Collapsing Global Political trends - Are we in need of a new political system?

 "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair"

Charles Dickens; A Tale of two cities

Capitol Hill under siege

There is no better description of the current global socio-political scenario than these infamous words of Dickens. 

After a year of pandemic and political incapacity to unanimously contain an emergency situation at the global center stage, the world is witnessing a dichotomy that has never been so evident before. In contrast to the Cold War era, when the world was divided into two distinct blocks with individuals from each of the block fighting and dying for their own political ideology, the current division is present deeper within the masses in respective countries.

US elections 2020 revealed that this division is rampant within the American society. The Republicans managed to secure a whooping 74 million votes as compared to the 81 million votes of the Democratic party. This close margin of victory indicates that almost one half of the country would feel under-represented, no matter who the ruling party is. The rage and riots seen at Capitol Hill earlier this month points towards the same thing. 

EU officials take down UK flag

31st December 2020 also marked the end of transition period and official exit of UK from the European Union, leaving a vast number of UK residents mourning the decision. Recalling the referendum results for Brexit we find that the decision was based on another close contest, with 52% votes for Leaving and 48% cast for Staying in European Union. Once again, this close margin reveals a deeper socio-political division and an unheard cry of half the population. Politically speaking this is a lose - lose situation, as it alienated half of the people who are impacted by the decision.

France also saw a rise in unrest and protests in 2020, notably in Paris, where controversial laws such as Article 24 introducing criminal charges on filming of security personnel sparked nationwide protests. The protestors with slogans such as 'marches for freedom', 'state of emergency' and 'police state' confronted the alleged police brutality faced by people of color and religious minorities. These protests have only strengthened in 2021 as the laws are about to be presented in French Senate, leaving many to question the gradual shift of ruling LREM party from liberal to right wing policies. Such marginalization of certain communities and provision of immunity to perpetrators on a constitutional basis shows a deep flaw in the French political system.

Curfew in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Indian Republic Day

Similar pattern of unrest can be observed in India, the world's largest democracy, where Republic Day this year was marred by violence during Sikhs-led 'Tractors Rally' in New Delhi, a part of two months long Farmers' Protest over controversial farming laws, led primarily by the Sikh farming community of Punjab. This caused clashes of protestors with Police and a temporary internet and metro

Sikhs rioters waving flag on iconic Red fort

lockdown in New Delhi. Added to this is the continued grievances of the people in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir where internet blockades and curfew-like situation is present on and off for the last one and a half year. On the eve of Republic Day Kashmir valley was under curfew again. 

Since elected for its second tenure, Modi led Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government is struggling to maintain law and order situation in India. 

Protests over Muslim discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), riots in northeastern Delhi in January 2020 and police brutality on students of Jamia Millia Islamiya University, the ever increasing frustration of Kashmiris over repealing of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019 which ended Kashmir's semi autonomous status and the continuing Farmers' Protest reporting an estimated 60 deaths in 2 months are just a few examples of the recent turmoil in India. This pattern of unrest reveals a sense of aloofness of the electorate towards the legislators and the decision making process at the center of the government, accentuated by sidelining and silencing of all opposition voices and a fragmented political system based on caste and ethnicity instead of merit.

The two party system, with often opposing ideologies, has sown a seed of divergence and hatred within the societies

In Middle East similar turmoil continues to plague the political system. Israel has seen a political deadlock since April 2019, resulting in dissolution of the 21st and 22nd Knesset (Israeli parliament) in April and September 2019 respectively due to the inability of the elected major political parties to form coalition. Only after a continued stalemate a weak coalition government emerged between Netanyahu led Likud party and the majority opposition leader Gantz led Blue and White party. However the failure of this coalition to approve the state budget for 2020 by its deadline led to another dissolved parliament and announcements of fresh rounds of election. The continued deadlock in forming coalition is indicative of a profound mistrust between legislative parties and the failure of the political system. What happens in the next elections due in March this year is yet to be seen, however the opinion polls suggest another close contest between Netanyahu and Gantz.

Protests in Sudan 2019, against President Omar Al Bashir

The Second Arab Spring engulfing the Arab political theatre started from Sudan in December 2018 and to a varying extent involved countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. The protestors were challenging authoritarianism, corruption and economic policies, indicating manifestation of the failure of political systems in respective countries, be it some form of dictatorship or democracy. 

The failure of global political systems makes us wonder are we in need of a new political structure?

The bottom line here is that the established political systems in the world, be it Western style of governance in the form of presidential or parliamentary systems, or any kind of authoritarianism (dictatorship, military rule or kingdoms ruled by families) are at the verge of collapse. The two party system, with often opposing ideologies, has sown a seed of divergence and hatred within the societies, culminating in a world where racism, religious persecution and ethnic violence is on the rise. In multiple parties system, a sense of mistrust looms between different parties, making it impossible to find a common ground in decision making, just as we have seen in the Israeli model. The combination of military-civil rule in Arab countries has resulted in a chaotic imbalance of political structure, rendering the countries to instability, debts and chaos. 

Thus we conclude that the established political systems can not be employed to remedy the culture of hatred, violence and division currently present all over the world. This global political dilemma makes us wonder whether we are in need of a new political structure?

The New State, published in 1918

Mary Parker Follet, American social scientist and philosopher, in her book The New State published in 1918 described Democracy as follows: 

"Democracy is the rule of an interacting, inter-permiating whole...You cannot establish democratic control by legislation... there is only one way to get democratic control -- by people learning how to evolve collective ideas. The essence of democracy is not in institutions, is not even in "brotherhood"; it is in that organizing of men which makes most sure, most perfect, the bringing forth of the common idea... Democracy is a method, a scientific technique of evolving the will of the people... Neither party bosses nor unscrupulous capitalists are our undoing, but our own lack of knowing how to do things together..."

Looking at the current global political scenario, one naturally wonders whether it is possible for the current political system to come up with a solution on its own? In the light of above analysis it seems highly unlikely.
If we agree on the principle of democracy as stated by Follet above, is it then possible to attain this concept of 'New Democracy' as a "common or collective idea" in the practical world? Is there an example of a political system or struggle that embodied this idea to learn from? And is there a possibility that the current chaos can ultimately take us towards this solution? 

Liaqat Ali Khan, first Prime Minister of Pakistan waving Pakistan's flag in constituent Assembly

I leave the readers with these questions, and urge them to look around for the answers. Surprisingly the clues lie in the history of creation of Pakistan. From the struggle of bringing Muslims from the length and breadth of subcontinent together to our unmatched achievement of the creation of an ideological state, All India Muslim League developed the collective will of masses and became the unanimous voice of the Muslims of India. Even those Muslims who belonged to central Indian states, and knew that the creation of Pakistan will not directly result in self governance for them, took it on them to think and act like a single body for the demand of Pakistan. It was indeed a glimpse of the 'New Democracy" that Follet envisioned.

The inquisitive mind now questions whether it is possible to achieve a similar biological, psychological and ideological unity in our country and the world at large today? And what role a Pakistani, whose identity is the direct result of the application of this political solution, can play to bring the world closer to achieving its collective will?