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Dr.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIA


NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY
LUCKNOW

2015-16
POLITICAL SCIENCE
FINAL PROJECT
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY

Submitted to:- Submitted by:-


Ms. Monika srivastava Shailesh kumar
Assistant Professor B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)- Ist sem

Roll no. 123


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION___________________________________________________________1

NEED FOR INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY_____________________________________2

A. MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS__________________________________________________2
B. POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENT THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE
POLITICAL WILL OF THE PEOPLE__________________________________________2
C. THE CONCEPT OF MERITOCRACY______________________________________2
D. SETTING THE NORMS OF SOCIAL CONDUCT_____________________________3
A. PARTY COMMITTEE AND THE SELECTION OF A LEADER_________________4
B. IDEOLOGY AND POLICY FORMATION___________________________________4
C. IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES______________________________________5
D. TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION MAKING_________________________________5
E. SCIENTIFIC MINDEDNESS OF THE MEMBERS____________________________5

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR INNER PARTY


DEMOCRACY______________________________________________________________6

CONCLUSION_____________________________________________________________9

BIBLIOGRAPHY__________________________________________________________III

INTRODUCTION

Inner Party Democracy connotes the democratic functioning of parties.

True democracies demand that people be involved in decision making at


all levels of decision making of which they are stake holders; this demand
calls for Inner party Democracy. Political party functioning in our society
is based on an autocratic system where the senior, more influential
leaders of a party dictate its terms and are the authorities on decision
making; it has seen to result in a corrupted governmental function that
eliminates vital issues such as accountability, safeguard and prime

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importance of civil rights and legitimate criticism of the actions of the
government. Inner Party Democracy seeks to resolve this. 1

No concrete definition of this term is possible. 2 A wide and proper


definition is that all stakeholders have a say in party functioning and that
the party functions as per true democratic principles of state practice.
Inner Party Democracy is a very flexible term and its scope and method
of appropriation depends on the prevailing system. This paper will seek to
provide and enshrine the basic principles of the term and will try to expose
the nuances of the existing system; it will seek to explore the merits and
demerits of the Inner Party Democracy and critique upon how it shall
benefit our society.

For the purpose of this submission, the scholar would like to divide this
paper into 5 major components:

1. Need for Inner Party Democracy


2. Elements of Inner Part Democracy
3. Constitutional or Legal provisions for Inner Party Democracy
4. Leadership in an Inner Party Democracy
5. Conclusion

NEED FOR INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY

1 See Naom Chomsky, Failed States: Abuse of Power in A Democracy,


1st ed. (2006), p.13: The author seeks to establish the failed state of
affairs in the so called Successful Democracies by illustrating its true
functioning. The author speaks about the same in the context of the
United States of America; he explains how power constraints are still along
lines contradictory to the essence of a Democracy.

2 See Anthony Giddens, The Third Way: Renewal Of Social Democracy,


1st ed. (1996), p.63

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True democracy can function only if such democracy exists in all levels of
the system. The need for Inner Party Democracy arises from this idea
that the major features of a democracy such as transparency,
accountability, inclusion, strengthening of the civil society etc. are
maintained.

As a common man, the scholar would like to see the system that he is
governed by to function properly. Inner Party Democracy ensures that
such features are preserved. Three major reasons however shall be given
in support of the scholars argument that Inner Party Democracy is of
supreme importance in the civil society.

A. MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS

Multiparty competitive systems deem that parties are a key to and a major
factor of political power. All political parties, in attainment as well as
exercise of power, must be adequately democratic; Only then can the
political process of making and running a government be truly democratic.

B. POLITICAL PARTIES REPRESENT THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF THE


POLITICAL WILL OF THE PEOPLE3

For the above stated reason, the process of will formation and mobilisation
of action for the good of the people must follow the fundamentals of
democratic functioning; In the absence of this, the political culture of
militancy and authoritarianism set in which are undesirable for obvious
reasons.

C. THE CONCEPT OF MERITOCRACY

3 See Richard A. Posner, Law Pragmatism and Democracy, 1st ed. (2003),
p. 98

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It is an established fact that democracy does not function automatically;
while this principle is clearly laid down in the Constitution, it does finally
come down to the competence of the citizens and thus the parties key
factor of functioning. Charisma, vision, skill and commitment of the
leaders is what the leadership should demand. This can happen only
through democratic functioning.

D. SETTING THE NORMS OF SOCIAL CONDUCT

Political parties are the only links that connect the people to the
government. The represent therefore, the true functioning; Their
,mode /method of functioning will in turn also affect the functioning of
other manifestations of peoples political will.

In the functioning of parties, the factor of inclusion has largely been left
out of many debates. This scholar considers it immensely important.

The bases of inclusion are: ethnicity, gender, religion, social


backwardness, etc. As far as a democratically functioning society is
concerned, the factor assumes special importance as democracy will open
opportunities and incentives for the party members to raise and discuss
many social issues; consequently, such issues will assume greater
importance in preparation of political action.4 Since it is necessary that
such issues play a pivotal role in the government, Inner Party Democracy
comes as an automatic and essential corollary.

4 Khagendra Prasad, Democratisation of Political Parties, Paper on the


related aspects of Inner Party Democracy

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MAJOR ELEMENTS OF INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY

This section is included by the scholar to prove that if Inner Party


Democracy is of supreme importance, then its method, content and
process are of prime concern as well.

The principle measures to be discussed under this head are as follows:

A. PARTY COMMITTEE AND THE SELECTION OF A LEADER

All levels of committee constitution and executive positions must


necessarily be formed through the process of elections. There must be
provisions of accountability where in decisions of the leader may be
questioned or discussed; their actions must be liable to legitimate criticism
and judgement.

Periodic meetings and recalls are effective instruments of this. This makes
the marty functioning more professional in its outlook.

B. IDEOLOGY AND POLICY FORMATION

Thoroughly informed and qualitative participation of the maximum


members must help form ideology and policy of the party.

If party policy does not represent the thinking of the majority of its
individuals , its policies will, in the long run be rendered ineffective. Here
the scholar would like to point out the nuances and the relevance of the
concept of majority.

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The term majority is defined by the Websters Dictionary as proposing a
number greater than 50%. The significance of the term however, is
twofold. Firstly, the fact that more than 50

5 of the people agree on a certain issue as opposed to a minority is the


fairest way to go against the minority will. Secondly, and far more
importantly, a majority represents a physically stronger team. The fact
that they are greater in number overrules the will of the minority; their will
in such cases is insignificant and they basically do not have a choice.

For the purpose of policy formation in a party, Open Discussion and


Deliberation are two things that must be kept in mind.

C. IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES

Selection of party candidates has been seen to be more a factor of


authoritative members or the party high command or central committee.
Such functioning is prima facie undemocratic functioning and demands
criticism.

Two major instruments to solve this are primary elections and a


democratically formed party committees.

The United States of America is the best example of primary elections and
deserves applaud. The scholar would like to fleetingly mention the system
followed in China at a later stage of this submission.

D. TRANSPARENCY IN DECISION MAKING

The entire partys decisions and decision making process must be made
known, not only to the members, but to all the people; this is because
transparency in decision making processes is the major tool for judging
the mertis and demerits of party functioning.

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This seeks to serve two major purposes. Firstly, it gives members a
platform to study the party leadership. Secondly, it provides a platform to
potential leaders for the same; and lastly it makes a party public in the
true sense.

E. SCIENTIFIC MINDEDNESS OF THE MEMBERS5

Democratisation of a party also demands a specific state of mind from the


party members. Such a state of mind has to be developed.

1. Inquisitiveness of members
2. Open-mindedness
3. Critical Mind

CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR


INNER PARTY DEMOCRACY

All parties must be governed by fundamental democratic principles. While


some people contend that this must be an entirely internal issue, the
scholar believes that democratic functioning must be subject to external
regulation. The major reasons cited in support of this argument are: 6

A. All business, relation or interaction in parties must be governed by


the fundamentals of democracy; therefore, constitutional regulation
is equally attracted in a political party as the generalia.
B. The decisions and activities of parties are of public concern and thus
not private matters.
5 Don McKinsley, Introduction to Psychology, 3rd ed. (2003), p.231.

6 See Robert A. Dahl, On Democracy, 1st ed. (1998), p. 224 : The author
describes these reasons in detail explaining the vital merits of
Constitutional regulation of Inner Party Democracy.

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C. In a democratic system, no institution must be above the
constitution; parties must be subject to constitutional regulations
and constitutional methods of functioning.

In Germany, provisions of political parties have been defined in Basic Law,


Article 21(c) which requires

internal organisation in conformity with democratic principles. 7

In Spain8, Article 6 of the Constitution requires the same

Similarly Article 51(5) in the Portugese Constitution 9 and the Finnish Act
on Political Parties prescribes that internal structure and management of
political parties must be democratic.

The scholars argument is that the Constitution of India too must provide
for such safeguards and legal provisions to ensure democratic functioning
of parties. In retrospection, the negatives of such a system would be hard
to find.

7 http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/parliament/function/germanlaw.pdf,
last visited on 20-09-2008 at 4:30 p.m. IST

8 http://www.servat.unibe .ch/law/icl/sp00000_html, last visited on 20-09-


2008 at 4:30 p.m. IST

9 http://www. Parliamento.pt/ingles_cons_leg/crp_ing/index.html, last visited on


20-09-2008 at 4:30 p.m. IST

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DEMOCRATIC v. UNDEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONING

It is the opinion of the scholar that the demands from a leader in a


democracy follow a different. Such leadership demands a democratic
thought, behaviour and work style. The fundamental differences that lead
to this are as follows:

Explanation and wider discussion are made use of by a democratic leader


to make and establish decisions vis--vis command and force used by
an undemocratic one. Greater participation is encouraged and opinions
and suggestions are seriously considered. While a democratic leader
generates or synthesises opinion, an undemocratic leader imposes them
upon citizens.

Reciprocal and egalitarian relationships are developed between members


of the party under a democratic leader. The autocratic leader however,
maintains one-sided relations based on inequality. While the former
regards other members as co-workers, the later treats them as
subordinates.

Planning and action are made public without hiding anything by a


democratic leader; in contradiction to which, an undemocratic leader uses
secret, clandestine and conspiracy.

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CONCLUSION

It is submitted by the scholar that Inner Party Democracy must be


treated as the quintessential of the growth, evolution and perfection of
democracies in their entirety.

Our country sees an absence of such functioning at the party level. The
major parties of the country follow an undemocratic system of
authoritarianism and command. While the BJP and the Congress leaders
have at times displayed certain traits to implement the same, the absence
of a set of norms governing such functioning shows large gaps in the
current system of our democracy.

Rahul Gandhi has on several occasions hinted a shift in Congress


functioning towards such a system; concrete steps however, are yet to be
seen.10 The congress party founded in 1985 on the lines of trust in the
authoritarian members of the party, provided they delivered results has
undergone changes with the coming of various party leaders. The partys
functioning though is largely undemocratic.

10 See Balvir Arora, Can Democracy Flourish With Undemocratic Parties,


http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070815/independence/main3.htm, As accessed on 21-
09-2008: The author in the course of this article seeks to analyse the Indian scenario on
Inner Party Democracy and helps the reader understand the merits of its existence.

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Inner party democracy takes many forms and can manifest itself in diverse ways.
The ultimate objective is to be as inclusive and representative as possible, keeping in
mind the inherent propensities of party functionaries to filter information as it moves
upwards. Therefore the first stage is in the selection of party functionaries, where
some element of democratic functioning is necessary, if the next stage of distribution
of party tickets for elections is not to be totally rigged. Parties can also introduce
gender sensitivity in their organisational structures without waiting for any
legislation mandating quotas. Finally, the representation of all the three levels of
what is after all a multilevel federal system is of the utmost importance if
democratisation is to take root in the polity.11

Newer generations of volunteers are however, showing a willingness to


place a premium upon meritocracy and pay heed to the voices of all
stakeholders in party functioning.

A good example of Inner Party Democracy is the BSP which is recruiting a


large number of volunteers from all sections of the society enshrining all
the elements mentioned.

Countries like the USA and nations of the European Union have provisions
in party policy and the Constitution itself to ensure democratic functioning
at the party level. The concept of preliminaries in the United States gives
the people a say in the selection of the candidate for the Presidential
Elections in the country. Similarly countries of the European Union have
provisions in their Constitutions to facilitate democratic functioning of
parties.

Our country too sees the need of such a system; adding to the importance
of this need is the culture of secularism and the existence of varied
communities that necessitate inclusion and wider participation. The
prevailing system does not promote the interests of the larger population

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and hence needs to change. Inner Party Democracy represents that
change.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Naom Chomsky, Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on
Democracy, 1st ed. (2006), Metropolitan Books, New York

Naom Chomsky, Deterring Democracy, 1st ed. (1991), Verso Publications,


London

Anthony Giddens, The Third Way: The renewal Of Social Democracy, 1st ed.
(1998), Polity Press, London

Robert A. Dahl, On Democracy, 1st ed. (1998), Yale University Press, Yale

Charles Tilly, Democracy, 1st ed. (1996), Cambridge University Press,


Cambridge

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