be more transparent in their functioning. People can make use of media to question parties and their leaders on various policy matters.

e. Recourse to legal ways of reforming politics that aim at bringing about necessary laws/legislation or by making changes in the existing laws so as to make the system more transparent in its functioning and more responsive to the needs of the people. For example, right to information, anti-defection law, Jan Lokpal, etc.

f. An independent media should be establish.

Thus, all forms of governments do face some or the other challenges and democracy is no exception. However, with the implementation of proper democratic and political reforms, all challenges can be resolved.