Alternatives to Democracy

Definitions of democracy differ widely in content as well as application. The most accepted criteria for a form of government to be termed democratic would be that all persons who are fit to perform the duties of a citizen have a share in the direction of the State and that their will ultimately prevails.

Let us learn about the alternatives to democracy

Monarchy represents that form of government where the source of all political authority is to be found in a supreme ruler. The system was most beneficial in the early stages of the development of the State.

The monarch was able to hold together by his own personal force a society which otherwise might have broken up into many elements. The Roman kings were elected. The institution later became hereditary. Where absolute monarchy prevailed, the Monarch was the State.

Absolute monarchy was best suited for societies where the people were uncivilized and had to be disciplined. A monarch may be enlightened like Ashoka, Harsha, or Akbar but good government is no longer accepted as a substitute for self-government.

Absolute monarchies do not allow liberty and freedom of thought and expression to the subjects. This form of government does not inspire patriotic and social loyalty among its citizens. A variation of absolute monarchy is a constitutional monarchy as prevalent in Britain.

The monarch reigns but does not rule. He or she acts like an umpire ensuring that the game of politics is played according to rules. Aristocracy was originally conceived as the government by the best men of the community. But problems arose with regard to the selection of the best men.

The selections came to be a matter of favor. The poor, whatever their merit or intellect remained out of the zone of selection. Considering the way democracies actually function, one is inclined to believe that democracy too is a variation of the aristocracy.

The common people have the right to elect their representatives. However when it comes to choosing people who will really govern. Aristocratic considerations come into play. Cabinet government is in essence Aristocracy. Those who constitute the Ministry are either the intellectual Aristocrats or the chosen few who have the ability to convince their colleagues that they are better suited to govern.

The British have their House of Lords. Twelve members of the Rajya Sabha are nominated. They are supposed to be persons having special knowledge in certain areas. This system of representation snacks of the aristocracy.

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