Twenty-five years later, the journey of freedom and sovereignty remains a contentious issue in the 21st century. In every political revolution, the liberation struggle is ongoing. The continuity of real political development is also complicated from the perspective of individuals, including men and women, children, and the elderly. Change and conflict are incompatible with continuity. Therefore, it is a natural activity in human society to understand, cooperate and coordinate for mutual existence and struggle. Liberalism and its voices of dissatisfaction continue to enrich and elevate the journey of democracy. At the same time, criticism and disagreement are inherent, included and resonate in the aesthetics of democracy. The political form and essence of such liberalism are necessary to make the environment of democracy stable, justifiable and rational. Since most of the thinking about this is fragmented, noisy, unreliable and unrealistic, the wholesale rejection of democracy has been heard every day in Nepalese political society for thirty-five years. But in a democracy, the safe vitality of proper democratic politics can be created by correcting contradictions and paradoxes. Therefore, to make rationality ideal and real, the duties, responsibilities, presence and comments of every citizen must be harmonized with reality. Therefore, the current constitution seems to be trying to ensure the process and activities that sustain the vitality of an all-round democracy.
Nevertheless, the end of the Cold War which lasted for nearly five decades until 1990 and the authoritarian power struggle in the past have raised the question of whether majoritarian rule will lead democracy to an insurmountable artificial crisis and destroy political achievements. The truth is that majoritarian and minority rule have also witnessed a history of political turmoil in democracy. If democracy wants peace, it tolerates violence and even fights it. There is a perception that democracy is headed towards decay. It seems difficult to follow and pursue democracy literally. The vitality of democracy is ensured by accepting that freedom of expression is mutual and reciprocal. The freedom of the judiciary, civil society and media are indispensable terms and conditions of democracy. However, to avoid this violation, political blame is also given for reform. In order to restore sanity, goodness and healing to every society, leadership needs to promote the character and nature of the agents of change. In a democracy, the intervention of non-political and non-governmental sectors in the political system has been advocated for oppression-free, just, ideal and principled behaviour. However, when democracy is unstable, abnormal and the danger of moving towards uncertainty is more repulsive than attractive while extremists dominate.
Politics is not only the centre of power. It is also the principle, practice and performance of pledges, commitments and promises that seek support for political legitimacy, mandate and action. Rather than politics failing or succeeding, democracy is struggling hard to secure its foundation against the cyclical change of the system. Although no system is permanent, the scriptures have stated that political change and dynamics are stable and eternal. Change management is important for a stable, secure and long-term democracy. It would be unfair to look for an alternative to it. Democracy is a strong, flexible, sound, strong and tolerant alternative. We are adding prefixes and adjectives to the nature of democracy. In a democratic framework, justice can be provided without competition and discrimination, the truth can be established, and problems that arise in situations and times can be solved. It is recognised as a continuous achievement according to needs and demands.
Civil society and informal opposition politics are also the best options for seeking justice in public and international affairs. Non-governmental organizations should take the lead in reviewing, balancing, and controlling the centres of power so that leadership does not turn into authoritarian rule. Similarly, in the life of a democracy, free markets and economic growth also accept the economic sovereignty of consumers and service seekers at the receiving end. Similarly, administrative willpower needs to transform public policy practice to achieve the policy goals of the elected leadership. A permanent government must face political pressure, imperatives, and mandates. Only in the coherent activities of the state and government, and civil society and economic enterprise orientation, will the pursuit of happiness and the happiness of the pursuit, of sustainable order, human and social security, and personal progress be realized. Advocacy, debate, and dialogue in favor of the broadest freedom and liberalism in a democracy strengthen the political system.
Today’s democratic challenges are internal, external and mutual. A code of conduct that upholds the basic elements of the rule of law and the functioning of constitutional institutions makes democracy safe. To be sure that it is in safe hands, it must be anti-corruption and zero-crime. It takes a clear stance on self-respect, dignity and respect for citizenship. Therefore, it is in the interest of all to continue to defend the ideals and realities of democracy. In the next 75 years, it can be assumed that the path of democracy will face a situation similar to that of the two world wars of the 20th century. It is challenging to defend and promote democracy through misinformation, misconceptions and lies. Awareness and rational public opinion with insight into the inner workings of government and the state underline legitimate criticism instead of untruth. With maximum intuition and correct perception of limits and possibilities, a little knowledge of the state and government cannot be denied or dismissed. Defending democracy against the scourge of self-righteous and unwavering egoism, such as mood, mentality and attitude, protects a virtuous civil society from the risk of exclusivity against the inclusion of unbroken values and norms.
The challenge of uprooting and eliminating the wholesale or complete rejection of democracy remains. The speaking public must bring about changes in self-study, understanding and knowledge of the invaluable political assets of democracy, and engage and register opinions. To protect freedom, liberalism and autonomy in life and (international) politics, political principles in democracy must be renewed in practice. If a democrat, liberal realist, or liberal nationalist wants to control violence and curb its harmful effects, it is imperative to always maintain good governance. Similarly, extremism from the left to the right brings moderation. To secure democracy, voters, citizens and the public must be included in the socialization of political culture and its superior values. When politicians support radical or extremist positions, the duty, responsibility and accountability to provide justice are questioned – political, economic and social, inclusive cultural, religious, gender, children, race, ethnicity, creed, faith or belief, worship, etc. In the coming decades, it is understood that this will be confronted with the narrowing of national and global divisions in multiple and plural areas if resurgent hypernationalism is unchecked. For example, various reports indicate that the gaps shown in the economic, social, cultural, and digital spheres are widening. Such a risk makes it more difficult to advocate for democracy in the face of the legacy of autocratic, tyrannical and totalitarian regimes that are unfavourable to time and circumstances.
The safe journey of democratic culture and civilization that the project of knowledge seeks is not guaranteed in the world. Democracy is a by-product of knowledge. Its result and pre-developed liberalism and capitalism are claimed. The contemporary world is experiencing globalization. Where international and global affairs are intertwined with local concerns, stakes and interests, connected by social networks and other platforms of electronic media. My main concern is to secure democracy through leadership in an open society and a liberal and democratic peace. To continuously advocate for democracy against its abuse and misuse. And citizens must follow the code of conduct that pursues, manages and establishes truth. Peace, order and security are achieved in the activism of justice and truth. It is also essential to overcome the limitations of communicative complacency or sufficiency through communicative action. It is difficult to continue to operate, activate and transform the political, social and economic spheres from this basic reality. I find a gap of four decades not only in the generations from Gen Z to Gen Alpha but also in time and space. When political society and politics ignore this aspect of tomorrow’s problems, the lack and demand of decades of contribution are felt. Citizens of a sensible world society through civic and moral education tell and warn the inhabitants of history that rumors and misconceptions have caused chaos, anarchy and unrest to come alive in democracy. We can say that today we are local and global citizens entrusted with being responsible, transparent and honest.
Political society should not be indifferent to defending principles, ideologies and rhetoric. Commitment, true accountability and fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to democracy are a permanent necessity. The arguments and unfair criticism against liberalism, modernity and capitalism are competing in the direction of undermining peace, prosperity and progress as challenged by the politics of marginalized, excluded and minorities. The idea of balancing society and the state from the edge of abnormality, ambiguity and absurdity against the common and unusual senses such as perception and misconception, misunderstanding and misuse of people’s power is equally essential to restrain self-righteous conduct. To achieve an ideal state and a virtuous society, the reform of the state, government and society is the key to positive politics, while encouraging, motivating and inspiring the real residents and citizens of the country and the world.
Kunwar is a freelance writer in the field of politics and international relations.