Democracy and Development

One of the major disadvantages of democracy is its failure to reward ruling parties for adopting long-term policies. Especially there is not much incentive to implement them in coalition era. we can count the number of times a government has determined to implement visionary ideas. During early Nehru raj, the thrust was on industrialization, higher education and NAM foreign policy. That they have a clear majority was an important factor behind their conviction. When India Gandhi assumed power, she was also be able to implement several long-term programs like closure of privy purse, nationalization of banks and agricultural revolution. But, post emergency, when her power deteriorated, there is an absence of long-term policies till her demise. There was a stagnation in reforms in every sector during 1975-84. Came Rajiv Gandhi into power with an overwhelming majority, and we again see a flow of path-breaking initiatives. Despite being a political novice, he tried to bring changes in telecommunication, education and basic livelihood. But after his 5-yr tenure, the lack of any single party majority rule has affected the policy making in India. I strongly assume that liberalization done by Manmohan Singh in 1991 was an act of compulsion, given the economic condition of that time, rather than a vision. There is a clear paucity of reforms in all areas including education, industry, poverty alleviation and agriculture.
I am here not claiming that there had been no efforts, initiatives on disinvestment, employment, primary education etc. are worth mentioning, but barring recent push on programs like NREGA and Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, the conviction is missing everywhere else.
The source of this painful realization came when I was attending a lecture on Environmental and Economic policies, where the esteemed professor was making us realize how countries with political willpower had been able to transform the landscape. In particular, the East Asian countries and China has achieved so much in past 50 years even in the absence of democratic values in most of these countries. And here, we are still trying to figure out correct policies that can appease everyone. There is huge expenditure on reforms, but many of them are for short-term gains. The subsidies shelled out by government increased heavily prior to the run up to each election. Nothing substantial could be done to the major obstacle for reforms, the lax bureaucracy, because weak governments are more dependent upon bureaucrats for day-to-day activities so that politicians can remain indulge in power games.
Enough of complaints, but what can be done? Only two parties at center like US, or electoral reforms to get rid of by-elections, or even a multi-party ministries. I will think of something and post in the next blog.