Quote Originally Posted by Marcellus
What's wrong with Indian democracy?
Corruption and poverty is a big problem in India and while there have been no military bids for power, Mrs Gandhi's "Emergency Rule" came close to dictatorship. The assassination of two Prime Ministers, ethnic and religious violence, armed conflicts with neighbouring countries, and a certain feeling of 'Manifest Destiny' in the Indian subcontinent suggest a few bumps in the road. However given the challenges she faces, India has done amazingly well. Far better I imagine than most people would have thought possible.

Let's be honest though, Indian democracy can get pretty brutal. The political machines that operate in India use violence and intimidation in ways we would find completely unacceptable. Indian democracy has given millions of Indians hope for better and this is one of it's great strengths. India however will not be a democracy like we in the west know, because our governmental system was developed by us with us in mind. India will go her own way IMO and cannot do otherwise as her history and development will prevent a slavish imitation of western ideals.

In India individual rights do not hold the exaggerated position they do in western democracies. Group rights are accorded a greater value than we in the west would really understand, and thus coalition politics are the order of the day. As Parnab Bardhan's pointed out in "India Democracy, sui generis" 59% of Muslims in India think their vote counts, which is a level of confidence higher than in the general American public. India became a democratic state NOT because the people had the power to enforce a say in government but because of the legacy of British rule. This is IMO why group rights are of more import than personal freedoms in India. Power is based on groups because industrialization hadn't given the individual the sense of power that it did in the west.