TyroCity: Political Theory and Thoughts Notes

Merits of Democracy

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

The participation of the individual members in the government facilitates to enlist their sympathy and co – operation to the success of the government.
It is an effective form to educate the public about political, economic and social affairs.
it is helpful to promote patriotism among the people and prevents occurrence of violent revolutions.
It helps to make progress and development and enables changes to take place in a peaceful manner.
It ensures to the people freedom of speech, conscience, assembly and action.
It guarantees liberty and equality, which are necessary for human development.

Development Process of Franchise

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

The primitive tribal theory-in the city states right to vote was an attribute of membership of the state. The feudal theory gives the right of vote to the owners of the land only.

The ethical theory gave the right of vote to all for the development of individual personality. Compulsory voting system: There is danger of being purchased and possibility of fear psychosis in the people. Two school of thought have been prominent in the development of franchise.

Universal franchise

During the 18th century, when the doctrine of natural rights equality of men and popular sovereignty were favorite themes of every political thinker, the demand was for universal franchise.
It was held that sovereignty ultimately resided in the people and it was the right of every citizen to vote and participate in the determination of the policy of government.
Right to vote only could provide equality of men and political equality.
Universal suffrage means universal adult suffrage.
In this system also it does not allow right of voting to minors, to persons of unsound mind or to aliens and criminals in confinements idiots and lunatics are also excluded.
To grant suffrage to some meant the exclusion of others from representation. Unrepresented interest were likely to be neglected by the government.

Limited Suffrage

The second school was led by Bluntschli, Lecky, J.S. Mill, Sir Henry Maine. They held the view that franchise was not an inherent rights of a citizen. It was a right conferred and limited by the state and it should not be granted to all. All citizens of the state should not possess the right to vote. This school of thought was against the idea of universal suffrage.

According to Bluntschli, “To vest the power of choosing those, who are to rule the state in the hands of incapable and unworthy classes would mean state suicide.

In the extension of suffrage to the masses, Lecky saw the danger government by the ignorant masses and therefore advocated restricted franchise based on education and property. His question is whether the world should be governed by its ignorance or by its intelligence?

J.S. Mill was an ardent supporter of proper education and property qualifications of citizens for the exercise of right to vote. He emphasized that those virtues can make man (human being) a reasonable.

Political right if limited by property qualifications is no right at all. It is tantamount (equal) to disfranchise and disqualifying a vast majority of the people.

As well, women were not given the right of vote till very recently, in US from 1920, in UK 1918, still it was limited and in 1928 full voting right was given. If women are not given the opportunity to express their consent, it is a negation of democracy. Both male and female are the people of the state. The old prejudices slowly have been disappeared and womanhood at par (equal) with man in the political life and social life.

Earlier opposition to adult suffrage including woman suffrage now has been replaced by the theme that right to vote is as a sign of political maturity, positive democracy, right to equality and liberty, etc. Universal adult franchise has now been the indispensable modern phenomenon of/for democracy.

What is welfare state?

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Welfare state is also known as positive state or social service state. It rejects the concepts of individual where the business of the state is to protect but not to promote. So, it discards the policy of a totalitarian state. The welfare of the people, being the major aim of the state, can be accomplished only when the fundamental liberties of the people are provided by the state.

But some refuse the necessities and utility of the welfare state and consider the concept as the instruments of exploitation and oppression. Whereas some consider it as the noblest expression of human purpose and an essential institution by which all type of progress can be achieved. It guarantees the essential liberties to the people and respects them with sincere intent.

Concept of Popular Sovereignty

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

State of nature was pre-political, solitary, savage, living the happy and carefree life of the brute without a permanent place of living.
Men were independent, contended, self-sufficient and equal.
Advent of agriculture, economic progress which brought the concept of ‘Mine and Thine’, created gap between rich and poor and insecurity and fear.’
They came into social contract to establish civil society through government of general will based on the popular sovereignty. It means where the sovereign power ultimately belongs to the people and is exercised by them or on their behalf.
- There is a great mass of the people from whom legal sovereign draws his authority and is thus duty bound to take note of the wishes and aspiration of the people.
- The legal sovereign cannot exercise his authority in vacuum.
- Sovereignty conceived in these terms is a power which is exercised keeping in view general interest of the community rather than only a group of persons or the ruling elite.
- Popular sovereignty is the essence of democracy.
Rousseau clearly stated that the body politics (state) that is created through social contract is itself the only possessor of supreme power. Sovereignty belongs to the body politics as a whole and finds expression in general will.
- Although the concept of popular sovereignty generally implies that it is indeterminate and divisible but Rousseau is certain that it is determinate and indivisible.
- The general will is sovereign will and this will either is or not general, is that of the whole people or that part of the people.
In the first case, the expression of will is a sovereign act and makes law , in the second case, it merely a particular will or the act of the magistrate at most or decree.
General will emerges in an assembly of equals through free discussions and debate. It is infallible, inalienable and always right tends to the public advantages.
As general will is based on popular sovereignty, it is the government which exists for the good of the people as a whole and big violation of people’s wishes.
It is a legal way of expressing public opinion through frequent elections, active local self government, referendum and recall etc.

It is the absolute submission of the individual to the state, private interest to the public interest.

Comments:

This concept of general will with popular sovereignty may be an abstract, utopia and vague. But this conception as the people are the ultimate source of all political authority and the government is merely an agent of the sovereign people and will, not force is the basis of the state are his contributions in politics.

Different Stages of Human Civilization

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Primitive Communism: Harmony at nature, no tendency of gathering of resources
Feudalism: Transformation of society to agriculture society, emergence of upper class and middle class
Capitalism: Emergence of gap between bourgeois and proletariat
Socialism: Emergence of classless society
Communism: Withering away of state

Class Struggle

Feeling of need of remaining in one place, people entered into agriculture.
Due to the existence of feudal land holders, gap between people became wide.
Means of production became the main element to create classes.
Marx says that human history is full of class struggle and production is the main factor to create classes.
Period of alienation begins because of powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation, self estrangement and process of economic exploitation.
The concept involves a view of human relationship, not based on principle of equality but of one man being superior than another, of one man being a master and another being a slave and one man being an exploiter and another being exploited.

Factors Influencing Democracy in Nepal

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Social Factors

Migration
Urbanization
Youth Population
Increased Educational Status and Literacy
Social Conflict and Oppression

Economic Factors

Unemployment-Youths
Rise of Middle Class
Lowered position of aristocrats and elites
Increased trade, capitalization
Slow end of Feudal and Agrarian economy

Political Factors

Anti-Rana
Pro King
Royal Massacre
Frustration with Parties
Frustration with royal family and their behaviors
Old leaders
Parliamentary Party vs. Palace
Armed Struggle - Not well Success
Division among parties
Anti Palace - Coalition Factors Influencing Democracy in Nepal

International Relations

Role of INGOs/NGOs, Civil Society, Neighbors Interest, International Interest, Aid Cutting, Question on Human Rights

Access to Media and Information

Media Flow of Information, FM Radios, Access to television, Mobile Phones, Internet, Social Media,etc

Civil Society in Democracy

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

The ideal type of a society characterized by a set of sociopolitical institutions such as the rule of law, limited and accountable public authority, economic markets, social pluralism and a public sphere
Set of diverse non-governmental institutions, which is strong enough to counterbalance the state, and, whilst not preventing the state from fulfilling its role of keeper of the peace and arbitrator between major interests, can nevertheless prevent the state from dominating and atomizing the rest of society
A cluster of institutions and associations strong enough to prevent tyranny, but which are, nevertheless, entered freely rather than imposed either by birth or by awesome ritual.
Expressing both individualism and collectivism
Private and Public spheres
Market Economy and Governance
Promote collective identities, and promote greater harmony in society
Expressing both individualism and collectivism
Private and Public spheres
Market Economy and Governance
Promote collective identities, and promote greater harmony in society
A crucial vehicle for democratic practices
The bourgeois public sphere – Over-romantic, failing to recognize the gendered nature of the bourgeois public sphere, for ignoring non bourgeois forms of the public sphere and for underestimating the continuation of the public sphere, in various forms.
Critical- Complimentary- Seeking Public Accountability- Watch Dog- Not planned or in government
Vehicle for informed participation of people
Criticism- Anarchist, Separatist, Anti-nationals, Anti-Government, Western Agent, Prevent Transformation-Revolution.

Conclusion

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Arthasastra is a very comprehensive treatise on the governance in a monarchical Vedic state. Kautilya had a rational approach to governance and statecraft. He conceptualized the state and the office of the kingship to be human artifacts. Also his model of the human being was very realistic. However he expected super human qualities from a ‘human’ King. Chandragupta, Bindusar and Ashoka matched this ideal but their successors could not. Clearly the system of checks and balances amongst the king, the associations and the citizens worked well as long as the King wanted it to work. The ideal society of the Arthasastra did last for a couple of centuries. However the successful Muslims invasion in the 8th century indicated a serious (military) deficiency in the ‘Hindu’ society. The vision of Kautilya was a creation of a strong and prosperous Vedic order so the foreigner invasions (like that of Alexander) could be repulsed. The success of the Muslim invasion suggested that either the governance by the ‘Hindu’ Kings was not according to the tenets of the Arthasastra or the Arthasastra philosophy itself had become antiquated. Probably both were true. Kings had certainly deviated from the Vedic ideal of a ‘dharmic king’ – the ‘servant’ of the people and the protector of the dharmic order. Varna system had degenerated into a caste system. The rational and dharmic order of the Arthasastra had been reduced to only a shadow of its past glory. Muslim invasion probably found an easy target in a moribund order.

Nature of the welfare state

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Welfare is not a charity but its right. The citizen of the state should accept it as the right and he/she has to ask for it. Welfare shouldn’t be accepted as facilities obtained by the hope from the state.
It should maintain the welfare environment. Until and unless people can’t accept the concept of welfare state, it should be performing various welfare activities.
It should eradicate the pauper mentality of the people. It should encourage the characteristic of self help and self motive among the people every time.

The law of Negation of Negation

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Thesis – Antithesis – Synthesis
Direct beginning of class struggle (Nothing would be lost except the chain of your hand).
Victory of proletariat class.
Dictatorship of proletariat class.

The Law of transformation of quantity into quality

Establishment of communism
Creation of classless and stateless society, then no need of state and law, there will be equal law for all without discrimination between classes. So class struggle is a necessity and main route for achieving communism.

Deconcentration

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

Deconcentration, is the term referring to:

“The process by which the agents of central government control are relocated and geographically dispersed” (Sayer et al.).
“Administrative decentralization, i.e. a transfer to lower-level central government authorities, or to other local authorities who are upwardly accountable to the central government” (Ribot 2002 in Larson).
“The transfer of administrative responsibility for specified functions to lower levels within the central government bureaucracy, generally on some spatial basis” (Ferguson and Chandrasekharan).
“One of administrative decentralization which redistributes decision-making authority and financial and management responsibility among levels of the central government; there is no real transfer of authority between levels of government. It may involve only a shift of responsibilities from federal forest service officials of the capital city to those stationed in provinces, districts, etc”.

History of Democracy in Nepal

Political Theory Notes — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:41:42 +0000

1768 – Nepal is unified by Prithivi Narayan Shah.
1846 – Jung Bahadur Rana, started the Rana regime overshadows the Shah dynasty for 104 years
1946- Nepali Congress Founded
1948- The country’s first constitution, the Government of Nepal Act, is promulgated; Prime Minister Padma Shamsher Rana resigns in the wake of opposition to the new constitution from conservative Ranas; Mohan Shamsher becomes prime minister; constitution is suspended.
1949- Communist Party of Nepal Founded
1951 – February 1951 sees the advent of democracy in Nepal; the Interim Government Act of 1951 is promulgated; a promise is made that an election of the Constituent Assembly will be held, but the election never happens.
1959 – The Nepali Congress wins the general elections and forms the government with a two thirds majority. But the government lasts for only one and a half years, as it is dismissed by the king.
1960 – King Mahendra arrests representatives of the elected government.
1962-The king introduces a new Constitution and the Panchayat system in 1962,
1979-80- the public unrest of, led mainly by students, forces the king to announce a referendum. the Panchayat system got 55 per cent of votes, against the 45 per cent for a multiparty system.
1990 – A mass movement, called jointly by the NC and the ULF, forces the king to lift the ban on political parties Nepal History of Democracy
1991- The general election brings the NC to power, with a majority of seats in the parliament. However, the government calls mid-term polls due to divisions within the ruling party.
1994 – The mid-term polls produce a hung parliament. The UML, as the largest party in the parliament, forms a minority government, but the government cannot be sustained for long.
1996 – The CPN-Maoist launches the People’s War.
There were two unsuccessful negotiations between the government and the CPN-Maoist in 2001 and 2003.
The country is kept under a state of emergency.
1999 – The NC comes back to power with a majority government after the third parliamentary elections.
2002 – King Gyanendra—who ascended the throne after the royal massacre of June 2001—dismisses the Deuba government in October 2002 and nominates all successive governments.
2005- Through a proclamation in February 2005, King Gyanendra usurps absolute power and takes up the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
2006 April – An alliance of the SPA and the CPN-Maoist initiates a mass movement, Jana Andolan II, against the king’s rule, on the basis of a 12-point understanding reached in November 2005.
2006 May- The reinstated parliament issues a political declaration
2006 November – The signing of the CPA between the government and the CPN-Maoist.
2007 January- An interim Parliament, which includes the representatives of the CPN Maoist, is formed, and the Interim Constitution is promulgated.
Protesting against the Interim Constitution, the Madheshi movement flares up. 27 Maoists are killed in Gaur by MJF supporters.
2007 March- The interim legislature amends the Interim Constitution;
2007 April The CPN-Maoist joins the interim government.
2007 June The interim legislature amends the Interim Constitution again; the amendments empower the parliament to abolish the monarchy and to remove the prime minister on the strength of two-thirds of the votes in the House.
2007 October- Parliament passes resolutions for the declaration of Nepal as a republic and for the adoption of an all-out PR system for the CA election
2007 December- Amends the Interim Constitution, and Nepal is declared as a republic state, but subject to the ratification by the first meeting of the CA.
10 April 2008 – First CA election; UCPN (M)-220, NC-110, UML-103
27 May 2012- CA Dissolute and 22 November CA election date
19 Feb. 2013- Khila Raj Regmi lead election cabinet.
19 Nov.2013- Second CA Election, Nepali Congress (196), UML- 175 , UCPN (M)- 80.