Dr Asangba Tzudir
Plato Republic, written in 375 BC, presses upon the desire for power and its dangers for both individuals and societies. Some thirty years earlier, his city-state, Athens, the greatest democracy in the ancient Greek world had lost a catastrophic war to its rival, the militaristic oligarchy Sparta. In its aftermath, the Athenian democracy suffered an oligarchic coup supported by Sparta bringing in a contest between democracy and oligarchy from a matter of foreign affairs to one of pressing domestic concern. After the coup, the restored democracy executed Plato’s teacher Socrates. Such events and more made Plato come to a conclusion that neither democracy nor oligarchy, nor any other existing order, could bring happiness or political stability for its citizens, because all of them were founded on the inherently corrupting desire for power, a trend which exist till today.
In the inherent competing and corrupting desire for power, the question of representation becomes centre stage both for the government as well as the people. The idea of representation is an integral feature in a democratic set-up, but it finds sacrificed at the altar of competing interests and desire for power.
Within the layers of the democratic set-up beginning from the government to the various social institutions and civil society organizations is the question of representation – representation ‘of’ or ‘for’ the people. It only gets complicated within the pool of ‘representers’ whereby the real representer or those that claim to represent becomes not just one but many while there is struggle for power within competing interests. Within such competing interests, not only the ‘will’ of the people is claimed but also their claim to representation. As such not only the ‘general will’ of the people but also the objective gets defeated.
Sadly, today’s so called ‘democracy’ lies in the hands of a ‘privileged’ few and it has only set a dangerous precedent where the ‘will’ of the people is not only silenced not allowed to surface. On the other hand, the ‘will of the people’ becomes the patronising slogan to legitimise one’s claim to representation.
So long as the ‘general will’ is not represented by those who actually should represent, not only the support of the people but also the ‘will’ and objective may not be pushed to its logical conclusion.
Looking at the scenario today, those who are supposed to represent or carry forth the voice of the people sadly finds co-opted by the government or those in positions of authority, or are sidelined within the struggle for power.
Needless to say, but going back to the Athenian form of democracy is not desirable nor an ideal situation considering the existing social structure which is sure to create knee-jerk reactions. Hence, for well-being of the people and for political and social stability, a lot needs to be addressed on the issue of power struggle and (mis)representation beginning with a process of re-orientation in order to create a shift from ‘claimed representation of the people’ to a ‘actual representation of the will, aspirations and struggles of the people.’
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
