On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law for the first time since the country’s transition to democracy in 1987. This move exposed systemic issues, including the concentration of power in the presidency, highlighting the ongoing challenges to democracy in today’s world.
The Case of South Korea’s Resilience
- The recent declaration of martial law by the South Korean President sparked significant political turmoil.
- Officially, it was justified as a response to threats from North Korea and so-called anti-state forces.
- However, investigations later revealed that the true intention behind the declaration was to consolidate power.
- The opposition strongly condemned the martial law, labeling it unconstitutional and calling for strict action against the president.
- They argued that the move violated democratic principles and mobilised public support to challenge it.
- Under South Korea’s Constitution, the opposition has the authority to overturn martial law through parliamentary votes.
- Opposition lawmakers attempted to enter the National Assembly to exercise their constitutional rights, but special forces, acting under the president’s orders, blocked their entry.
- In a show of democratic resilience, the South Korean people rallied behind the opposition, helping lawmakers gain access to the parliament.
- This support enabled the opposition to pass a resolution repealing the martial law, effectively restoring democratic order.
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After the 1977 Emergency, Indian democracy also demonstrated its resilience by swiftly bouncing back through restoration of democratic norms.
Reflections:
- South Korea, as a developed nation, demonstrated its ability to safeguard democracy in the face of a significant challenge.
- However, this raises an important question: if a similar situation were to occur in a poorer or developing country, would democracy be resilient enough to recover?
- This is a critical issue to reflect upon, as the strength of democratic institutions often depends on the socio-economic and political stability of a nation.
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Understanding Resilient Democracy
- A resilient democracy refers to a democratic system capable of withstanding and adapting to crises, challenges, or disruptions while maintaining its core principles of governance, accountability, and representation.
- It demonstrates the ability to recover and strengthen itself after setbacks, ensuring the protection of rights, the rule of law, and public trust.
- It is like a living system, adapts and evolves over time.
| Winston Churchill once famously said, ‘democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. |
To strengthen and sustain democracy, three critical pillars of accountability are essential:
- Horizontal Accountability: Ensuring a balance between institutions through checks and balances.
- For example, the judiciary holding the executive accountable safeguards the rule of law and prevents the abuse of power.
- Vertical Accountability: Promoting public participation and ensuring the people’s voice is heard in decision-making processes.
- Public awareness and collective action against injustice are vital for a democracy to thrive.
- Diagonal Accountability: Leveraging the role of civil society in monitoring governance and advocating for reforms.
- Civil society organizations play a crucial role in holding institutions accountable and driving meaningful change.
Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS)
- They are countries or territories that face numerous challenges such as war, climate change, poverty, and more, often leaving them in a struggling phase.
- The World Bank categorizes these countries and territories as FCS based on their financial and security conditions.
- They mostly include poor or developing states, where constant stressors gradually weaken democracy over time.
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Trends Exemplifying Decline in Democracy in Certain States
New Trends
1. Rise of Populism:
- Leader as Voice: Populist leaders portray themselves as the true representatives of the people, claiming to understand public concerns better than traditional elites.
- They often highlight perceived failures of the existing system, claiming only they can bring the required change.
- Dangerous Elements of Populism: It could lead to anti-pluralism, illiberal policies, and nativism.
- Example: Donald Trump, favored by white communities and supporters of anti-immigration policies, demonstrates how populism often divides society.
Old Trends
2. Continuance of Single Regimes or Families:
- Single Party Rule: In many countries political power remains concentrated within a single regime or family, which can significantly shape the political landscape and governance.
- Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League in Bangladesh are a prime example of a political dynasty, where leadership and control have often passed within the same family.
- Authoritarian Rule: Countries like China and Russia showcase how power can be consolidated and sustained without democratic principles.
- This has fueled a perception that democracy is not the only path to achieving development, encouraging some nations to explore centralization as an alternative.
- Critic of Western-Style Democracy: Leaders in countries such as Hungary, the Philippines, and Turkey openly criticize liberal democratic values, promoting concentrated power over democratic principles.
- This shift often sidelines key aspects of democracy, such as checks and balances, public accountability, and political pluralism.
Reasons Why Democracy is Resilient in Democratic States
1. Constitutionalism as the Foundation of Democracy
- Immutable Core Principles: In developed nations, constitutions enshrine core democratic principles that are deeply respected by the public, ensuring resilience.
- For Example: Post-Hitler Germany embedded safeguards in its constitution to prevent a repeat of authoritarianism, reinforcing democracy.
2. Economic Factors and Democracy
- Wealth and Development: In states with high poverty, immediate concerns like survival often take precedence over long-term democratic ideals.
- However, India stands as a unique example where democracy thrives despite widespread poverty, showcasing the resilience of its democratic framework.
- Vote Bank Politics: In developing nations, vote bank politics often undermine broader democratic principles.
3. The Role of International Organizations
- Minimal Engagement: International organizations such as the UN often adopt a limited approach to supporting democracy in developing nations, focusing more on crisis management than institution-building.
- Democracy as a Tool: Powerful nations sometimes use democracy as a means to safeguard their own geopolitical interests, diluting its universal principles.
- Challenges in a Multipolar World: The emergence of a multipolar world complicates efforts to promote a unified vision of democracy, as diverse global powers prioritize different governance models.
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Steps to Make Democracy Resilient
- Strengthening Institutions: Build and maintain robust democratic institutions that can withstand political pressures and operate independently.
- Empowering Civil Society: Foster a strong and vibrant civil society to act as a watchdog, advocate for public interests, and hold authorities accountable.
- Ensuring a Free and Responsible Media: Promote the role of an independent media to inform the public, expose wrongdoings, and facilitate healthy democratic discourse.
- Enhancing Public Awareness: Educate citizens about their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of participation in democratic processes.
- Encourage public activism and grassroots movements to demand accountability from leaders.
- Establishing Effective Checks and Balances: Ensure that mechanisms for checks and balances between the executive, legislature, and judiciary are effective and functional to prevent overreach or abuse of power.
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