The article defines democracy as ‘a government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives’. It further elaborates that a functioning democracy consists of free elections that express popular consent, freedom of political and social mobilisation, accountability of government, and equality of all citizens under the rule of law.
These four basic elements of democracy the abovementioned writer considers to be compatible with Islamic teachings and practices. Although we may have different views concerning this issue, it is worthwhile to look at his argument and try to assess our current developments relative to the democratic world today.
Elections in our country are just around the corner, giving the population the opportunity to exercise their right in choosing or electing the country’s leadership. All eligible voters have an equal vote to choose their representative.
During the campaigning period, we may observe the freedom of political and social mobilisation, although some quarters cry foul at the level of restrictions said to be for security reasons, limitations in regards to the access to media coverage or the imbalance in terms of materials and electoral machinery among participants.
The point we wish to discuss concerns the term ‘elected representative’. What does this really mean? I did receive an email from a reader, arguing that the system in use today has actually robbed him of his right to choose or elect the leader or representative of his choice.
He further argued that none of the candidates contesting in his constituency were chosen by the people (or at least by him). If the true idea of democracy is to be practiced, the community or the people should be allowed to nominate their own choice of candidate. Conversely, his email claimed that all the candidates in his constituency were merely ‘selected’ by the various parties they were representing, thus truly making them their ‘selected representatives’.
Let us ponder a while on this point. Take the Presidential election process in the United States for example. Are the American people really given their choice of leadership, or are they merely forced to select between Democrat or Republican? Both parties were actually actively made to ‘select’ from among candidates for their presidential candidate.
So, do the population really elect their leader, or are they just involved in the selection process? Is this a real reflection of the democratic process?
If we really ponder on the process leading up to elections, with the vetting of candidates by the various parties participating in the election, the people whose votes really matter are only asked to choose between ‘selected candidates’ as a result of the party leadership’s choice. Do we the people have the right to elect our leader, or are we only asked to select between those already short listed? Is this an election in the true sense or is it merely a selection?
