Development
Seeing In Relation To Governance

By Bhola Lohani

DEVELOPMENT is a complex issue that concerns with a host of factors such as per capita income, employment, education index, life expectancy and above all, decent standard of living for all people. In other words, not only economic growth, but also people’s education, health and social well-being fall under the ambit of development which maximises ordinary people’s participation in the country’s social, economic and political life too. Today, most of the developing countries are apparently in a race for development while some are advanced, others are far behind. Over a billion people in the developing countries cannot afford basic food and have little or no access to basic health and education services.

In the second half of twentieth century, the focus of developing world has, consistently, been on development and democracy, which appear intrinsically interrelated. Generally, the developed countries are found to display top per capita income ranking and claim good governance. On the other hand, the scourge of poverty continues to plague the least developed countries which lack viable democratic institutions for good governance and proper infrastructure for development. Besides, high population growth and environmental degradation threaten quality of life in these countries.

Despite significant strides made in economic growth and human development in the past fifty years, a third of population in developing world still live below poverty line. Only about 16 per cent share of global income is earned by developing countries with three fourths of world’s population, while more than 80 per cent share of that purse goes to the developed countries. This disparity is serious concern of international development co-operation, which focuses mainly on two areas, namely transfer of technology and national capacity building. In developing countries, development assistance forms a significant component of national budget. although apprehension is expressed on the misappropriation or under-utilisation of this assistance in many countries. Development is also seriously affected by growing trend of economic globalisation, which poses a challenge to developing country’s industry and commerce. Yet, some developing countries with good governance and resource potentials have skillfully steered their ways to development by accomplishing higher economic growth and employment.

In the past four decades, South East Asian Nations such as South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand have recorded substantially improved per capita income, and a surge in education index. However, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which claim highest number of least developed countries, lag behind with a large chunk of population as desperately poor (about 30 to 50 per cent below poverty line). The adult literacy rate of South Asian region (47.2 per cent) is less than half of that (98.3 per cent) in the industrial countries. Likewise, the strength of scientific/technical manpower in developing countries is 9.5 per thousand people which is far below to that (139.3 per thousand people) in the industrial countries (H.D. Report, 1995). This exemplifies the role that education plays in socio-economic development of a country.

How important is democracy for development? Democracy is expected to be more responsive to public interests as people exercise voting rights to choose between different political parties and make their voice heard through different pressure groups. On the contrary, dictators in authoritarian regimes are less likely to consult people in governance and in decision making. In principle, the democratic form of government and not authoritarian one is expected to promote good governance that emphasises on equitable and efficient use of public resources through enhanced accounta-bility, transparency and beneficiary participation in decision making and programme implementation. This will also provide competitive environment for sustainable development. However, the success of democracy will depend on institutional properties and method of practices employed.

Even today, a number of countries in this globe are governed by one party rule or have opted some form of authoritarian regimes which claim that non-democratic government is better to democratic ones, especially in bringing about economic development. Economic growth achieved by Singapore and People’s Republic of China support this view. This is true when one identifies development with economic growth alone. Indeed, development will be incomplete without civil and political rights that empower people with opportunities to participate in the country’s socio-economic as well as political affairs.

While the developing countries generally suffer from slow pace of development, social injustice and increasing cases of human rights abuses, only some have managed to maintain good governance and achieve viable socio-economic development. Not only authoritarian regimes, but also democratic governments have succumbed to bad governance and extensive corruption. On the other hand, development or economic growth achieved under the authoritarian regimes appears less sustainable. For example, economic sector experiences severe setback when Russian Federation changed country’s political system to democratic one from totalitarian communist regime.

Today, concerns are expressed that democracy is, at times, manipulated to serve the interest of a few elite in developing countries where most people are poor and illiterate. So, no stone should be left unturned to see that political or public authorities promptly respond to the needs and demands of ordinary people and protect liberties and freedoms. For this, state institutions ought to be strengthened to regulate the democratic norms and standards.

Benefits of development have not reached to a large body of women, minorities and other disadvantaged population. Technological gap, low education index, unemployment, bad governance and prevalence of corruption are main impediments to development. Therefore, developing world will need to focus on good governance, ensure social justice and human freedom, and facilitate technological innovation and economic dynamism. Also, due care should be taken to integrate environmental and population concerns into socio-economic activities designed to raise the quality of life for common people. The development priorities should be on primary education, basic health services, skill training and safety net economic measures that benefit weaker section of society most.

Important Variables Of Democracy

By Ram Bahadur K.C.

MAN by nature, wants to be free, independent and self-sufficient. That is also the fundamental factor for democracy. This instinct impulses man to group together, to raise voice against injustice and be vocal to ensure their fundamental rights. This process leads people to adopt various pressure tactics, steps of struggles and sometimes even revolutionary measures, ultimately resulting in political independence and peoples’ government. Such political system and governance may be parliamentary form, presidential form or the parliamentary monarchy. This is the evolutionary history of all the developed, developing and under-developed countries.

Reality

Democracy is said be the most ideal form of government. It has come as the demand of time in respect of political expediency, social justice and economic rationale. It is proved by history and experience of developed countries and some developing countries. Still by the experience of developing and underdeveloped countries including our neighbouring ones, it has also been quite apparent that the multi-party democracy has been a very hard reality to be translated into action for socio-economic development and meeting the aspirations of the people, particularly in respect of meeting their basic necessities. It has resulted in the class conflict, social unrest and frustrations. The common people are now questioning is it a panacea or a curse? Hence the most critical problem in our context is, how to contain peoples’ patience and secure their cooperative support for the smooth functioning of system. In essence, pro-democracy variables are limited and may be simple, but the post-democracy variables are many and more challenging.

Some variables of crucial nature for the success of democracy are briefed in the following lines. The democratic values and cultures are qualification and aptitude for democratic exercise. Broadly, they indicate knowledge of country’s Constitution, legal code, parliamentary regulations and proceedings, fundamental rights and duties, adherence to political principles and ethics. Honesty, integrity and sacrifice are other elements of democratic values and culture.

Fair and unbiased criticism may help government from being despotic and going astray. Constructive criticism is a democratic culture that help government to identify needs of the people and adopt suitable measures. Defaults in policy-measures and loop-holes in the implementation of the programmes could be remedied in time. Hence, government should always invite inter-and-intra-party criticism and respond them positively. Opposition parties while directly flaying the government should also be watchful that the very criticisms may not backfire themselves. Sound criticism always promotes party-spirit and supports democratic government whereas the biased criticisms often begets enmity and revenge. Turning deaf ears to whatsoever healthy criticisms of the opposition parties on the part of the government and persistent criticisms of harassment on the part of the opposition are very undemocratic trend. The sooner the trend could be checked the better the democratic set-up could begin working smoothly. Do we really intend to be democratic?

Mandate

A system can work only when parties and government clearly understand peoples’ mandate and work accordingly. The Nepali Congress has got clear mandate of majority-rule of governance while the UML, RPP etc. have been assigned the role of the opposition parties. It is very unfortunate that the parties concerned have very soon undermined the mandate-role and begin muscle flexing simply for power and prestige’s sake. Sometimes the intra-party wrangling is going on. Party unification and split have been as if child’s play, revolving round power game. Very urgent and pertinent national issues — Maoist insurgency, insecurity, corruption, girls-trafficking, price-rise, unemployment, border-issue, land encroachment, poverty, etc. are pressing the nation. People in the mass are very hard-hit, disparagingly suffocating. They are nearly loosing patience and revolting inwards. The urgent call and demand of time is to pay attention to their solution and not play hide-and-seek with the power game.

Good Governance

Good governance is needed to match the democratic set-up in the country, because peoples’ participation and political confidence cannot be contained in vacuum without delivering services to the people. Good governance implies the accountable, and transparent government machinery, including ministries, secretariats, departments, corporations and other related institutions. The executive heads, civil servants and other employees should have all sincerity and integrity in discharging their duties. The sincere and honest should be rewarded and the corrupt duly punished without any political discrimination. Political non-interference is a must, and it should be practiced by all authorities and politicians. More rhetoric utterance to non-interference be condemned. Party-politics at the risk of government treasury and resources should be discarded and compensated from those who defy the principles of non-interference and accountability. This is how democracy that we hard won by struggles and sacrifices could flourish and usher in the new era of hope.