The US Presidential election reiterated the obvious that the dividing line between a Dictatorship and a Democracy is thin. The drama was a reminded of events that took place hundred years ago in Germany and Italy, that saw rise of Hitler and Mussolini from nationalist democrats to exploitative autocrats. We must remember that a democracy’s success or failure is determined by the values of the people at helm. A Democracy is not exactly a system of governance in which there are rulers and subjects. It is an arrangement in which the representatives of the people are given the responsibility to run the State on the principles of summum bonum. Leadership in an ideal Democracy has to be values driven, not power driven. Naturally, it is the character of the leadership that will ensure the sanctity of the system. There are no subjects in a Democracy. There are only citizens who have inalienable rights. They have obligations, too. To uphold the values enshrined in the constitution. Governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever a government becomes destructive of these ends, people have a right to change the government. The underlying assumptions are that the leadership that runs the government will accept the people’s verdict. The catch is what if it doesn’t ? Democracy becomes dictatorship. This threat is always there. And everywhere. It is the leadership character that is critical. One man and his cohorts can make a Democracy degenerate into totalitarian regime. This possibility is always there. It is for this reason that maintaining the sanctity of democratic institutions is a crucial requirement. The checks and balances need to be continuously strengthened to ensure survival of a Democracy. The citizens have a holy duty towards this. Above petty interests, they need to rise. After all, who lives if the Democracy dies. We saw how Hitler killed Democracy in Germany. And all in the name of racial superiority which is a direct anti-thesis of Democracy that rests on the foundation of the golden rule that all men and women are created equal. Democracies thrive when they are responsive and welcome dissent. It is rather in the interest of Democracy to encourage dissent. Liberalism is the soul of dissent. Criticism is the feedback that helps a Democracy evolve. In corona times, we find that Heads of State have developed a propensity to consolidate power. Even in proclaimed and seasoned democracies. According to Economist Intelligence Unit, the present times have been the worst for democracies. The threat to Democracy was not from military coup but by elected governments. Why this has happened needs to be deliberated. The biggest stakeholder is the citizenry. It must rise to the occasion. Particularly when institutions that were to be neutral become partisan. Fear and half-truths are driving the corona times and chaos has become the order. Clues can be picked up from an interesting dialogue between Lord Ram and Sugriva when the latter refuses to rule Kishkindha stating that he wants to renounce and opt for sanyas. Lord Ram then delivers the golden rule that sanyasi is the ideal person to rule. This is what Plato said much later that philosophers should be kings. Abdicracy is the essence of Democracy.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com