A witness of politics around the world and its carnival poses a pertinent question of why politics has failed or has not. Ben Ansell in a thought-provoking book entitled Why Politics Fails: The Five Traps of the Modern World – and How to Escape Them mentions the revolving seat of the government has disappointed citizens of the 21st century. As society and the world is opening, there is common disenchantment in how the government and state function delivering promises of public goods and services. Ansell shows that politicians are not to blame for dissatisfaction but our unrealization of collective goals concomitant with five political traps are culpable to this hapless situation.
Enumerating firstly, the trap of those who govern and those who are governed, secondly, the divide between equality and opportunity, thirdly, interests-based solidarity, fourthly, personal immunity from insecurity instead of overall human security and fifthly, a concept of durable prosperity, not an instant hedonism. Ansell says it is self-interested individuals who have undermined collective pursuits. These five traps are correlated to each other and polarization on this basis deteriorates a divide between haves and have-nots. Inequality feeds crime when social safety nets are sparsely allocated. And today climate change fosters global insecurity.
A trajectory of democracy commenced 2500 years ago. With trials and tribulations of human ingenuity of democracy, we have arrived so far in an imperfect polity where still freedom and justice are contested. Access to amenities of democracy has not addressed comprehensive inequality. But politics and politicking have no sign of ending. Ansell says politics need not fail. Politics uplift individuals and shape conduct to self-interests.
These political traps are gaps between policy formulation and its stringent implementation. Politics has deliberated what is and what ought to be. A tussle of realism and idealism paints a canvas of political image no one can overlook, deny, or unwelcome. Diversity and pluralism reveal mosaics in politics, society and economics. Politics drive ideas to emerge, converge and diverge. It gives impetus to leadership to create and maintain virtues and extirpate vices that current politics in democracy indulge in.
A logical framework of governance is spelled out in the constitution or unwritten code of conduct. What matters most is the ethics of realism or ethics per se to achieve good governance. But policy differs on ideology or principles, the party follows to achieve maximum governance and quality of government. There is an unending change or restoration of public policy if either the ruling or opposition party takes the seat of government. These shifts are usual and the business of politics continues as long as principles serve the needs and conscience of the people. Sometimes it is progressive and sometimes it is retrogressive withdrawing into conservative posturing. Or sometimes new social forces give political determinism if they are pent up or at the margins of power discourse.
The whole gamut of personal politics unveils dynamism in overarching politics. This is a new facet added to conventional party interests or national ideals. One can also deduce state is personified or personified state overrules. In current politics such political identity derives power from popular sovereignty. In clear understanding through electoral wins, the majority rules and the opposition criticizes and makes the system accountable. The ruling and opposition forces are the reality of politics in a formal institutional framework. While altering politics or other politics outside the ambit of formalism today poses a challenge if conventional politics become stale or dry or underperforms.
Politics is either a universe of intrinsic human activity or checks and balances of extremism to conduct power politics. Politics chooses wisely and tactfully methods of either coercion or persuasion to operate or function. While success and failure in politics are personal or party-wise – national and international. A crux of politics is not meeting policy fully into reality and it is this arduous journey humanity traverses to create a Utopia where paradise is gained or lost. Perception matters either right or wrong. And politics sounds enticing and exciting to take pleasure or pain in pursuit of liberation. As has been said before, wit and witticism are sharpening as interpersonal relations are honing to acknowledge one’s ego or alter-ego. Is politics failing or is it getting individually immersed? Is it old or is it new? Is it classic or is it modern? A pertinent question remains to be explored or experienced. It must be the ends or means to pursue truth as a homo politicus or political human.
Mr. Kunwar is currently with the International Desk, Kantipur TV HD, Kathmandu, NEPAL.
