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AnalysisIn praise of political parties Political parties are crucial for the vitality of a democracy. But across the world, political parties have been reduced to mere electoral mechanisms, networks to capture power, says John Samuel More... The prince, the priest and the merchantWe the people are supposed to be in charge of the modern manifestations of power. But are we? The secular democratic process is only the old Prince-Priest-Merchant nexus in disguise, says John Samuel More... Whose 'good' governance is it anyway?Governance used to be seen as the techno-managerial functions of the state. Today, governance is increasingly influenced by market forces, civil society processes and citizens initiatives. Therefore, both state and non-state actors must be held accountable for ensuring a just, people-centred and human rights-based approach to governance More... The delusions of power: Beauty and the beastEverything small is beautiful these days. NGOs, busy with micro finance and micro politics for the poor, are small, beautiful -- and powerless. Meanwhile, the beast of markets and States can continue to dominate macro economics and politics. This neat division into micro and macro sustains the unjust power relationships that perpetuate impoverishment, inequality and injustice, says John Samuel More... The limits of judicial activismToday, everything from river pollution to the selection of the cricket team has become the purview of judicial activism. Is it time to put the genie back in the bottle and confine the courts' public interest jurisdiction to its original purpose of ensuring justice to the poor and exploited? More... Towards a dollar democracy?Nandan Nilekani recently said that a city like Bangalore that contributes 60% of a state's GDP should have more than 7% of the state assembly seats. Nilekani and others are in effect arguing for a dollar democracy, where one rupee will count for one vote, rather than one person More... Man does not live by bread aloneBhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness, like E F Schumacher's concept of Buddhist economics, Hazel Henderson's compassionate economics, and the modern measure of Happy Life Years, is a recognition that progress is inextricably linked not with material growth or financial gain but with the absence of suffering or samsara. Darryl D'Monte reports from the world's last Shangri-La More... Towards democratic governanceThe people must reclaim the institutions of governance: questions need to be asked, policies need to be monitored, rights need to be claimed and accountability needs to be asserted More... Preconditions for an empowered IndiaWhat are the enabling conditions for the empowerment of a billion people? More... |
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