News
Saturday, May 15, 2010
The beauty of the British democracy
By Wajid Shamsul Hassan
The state of the British media before and immediately after the elections could be described as “confusion-worst-confounded.com”. Perhaps that is the way what could otherwise be a normal democratic process has been rendered into a football match ‘hullabaloo’. Notwithstanding the war of words between three party leaders in the TV debates – elections in Britain have been an exercise that developing democracies should emulate to make their own democratic and electoral processes near perfect.
Like most capitalist societies, the British economy too has been suffering for long from the after affects of a consumerism-promoting banking system that gave birth to an insatiable greed to acquire more means of purchasing property and household goods in a plastic card economy that tempts you to buy now and pay later when you have no resources. The ongoing global recession is both a manifestation of overspending and the cost of wars that are being fought in various parts of the world.
Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who singularly could be attributed to have provided solid shoulders to the British economy when Tony Blair was his boss, did manage it well in the worst of circumstances that he inherited. Had he called for elections immediately after Tony Blair’s resignation, the results might not have led a hung parliament.
The grim state of the British economy, soaring unemployment (2.5 million as of now), issues related to deficit financing, policy on immigration and other pressing socio-economic matters, did cause confusion in the minds of the voters. This is what has been reflected in their failure to return any single party the power. What could be described as an outcome of confusion did bring out the silver lining on the British political horizon. It enabled the fusion of two major parties into a coalition to bring together the best of the political leadership to combat serious challenges faced by the United Kingdom. In Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Premier Nick Clegg and their teams representing Conservatives and Lib-Democrats, they have a set of dedicated people fully aware of the difficult path they have to waddle through to pull Britain out of its deepening socio-economic quagmire.
There is some sort of scepticism in a section of the media and opinion makers regarding the prospects of success of the coalition that is being experimented 70 years down the road in the British history. Some of the media commentators have even forecast serious disagreements to arise sooner rather than later. Notwithstanding their apprehensions, one would put it strongly in support of the success of the concept of coalition since it has worked efficaciously in European countries. Coalition arrangements in Pakistan too have given political stability. As such there is not enough meat to doubt about its success in Britain, especially when its new government leaders have made it an agenda to strive, to seek and to serve in unity and in diversity.
Smooth elections in the UK have been, no doubt, a tribute to the fact that the British democracy creates an ethos for all sections of its society to get represented in parliament. It is also heartening to note that out of nine Muslim members elected in the May 6 elections, seven are of Pakistani origin (five belonging to Labours and two from Conservatives). For the first time in the British history, two women of Pakistani origin have made it to parliament. If compared with previous elections, this time three more Pakistani MPs will be sitting in the House of Commons.
Besides, Baroness Saeeda Warsi’s elevation as junior minister to sit in the cabinet is also a tacit recognition by the Conservative leadership to give its due where it deserves. Baroness Warsi worked very hard in building bridges between the Conservative party and the Diaspora of Pakistani origin. The Tories trust was amply reflected in Pakistani-origin Diaspora when they awarded a ticket to Barrister Ray Chisty from Gillingham constituency – predominantly white. By winning the seat against a Labour-sitting minister by more than 8,000 votes, Barrister Ray has come out with flying colours. Incidentally Ray has had the honour of having worked with former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto during her exile.
It has become increasingly obvious during my interaction with the British colleagues and scholars that something has to be done to de-radicalise the British youth. What is it that makes a youth radical despite having opportunities to basic education and health facilities? Certainly, the newly elected members of parliament with roots in Pakistan will have the occasion to raise these issues in parliament and with the new government.
But we also need assistance from our friends to rejuvenate our economy to provide more jobs in the country and wean the youth away from extremist tendencies. I am confident that the Pakistani and Kashmiri Diaspora would play their valuable role in this regard. Last but not the least a word or two about the conduct of political parties and their leaders in the British elections. It brought out the beauty of democracy as the best system of human management. No heads were broken, no lives were lost and nowhere did law and order situation threaten the electoral process. Gordon Brown acted most gracefully to resign and make room for David Cameron. And so did the new PM and his deputy who came on the record in their appreciation of the good work done by Brown. Indeed, all developing democracies need to emulate the British in translating democracy into action for the greatest good of the largest number.
The writer is Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk