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Question
“Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy”. Analyse the statement with examples.
Solution
Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy because of the following reasons:
- When societies develop, expand and become more complex in terms of social, economic and political relations, they need political parties to sustain governance.
- Political parties tend to provide the base on which the praxis of government is built.
- Political parties gather public views on various important issues, articulate them and then present them to the government, which is what democracy is.
- Parties bring various representatives together, support or restrain government and its apparatus, develop policies, justify or oppose them in the public domain depending on their political ideology.
- Finally, parties which fail to form the government form the opposition and monitor the actions of the ruling party, thereby preventing the misuse or abuse of limits imposed by the Constitution.
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Muhammad Yunus is a famous economist of Bangladesh. He received several international honours for his efforts to promote economic and social development for the benefit of the poor. He and the Grameen Bank he started, jointly received the Noble Peace Prize for 2006. In February 2007, he decided to launch a political party and contest in the parliamentary elections. His objective was to foster proper leadership, good governance and build a new Bangladesh. He felt that only a political party different from the traditional ones would bring about new political culture. His party would be democratic from the grassroots level.
The launching of the new party, called Nagarik Shakti (Citizens’ Power), has caused a stir among the Bangladeshis. While many welcomed his decisions, some did not like it. "Now I think Bangladesh will have a chance to choose between good and bad and eventually have a good government," said Shahedul Islam, a government official. "That government, we hope, would not only keep itself away from corruption but also make fighting corruption and black money a top priority."
But leaders of traditional political parties who dominated the country’s politics for decades were apprehensive. "There was no debate (over him) winning the Novel, but politics is different − very challenging and often controversial," said a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Some others were highly critical. They asked why he was rushing into politics. "Is he being planted in politics by mentors from outside the country," asked one political observer.
Do you think Yunus made a right decision to float a new political party?
Do you agree with the statements and fears expressed by various people? How do you want this new party organised to make it different from other parties? If you were the one to begin this political party how would you defend it?
Answer the following question.
Describe any five major functions of political parties performed in a democracy.
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