Democracy How It Evolved

By Shirish B. Pradhan

DEMOCRACY is not only just the result of a revolution, it is an ongoing process of evolution. After passing through thousands of years of voyage of struggles and compromises the modern democratic system of governance evolved. Today's modern democracy has its origin in the ancient Greek and Roman city-states. Democracies of the ancient Greece and Rome were infant in nature, in which slaves and women did not enjoy the voting rights.

Direct

The ancient city-state democracy was also called direct democracy as people could speak and vote in small assemblies in a direct manner. They were also unaware of the present day representative forms of government. As the population grew and societies became more and more complex adjustments had to be made in the electoral system and representative forms of government came into being.

The word democracy was derived from the Greek word "Demos-Cratein". In Greek demos means the people and cratein means to rule. Thus, democracy is the type of political system in which the people rule through the form of government they choose to establish. In modern democracies, supreme authority is exercised for the most part by the representatives elected by popular votes. Here we may recall the popular statement by Abraham Lincoln: Democracy is a form of government for the people, of the people, by the people.

Democracy is today known as the best form of government. Even dictators of the modern times rule under the cover of democracy, giving decorative names like "guided" democracy, "basic" democracy or any other form of attractive decoration. But, democracy like gold does not require any cover. Democracy is practiced today in almost three fourth of the countries in the world. Between 1974 and 1999 multiparty democracy was introduced in 113 countries, according to the Human Development Report 2000. Out of nearly 200 countries of the world about 40 countries do not have a multiparty electoral system.

The present day democracy is purely an European phenomena. In Asia, and particularly in South Asia sub-continent, democracy is relatively a new concept. In ancient times, we also had Rama Rajya, which may be called as a kind of welfare state often ruled by a merciful king. The ancient time monarchs used to take care of their people like a father. They waited until all of their countrymen would eat and sacrificed their personal pleasure and happiness for the welfare of their countrymen. In Nepal also, during the Malla period, there were Kings who did not eat until and unless all of the countrymen did so. Now due to the growth of population and complexity of other problems, we get to see different societies, especially the western democracies, which have replaced absolute monarchy and other forms of dictatorial rule the world over.

The power struggle between monarchy and the people that ultimately led to the concept of the modern democracy, can be attributed to the thirteenth century Magna Carta granted seal, by King of Britain John. The King issuing the seal accepted in writing to provide certain rights to the people. Declaration of Magna Carta in 1215 by King John of England limiting power of the monarchy, is the first written document that gives certain rights to the representatives of the people. Through Magna Carta the King of England granted two important things: access to justice to all without any discrimination and pursuing legal procedure before punishing anybody.

The Petition of Rights of 1628 is another milestone in the history of modern democracy. The Parliament of England at that time issued the Petition of Rights addressed to the King Charles I demanding that the King desist from levying taxes without the consent of parliament. The first popular rebellion against the King of England took place in 1642, when Charles I was executed. This had resulted in establishment of democratic governments in Europe.

In 1679 the Parliament of England adopted Habeas Corpus Act, prohibiting imprisonment of citizens without just cause. The act provides people protection against arbitrary imprisonment. The struggle of independence of the United States of America in the late 18th century was another important event in the history of democracy. The USA with its 13 states attained independence from England within 1776. The French Revolution of 1789, which resulted in declaration of the Rights of Man and that of Citizen, is another landmark in the history of democratic struggle.

By the end of the 19th century almost all countries in west Europe adopted a constitution limiting power of the monarch and giving a considerable share of political power to the people's representatives. British, French and American democratic systems act as model to the present day democracies in the world.

Today's cabinet system of ministry has its origin in the 15th century, when the King had an advisory council to advice him on matters relating to governance. The members of the King's advisory council or privy council used to meet regularly in King's chamber or cabinet. Therefore, it was later called cabinet council or council of ministers. In the 18th century when the centre of governmental power shifted from monarch to Parliament, the cabinet became the council of the most important ministers of the government or the Prime Minister.

The 20th century became the century of freedom, democracy and human rights. Colonial rules ended and countries moved towards greater freedom, democratic rights and human rights during the century. The communist ideology dominated the world nearly for three quarters in the 20th country. After the collapse of Soviet Union Communist rule ended in the entire eastern Europe and the rest of the world and its remains can be seen only in a few countries.

Certain countries including the Seandinavians (which include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland) are adopting social democracy. Tnder the political system of social democracy, a degree of socialism is prevalent but without ignoring such values as private property and representative government.

In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations affirming the dignity and rights of all human beings. The rights prescribed in the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights mainly include right to life, liberty, security, freedom of conscience, religion, opinion, expression, association, freedom from arbitrary arrest, protection against any form of discrimination.

In the 21st century democracy, freedom, liberalism, and human rights have become even more relevant. In this era of globalisation, new approaches are required to achieve universal relisation of human rights and individual freedom.

Vision

To achieve the visions contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted half a century back, we should pursue the goal of all rights for all people in all countries. Today's new technologies and more open societies provide greater opportunities for building worldwide partnerships to launch fight against discrimination, economic and political exploitation and suppression to achieve greater freedom, liberty and development for all mankind.

Women In Enterprise

By Jamuna Ulak

JUST a few years back, women, particularly of small nucleus families, used to involve themselves in business primarily to meet their family expenses, but the youths today opt for business right after completing their school or college education. While the educated women go for small business, housewives are attracted towards home-based micro- enterprises.

Driving Force

The desire to be self-dependent and to contribute to family expenses is the driving force behind the middle class women that renders entrepreneurs. Various studies and researches show that an increasing number of women are involved in the economic front, but the government has not formulated any specific policy to attract more women to enterprises.

Realising the economic and social empowerment of women a necessary factor for the development of the nation, attempts have been made to involve them in enterprises since the Sixth Five-Year Plan and that continues to the current Tenth Plan. Industrial Policy 1992 also lays emphasis on women's participation in the production sector. With a view to raising women's participation in various sectors, the government introduced some special programmes for last couple of year that include production loan for rural women, micro- credit project for women, small farmers development programmes, women entrepreneurship development programme and training for rural employment among others.
Similarly, the Industrial Enterprises Development Institute has been operating women entrepreneurship development programmes for the past one decade and Micro Enterprises Development Programme is another government initiative to uplift the status of women. Besides, while the Women Entrepreneurs Association Nepal and WEAN Cooperatives have been operating women entrepreneurship development programmes and small enterprise services, Nirdhan, Center for Self-help Development, Cottage and Small Industries Association and Women Entrepreneurs Association Nepal have been running micro-finance programmes for women entrepreneurs.

Despite the programmemes being run by the government and the private sectors, there has not been remarkable increment in the number of women involved in enterprises. Studies and researches attribute lack of special policy to the low participation of women in enterprises. A recent study jointly commissioned by the Swiss Contact/Small Industries Promotion Programme and Samanata, a non-government organisation, has also pointed out the need for introducing special policy and has suggested measures as well.

As the existing industrial policy does not define and encompass micro enterprises, women's contribution to the national economy has been remained unacknowledged. Therefore, in order to encourage women's participation in the entrepreneurial activities, micro-enterprises should be defined functionally and concrete policies and programmes should be implemented to promote such enterprises, the study suggests.

It has also recommended formulating policies and developing infrastructures of financial institutions to provide loans to aspiring women entrepreneurs, necessary technology, providing basic to production, designing, marketing, transaction of raw materials, banking transaction, technical advice and professional networking services including awareness generating programmes focusing on gender discrimination.

Other recommendations of the study comprises formulation of policy for women's access to information, introduction of a special programmes for enhancing women entrepreneurs' access to extended market, establishment of various incubation organisations, formulation of strategy to develop forward and backward linkage among big, small and micro- enterprises, arrangement for access to information related to enterprises by the government and introduction of one window policy for facilitating and simplifying the process of import and export.

Likewise, identifying the areas where more women entrepreneurs are involved like handicraft and agro-based enterprises and service-oriented enterprises and formulating strategies to help them in improving the quality of goods and services, design, related information and establishing professional network to promote such enterprises are the other requirements.

As women do not have right to property, it has become the greatest hurdle for them to run business. Therefore, unless the government introduces Gender Responsive Financial Package, the existing short term / periodic micro-credit projects only cannot attract a sizable number of women towards business. Hence, the study has pointed out the need for making a separate policy to provide loans through financial institutions. And there is a need to developing necessary mechanism and organisations for the bulk sale of raw materials.

In the same way, the study has also suggested to provide leadership development and self-evaluation training and counseling and to launch personality development and awareness programmes related with gender issues in order to enhance women's self-confidence, self respect and self -esteem and to encourage women's participation in professional forums, to introduce policies and programmes to empower women entrepreneur's organisations and creating an environment for the development of national and international networks.

Imperative

It has become imperative to formulate a holistic and multi-dimensional strategic approach in order to effectively increase women's participation in enterprises by realistically addressing the issue resultant of professional and gender discrimination. The short-term periodic and scattered programmes only will not be effective enough for accelerating the pace of women's participation in enterprises.

Sancharika Lekhmala

Dreams Shattered

By Narayan Upadhyay

DREAMS to earn fast money have been shattered. A rush for gold has suddenly turned into ashes. Those who ran for money earlier are running for cover, as government agents are out to nab the local agents of the Hong Kong based Gold Quest programme.

The government acted late in the case of the GoldQuest, arguably one of the easiest ways for making fast bucks. The retired Asian Development Bank official who invented the Internet based programme needs to be praised, albeit for the different reason: he had the acumen to trap many unsuspecting people into his notorious game. Sadly, for this mastermind of making quick money, his allies here are in for a bad time.

But there are some interesting rumours doing the rounds here regarding the collapse of the money-spinning programme. In the aftermath of the banning of the GoldQuest, wags with certain bend of mind are brimming with the idea that may sound unnatural to some. But they sound interesting though. The wags say that since most of the money- spinning programmes such as GoldQuest have some crooked minds behind them, it is not unlikely that some of the GoldQuestwallahs themselves might have influenced our authority to ban the programme!

They believe when crooked minds are allowed to have their say, nothing seems unnatural. After two years of unhindered collections of cash here, the Gold Quest operators might have felt that its high time that they quit the land, or they would not be able to cope with the demands of antique gold coins and commissions from the clients and local agents. They could slip out of the nation only when the authority is woken up against them.

When crafty enters the game, common citizens have to lose their riches. In the past we had lotto, many pyramid style games, and lotteries. The operators of this programme flourished while the common people suffered. Many Nepalese are left in the lurch, ruing for the lost money. Most of these foxy fellas have disappeared.

The government knew it late that the pyramid style business has many darker shades. The gold coins, some say, are lesser in value. Nobody in Nepal can verify the gold coins, supposedly with some antique values, are real or fake ones. The need of three players of the 'game' so that the first client can be able to get a coin is a difficult proposition. The difficulties in gathering three persons, however, come as boon for the perpetrators of the programme, who swell with money with every new client registering to the programme.

Ironically, the people with a penchant for earning quick money have been praising it, despite the government banning the programme and issuing arrest warrants for the main Nepalese agents.
They forget to tell that the Hong Kong based operators have enjoyed the lion's share of money at the expense of Nepalese people. Moreover, a large sum of Nepalese currencies, which is probably turns into green dollars once it reaches to Hong Kong, flew out of the nation. Imagine what would happen, if most of the Nepalese were involved in it? Ultimately, the national economy would suffer a blow.
After the failure of the GoldQuest, cynics are still saying that it is not the end of the day for Nepalese being duped. They are waiting to see some die-hard sinisters to pop up. These artful crooked chaps would visit every nook and corner to profess that their programmes would bring riches to the common people in no time.