Why I love muddled and messy politics

Because often I think that is the only true sign of a democracy.

Growing up in India, particularly coming of age when Indira Gandhi imposed a federal emergency rule on the entire country, and the later confusion with the Janata Party, was a fantastic immersion experience of sorts in understanding politics and civics.  And through those teenage years, I used to wonder whether the emergency was better--everything was a lot more efficient, and there was certainly lesser chaos.  But, as I started understanding the dark sides to it, the more I preferred the chaos and inefficiencies.

So, I could completely resonate with the following comments by Ian Buruma, whose blog entry is in the context of the recent Japanese elections:

The victory of Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of Japan has demolished this myth. Japanese no longer felt that their country’s destiny (and economic crisis) was best handled by bureaucrats and ineffectual politicians, who could think of little more than to pour more tainted money into useless bridges, unwanted dams, and roads going nowhere. They wanted more choices. They want to be properly represented. They wanted to feel that their votes actually counted.

The Democratic Party has promised to change the system, to put elected politicians in charge, instead of bureaucrats. This will not be easy. Vested interests in technocracy are strong. But even if the promised reforms don’t happen overnight, or under Hatoyama’s watch, things will not be the same again. Now that Japanese citizens have finally exercised their power to vote the rascals out, going back to the old ways is no longer an option even for conservatives.

This is good news for Japan. And it is good news for the rest of us, especially at a time of low confidence in democratic institutions. The temptation, in periods of crisis, to do away with messy politics and put the experts (or the great leaders) in charge, is getting stronger: look at Italy, or Thailand, or Russia, or Venezuela. The Japanese have chosen the more democratic route. Three cheers to them.

Yes, three cheers to them, and to democracy.