Name of the Subject : Theoretical
base of Social Science Education
Name of the assignment Topic : Challenges to Democracy Terrorism
Name of the Student : Ajina.M.A
Name of Option : Social Science
Reg. No. : 13368002
Introduction
The concept of democracy has
undergone considerable changes through the ages. The word democracy is derived
from two Greek word demos and Kratia which menas people and power respectively.
Hence, democracy means power of the people. Democracy is usually considered as
“the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Terrorism in India, a
subject on which in the last one decade a lot has been written and spoken
about. Terrorism has posed a threat to out national security than a conventional
war. Terrorism’s capacity to destroy life, to destroy economy, to destroy
soverignty of countries, is tremendous. So far, National response to terrorism
in its varied from has been inadequate, of an ad-hoc character and generally
ineffective. Moreover, in the present international security environment, proxy
war and terrorism have become preferred means of hurting a neighbour’s social,
political and economic well being. This is really the magnitude of the threat
that we face today.
Terrorism:-
Terrorism is one of the types of
grave violences of the parrents world. Crossing the national boundariys
terrorism has became a global. In the recent time, it has affected both the
developed and developing countries. Everywhere, the phenominon of terrorism is
understood as a problem capable of affecting not only national but also
international politics. The 11th sept. 2001. plane attack on the
twin towers of the world, Trade Centre, Newyork,
USA stands as a
powerful evidence to this fact. Progress achieved in the field of science and
technology and particularly in IT has helped in making terrorism a global
phenomena.
Terrorism is totally opposed to
democracy and humanity and couses bloodshed, destruction and anarchy allround.
It is basically a violent-activity. It includes exploding of bomb, kidnapping,
setting fire to houses, organising mass murders, black mailing, highjacking and
such other dangerous and extremely violent activities.
Characteristics:
Basically a form of violence
and is maniferled in the form of blatant criminal acts.
The
etternal values of Indian culture such as love, truthfulness and non violence
are essentially opposec to the gospel terrorism.
It is a weapon of black mail
and curruption.
Terrorism
in India:-
(a)
Naxalite Terrorism found
in Bengal, Bihar and Andra.
(b)
Terrorism in punjab. Punjab terrorism however costed the life of prime
minister Indira Gandhi who was assassinated in the year 1984
(c)
Terrorism in Assam
(d)
Terrorism in Kashmir
Impact
of Terrorism on Society:
(i)
Crater law and order
problems:
(ii)
Leads to uncertainly:
(iii)
Causes loss of life and
property:
(iv) Encourages smuggling
(v)
Retards Economic
development:
(vi) All developmental activities are disturhed:
Challenges
to democracy- Terrorism
Corruption is the mususe of public
power for private profit. It involves behaviour on the part of officials in the
public sector, whether politicians or civil servants, in which they improperly
and unlawfully enrich themselves, or those close to them, by the misuse of the
public power entrusted to them.
There are two quite seperate
categories of administrative corruption.: the first occurs where, for example,
services or contracts are provided “according to rule” and the second, where
transactions “are against the rule” In the first situation, an official is
recieving private gains illegally for doing something which he or she is
ordinarily required to do by law. In the second situation, the bribe is paid to
obtain services which the official is prohibited from providing. “According to
rule” and “against the rule” corruption can occur at all levels of govt
hierarchy and range in scale and impact from “grand corruption” to more
ordinary, small scale varieties.
In practice, public attitudes can
overshadow legal definitions of administrative corruption, and public opinion
can define corruption in ways which will over ride law. If public opinion and
legal definitions do not conform, the likelihood is that officials will act in
accordance with the public view, and in so doin transgress the law. It is
therefore crucial that the public be informed and enlightened as to the damage
that corruption can cause.
India is rated as one of the most
corrupt countries in the world. Transparency International, which is a non govt
organisation in Berlin,
publishes annually the corruption perception index of countries. In the list
for the year 2001, India
is ranked least corrupt to the most corrupt.
Key
challenges:-
Democracies face accute dilemmas
when confronting acts of violence which fall under the rubric of terrorism.
Overreaction can alienate the population, damaging govt legitimacy as much as
(or more than) the actions of small terrorist groups. At the same time, if
govt, judiciary, policy and military prove incapable of unholding the law and
protecting life and property, then their credibility and authority will be
undermined. concreted acts of violence (or threats of such) are a challenge
which demands steady, painstaking response, lest the state compromise its very
legitimacy through the measures enacted and public confidence lost.
Givem that events on and subsequent
to 11 sept 2001 signify a new level of prominence for global prevention of
terrorism, it is vital that debate and open forums promote consideration of
both the patterns of violence and responses currently being played out on many
levels in the international system. Democracies come in many shapes and sizes,
and in varying degrees of maturity and performance. But national leaders
currently face a critical juncture- reconciling the international legitimacy
that is integral to democracy with the realities of military, economic and
political power. In particular a re-militarized international security frame
work in the wake of the 11 sept attacks threatens to marginalize democratic
approaches to conflict management. More over, Some measures meant as response
may undermine or compromise democracies in fragile or key stages of
development.
A reductionist approach to such
completity threatens an era dangerously equivalent to that of cold war
politics, where ideological alignment can obscure local realities of
development need political aspirations for reform.
The current challenge is two fold.
First for govts and peoples to manage incidents, response, risk and prevention
in a manner which upholds democratic principles of accountability, rights and
balances, and the rule of law second, for development assistance and democracy
promotion to be linked from, and not a by- product of, security needs and fear.
Democracy is neither a banner under which to fight designated targets, nor a commodity
that can be exported or imposed. It is most viable when shaped and rooted in
context, matching specific relevance and needs, with genuine local/national
owership. There is a need, for critical review of the impact of the global war
on terror on development assistance and specific national demoratization
process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, corraption in India exists
because of the unfulfillment of the basic needs of the general population . To
cradicate corruption, India
has to impliment right macro economic policies rather than questioning the
ethical stanclards of its population. Corruption in India can not be cradicated by
questioning ethical standards of Removal of corruption can only be achieved by
right macro economic policies and by reducing govt control. Honest political
leadership is a must as a first step. Fresh ideas and entreprenurial spirits
has to replace the beauracratic govt control for a wealthier society.
Reference
Social Issues in India
Education in the emerging
Indian society
-
Dr. K. Sivarajan
-
Internet
