Authoritarianism in the garb of democracy

Raziuddin Aquil

Eminent Social Scientist Partha Chatterjee’s recent lectures published in the book, I am the People, can help understand the havoc being created by authoritarian regimes everywhere. Backed by popular majority, the so-called strong and authoritarian leaders are determined to crush the marginalised and minority people in their own country. Dominate and shoot will be their mantra to deal with even peaceful protests against serious human rights violations by the agents of the state. If police cannot handle it, they will not hesitate to deploy the army to kill and suppress people into silence.

This is a kind of madness that defies all the logics of the powers of the state, whatever their models. Both as sovereign power and government, the state must know its responsibilities: political stability, social peace and economic prosperity established in such a way that people are not discriminated against in the name of caste, creed or colour in a pluralistic society. Justice should be even in the sense that different sets of rules cannot be applied for different sets of people - law should be the same for everyone. If it is not ensured by those in power, they will lose the moral legitimacy to rule. This is especially true for regimes which organise genocide of its own people, and the police have the license to arbitrarily kill people from sections or communities identified as others in a cynical abuse of power.

Beyond a point threats of using the police and deployment of army do not work, especially when protests and resistance acquire the form of a mass movement. Courts of justice may become disfunctional for some time, when judges and courts follow government's orders in a devious inversion of roles and practice. If international courts and human rights conventions are also completely ignored, then, at least, in informal juridical language, there is hope in a thing called natural justice. This will take care of everyone - the whole society. It might also lead to armed conflict and a cycle of violence, which will eventually require peaceful negotiations and reconciliation - bringing the powerful to their knees.

Following Partha Chatterjee, one might say that populist politics is throwing up strong and authoritarian leaders, who are expected to bring the economy back on track. Since such leaders lack proper education and expertise and do not even listen to any sound advice in the interest of the society - people, nation or state - they are unable to deliver. Instead, the problem is being deflected by holding racial or religious minorities responsible. This is creating a mess all around for serious repercussions to the democratic system itself. 

But then dictators are not here for social service. They will kill people to remain in power, justifying their actions through external wars and internal othering - often conflating the two and presenting themselves as working in "national interest". Even serious diplomatic relations become a joke or dirty game for them and their large mass of followers, real or virtual, active on social media, Whatsapp and more recently TikTok. Unfortunately, it is the racial, ethnic and religious minorities and the poor across sections of society which bear the brunt. That is what we are seeing in the United States and in many other parts of the world today. They will go after having done a lot of damage to everything cherished. Darker days are ahead before sanity is restored and reconstruction of social and political systems undertaken - a new order of things where justice and peace prevails, where innocent people are not killed in broad daylight, nor harassed on trumped up charges (pun intended).

Unfortunately, the current round of mess is happening amidst a deadly Covid-19 attack, which is primarily consuming weaker sections of the population. Data is getting fudged, so it will be difficult to know for sure, but poor people, old, black, minorities, and unlisted immigrants who are not fully covered by healthcare facilities or protection are the primary victims. These are the people for the welfare of whom the neo-liberal state does not want to take responsibility. These are also the people who are most likely vulnerable to attacks of the kind that killed George Floyd. Therefore, the ongoing protest in the US is not an irrational reaction of a mob. The protesters are fighting against active discrimination and for equal rights. Reduced to bare minimum, racial, ethnic or religious minorities have a right to live.

In such contexts and always, the responsibilities of the state - social democratic welfare state or neo-liberal governmentality - is critical. This is irrespective of whether people are identified as citizens with sovereign rights in whose name governments are run or counted as a mass of surplus population whose interests and demands should be properly met. Instead of acting responsibly, leaders who have captured power on popular support are showing how pathetic they can get. 

It is also too much to expect that people - popular majority suffering from "sovereignty deficit" - who constitute the crowd that lynches human beings can make a wise choice about what kind of rulers they want. Enlightened leaders working for general public weal in an ethical state will remain a dream or ideal, as the mob, the crowd or the mass is unleashed and protected by those who control institutions of government.

For those at the other side of power relations, there is a long struggle ahead. Major transformation in political and social thinking for equal rights and thus recognised in institutions of law and governance will not be easily offered on a platter. The bottom-line is whether the state with all its power can ensure that its agents will not kill an innocent person. In other words, can one peacefully live without a threat to one's life? Unfortunately, neither history of political practices nor current circumstances are assuring us about even this bare minimum right to live. This will require some struggle. 

As Partha Chatterjee would like to put it: the current crisis of leadership is the crisis of democracy itself - the picture is bleak, or dark, as the leader is working like a villain, instead of styling as a hero. According to Professor Chatterjee, combatting hateful environment in which right-wing thugs flourish will require a sustained intellectual argument for educating the rowdy masses of people and transforming them into a more civil, law-abiding, human beings, who can understand the virtues of peace and justice for all. It will be a long-term counter-hegemonic project. The road ahead is rough.

Based on Partha Chatterjee, I am the People: Reflections on Popular Sovereignty Today, Ranikhet: Permanent Black, 2020.