Democracy sans justice

Justice and democracy are two corresponding and complementary concepts in political philosophy. As a central ideal of liberal political morality, the former accords distinctive appeal and application to the latter in modern times, while the latter stands as a practical manifestation of the former. Though elections, inclusion, freedom of expression, accountability and liberty form the ingredients of real democracy, their existence is inseparably linked to that of justice.

Meanwhile, the absence of justice defies the foundational norm of democracy. Without justice, democracy is nothing more than a facade for tyranny. It serves as a tool for legitimising totalitarianism and the interests of tyrants. It is mainly because stakeholders deceitfully obtain public mandates in ritualistically fixed elections and portray themselves as public representatives and guardian angels. Threats to their vested interests, disguised in democracy, are deliberately perceived by them as a threat to democracy itself. To this end, draconian laws aimed at demonising dissenting voices solidify and make their stakes almost unchallenged.

The unchallenged facade of democracy gradually evolves into a tool of direct and systematic tyranny. The direct faces of tyranny include crackdowns on dissenting voices. Intimidation, coercion, torture and trials under different pretexts, including treason, religiosity, and regionalism, often manifest direct state tyranny against its people. Meanwhile, systematic brutality encompasses all policies and practices that put the subjects into perpetual desperation. Divisive state policies and planned sensitisation of ethnic, regional and religious lines engage people in petty matters and stifle their intellectual growth. Crony capitalism, chronic poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, skyrocketing inflation and brain drain often exemplify this.

Democracy without justice ultimately transforms into a totalitarian, Machiavellian and Orwellian culture where brutality overrules genuine democratic norms. The rule of lawlessness and the absence of justice enable megalomaniac and greedy individuals to govern affairs through rigged elections. Since there is no justice or accountability, they are at liberty to perpetuate oppressive practices and policies without fearing consequences.

Additionally, the ruling powers deliberately deprive the masses of freedom of expression, the right to information and education, as an enlightened populace, would threaten their stakes by demanding justice. Consequently, the interests of the powerful become national interests, and all tactics — implied or explicit — to achieve them become the law of the land.

Moreover, an unresponsive and authoritarian regime indulges in all forms of loot and plunder of public resources, leaving little, if at all, for the public. It subjects the masses to socioeconomic deprivation. These public miseries are capitalised upon in the name of the facade of democracy during rigged polls by selling false hopes of prosperity. These parasitic practices and policies place the public at the receiving end, chaining them in the systematic shackles of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, resulting in the lowest socioeconomic and human rights indicators.

Furthermore, the facade of democracy shields the state’s tyrannous practices. Under the pretext of public support, laws are made that only serve the powerful at the expense of the people.

In addition to other forces of the status quo, two sections that strengthen the democratic façade and benefit the most are the clergy and the so-called intellectuals, mainly related to the media. The former manipulates sentiments by professing divine authentication of the status quo while the latter trades truth and creates misguided public opinion. Both tend to paint shambolic democracy as the best possible form and portray stakeholders in saintly and angelic colours.

And unfortunately democratically clothed totalitarian regimes are more oppressive and sustainable than openly declared authoritarian ones. This is because, unlike totalitarian regimes where people question and oppose their government on legitimate grounds, the facade of democracy suppresses public resistance in the name of their consent in dramatic elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2023.

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