Whatever we may think of dictatorship ideally, empirically it cannot be denied that it has proved an effective form of government in solving the emergent social problems and mobilising the resources to accelerate the economic and technological progress.
So far only war and defeat has brought dictatorship to an end: after eleven years in Germany and after twenty years in Italy.
In the U.S.S.R. in more than seventy years of its career in the construction of the socialist society stupendous and incredible results were achieved and rightly the 1977 Constitution could claim that the goal of completely developed socialist society had been attained. In the international politics, too, the Soviet State enjoyed enviable position.
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The People’s Republic of China and other Communist States might not have reached that much of stature, but their achievements in a comparatively shorter period of their careers were no less astonishing.
And socialism despite, its recent decay, is not only spreading to other lands, but even capitalist countries are increasingly adopting socialistic policies to solve their problems. Hunger, poverty, unemployment and underemployment are the stark realities in all these countries, though their intensity may be lesser in the developed countries as compared with the underdeveloped.
The efficacy of democracy and democratic institutions in solving the sufferings of the masses has of late been seriously questioned and opinion is tilting toward dictatorship as a substitute. Even ardent advocates of democracy have expressed their scepticism and James Bryce is one of them.
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He wrote, perhaps in anguish: “when the spiritual oxygen which has kept alive the attachment to liberty and self-government in the minds of the people becomes exhausted will not the flame burn low and perhaps flicker out.”
But all have not lost faith in democracy and Laski is the foremost among them. He considers the democratic government “is doubtless a final form of political organisation in the sense that men who have once tested power will not, without conflict surrender it.” He had abiding faith in the permanence of democracy and firmly believed that it would continue.
In spite of its failings, which are many and some of them quite grave, democracy is, as a rule, the most appropriate form of government for modem times and it is the logical sequence of evolution.
Its appeal is still great for the people as no better alternative is open to mankind. But democratic institutions shall have to be reformed in order to become progressive, adaptable and flexible vehicles responsive to the aspirations of the people.
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Our economic, social and political orders have been rendered shaky and unless democracy finds the means of equalising opportunity and wiping out the yawning economic disparities which have paralysed the social structure and destroyed the political fabric, its future is definitely bleak. After all democracy is an operative ideal and it is the skill and dexterity of its operators that can save it.
Maclver has cogently said that there is “only one way to keep it in being, that is through the intelligent perception, permeating the people, of what it is and what makes it precious. We guard our spiritual treasures only by learning to appreciate it.”
The traditional approach to democracy has proved a sheer sham. It requires to be substituted by reorienting our democratic values than substituting it by a totalitarian regime.
Totalitarianism may present a fascinating balance-sheet of achievements-improvement in the condition of the masses by providing order and security, economic amelioration restoration of nationalistic self-respect, hopes and ambitions and national unity. But at what cost? The cost is great and immeasurable.
It is achieved by stifling the liberty of thoughts expression and association and dwarfing the stature of the people. What totalitarianism takes away from the people, democracy provides a climate for its preservation and growth.
Clement Atlee had appropriately said that democracy is the only method by which economic and social equality would ultimately be achieved; not by regimentation of opinion and administration and ideological commitment but by persuasion and conviction that there lies the well-being of humanity.