International Forum for Partyless Governance

[PVR]

If we search for Partyless Democracy on the web, we get thousands of results. Though Partyless Democracy as a concept has been there for quite some time and its benefits recognized, it lacks popular support since democracy without political parties is unthinkable for many. While some clarity on its implications has emerged, the absence of a cohesive platform to take up its cause is a serious lacuna. To address this concern the following proposal is made for an ‘International Forum for Partyless Governance’ (IFPG), which can be started by like-minded Netizens.

There has been some good discussion in the thread – Modification to Democracy system in India. It was rightly said that the primary purpose of any modification to democracy system should be to enable good people to join politics and make it difficult for selfish people to survive in it. The proposal for IFPG should be appreciated from such a perspective. Since the shortcomings in the present-day form of democracy impacts on the entire world and since the world is becoming more and more interconnected, it is appropriate that there is a global approach to the problem.

The Rationale for IFPG:
The purpose of the IFPG would be to usher in a just and equitable world order starting from the smallest unit of society – the village. Democracy, which is best described in Abraham Lincoln’s words as ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’, is today a far cry from what its name suggests. In this background if a truer democracy were to be established then the right people, who would work in the best interests of everyone, would come to power. When conscientious individuals occupy the seats of power it would result in a just and equitable world, since they would fulfill the basic yearning of every human being, which is to enjoy peace and harmony.

Democracy is a sign of evolution of mankind. Yet, it needs to evolve further to shed the drawbacks it is burdened with, chief among them being the party-based political mechanism, where the elected member is invariably bound to the party line of thinking. Consequently, there is sidelining of the true wishes of people right from the grass-roots level, adding up to national policies, which are out of touch with the real issues confronting the people. Since a partyless mechanism - where every member is an independent within the elected house - would put the concerns of the people as the prime determinant in politics, it would take care of this serious shortcoming.

Party-based mechanism within the elected house has an inherent divisive tendency that permeates down to the lowest strata of society. It tends to divide people first along ideological lines, which soon extends to division along class, caste, sect, religion, race and so on. Division of people is facilitated and exacerbated by the electoral need for vote-banks. Thus if the human society today is dangerously divided it is not merely due to the human tendency to form groups but largely due to the divisive mindset perpetuated by the party-based mechanism within the elected house.

Though the individual elected member can think and act in the best interests of common good, being bound by the party line of thinking as well as the temptations of power in the absence of immediate accountability to the people who elected him, results in the elected member behaving less than optimally.

Thus a partyless mechanism within the elected house would ensure that each member gives his best to the people who elected him and to the democratic system as a whole. Partyless Governance does not do away with political parties, since they would still be relevant outside the elected house (hence this term is preferable to Partyless Democracy), where the political parties can facilitate discussions favouring a particular ideology. But inside the house, the elected member being directly accountable to the people who elected him would be free to obey his conscience - the repository of peace and harmony in the ultimate analysis.

Making this repository the center of all human activities at the political level would make all other issues to be structured around it so that peace and harmony would prevail. It would be the ideal mechanism to tackle divisive issues like religious and racial intolerance, development strategy and environmental degradation. Partyless Governance, when understood and accepted, would help in resolving the complex problems facing the world gradually and amicably. In the long run, there would be no losers; everyone would be a winner.

How the IFPG would work:
The IFPG would be a web-based platform. Three categories of people can ‘register’ and express their support at the IFPG web site.
[1] Individuals who believe that ‘Partyless Governance’ can make a big difference to the world. By choosing to ‘register’ at the IFPG they would solemnly resolve (a) to promote the cause of Partyless Governance by whatever means possible at their personal level (for instance, by adding the IFPG link to their e-mail signatures) and (b) to vote either for the best among the independent candidates in every ensuing election (in their nation at the central/state/local level) or to the political party which supports the concept of Partyless Governance (within the elected house) by registering at the IFPG. Individuals can add their name and location to the IFPG directory. Members from the same location/nation can form a forum among themselves on the IFPG platform to promote the cause of Partyless Governance in their region.
[2] Organizations can express support to Partyless Governance by choosing to register at the IFPG. National and International organizations working for the cause of a just, equitable and humane world will find that their cause would be well served by the mechanism of Partyless Governance and the success of IFPG would be in their own interest.
[3] Political parties can express their support to the rationale of Partyless Governance by choosing to register at the IFPG. By doing so they would be enhancing their reputation as a ‘people-first’ party committed to the values of honesty and accountability to the people. Being registered at the IFPG would give an electoral advantage to them among the undecided voters who search for candidates who would remain true to their promises after getting elected.

Those who have registered from a particular nation can take up nation-specific agenda, to advance the cause of Partyless Governance. Thus the IFPG can provide the much-needed platform for a concept that tends to be dismissed as utopian, to facilitate the ushering in of a world where peace and harmony would prevail, by tapping the best out of human nature.