DEMOCRACY AS A UNIVERSAL VALUE

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<bold>DEMOCRACY AS A UNIVERSAL VALUE

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By Amartya Sen 

The Hindustan Times (20 February, 1999)


The recent problems of east and south Asia bring out, among other things,
the penalty of undemocratic governance. This is so in two striking
respects. 


First, the development of the financial crisis in some of these economies
(including South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia) has been closely linked with
the lack of transparency in business, in particular the lack of public
participation in reviewing financial arrangements. The absence of an
effective democratic forum has been consequential in this failing. 


Second, once the financial crisis led to a general economic recession,
the protective power of democracy -- not unlike that which prevents
famines in democratic countries-- was badly missed in some countries,
such as Indonesia and Thailand. The newly dispossessed did not have the
hearing they needed..


what exactly is democracy? I should warn particularly against identifying
democracy with majority rule. Democracy has complex demands which
certainly includes voting and respect for election results, but it also
requires the protection of liberties and freedoms, respect for legal
entitlements and the guaranteeing of free discussions and uncensored
distribution of news and fair comment. Indeed, even elections can be
deeply defective if they occur without giving the different sides
adequate opportunity to present their respective cases, or without giving
the electorate the freedom to obtain news and to consider the views of
the protagonists. Democracy is a demanding system, and not just a
mechanical condition (like majority rule) seen in isolation.


Views in this light, the merits of democracy and its claim to be seen as
a universal value can be related to certain distinct virtues that go with
its unfettered practice. Indeed, we can distinguish between three
different ways in which democracy enriches the lives of the citizens.
First, political freedom is a part of human freedom in general, and civil
and political rights are crucial for good living of individuals as social
beings. Political and social participation has intrinsic value in human
life and well being. To be prevented from participation in the political
life of the community cannot but be a major deprivation.



Second, as I have just discussed (in disputing the claim that democracy
is in tension with economic development), democracy has an important
instrumental value in enhancing the hearing that people get in expressing
and supporting their claims to political attention (including the claims
of economic needs).


Third- and this is a point to be explored further -- the practice of
democracy gives the citizens and opportunity to learn from each other,
and also for the society to form its values and priorities.


Even the idea of "needs" (including the understanding of "economic
needs") requires public discussion and exchange of information, views and
analyses. In this sense, democracy has a constructive importance, in
addition to the intrinsic value it has in the lives of the citizens and
its instrumental role in political decisions.


The claims of democracy as a universal value have to take note of this
diversity of considerations.