Culture of democracy

Courtesy in political dialogue and tolerance of policy dissent are a central requirement of democracy

In 2011, as part of a report produced by the World Bank, I was asked to give a brief statement on what I saw as the crucial element in a thriving Indian democracy. I reproduce one para of what I wrote then, and then ask whether this culture of democracy still prevails.

“A constitution and elections are only the beginning of a functioning democracy. A lot depends on the emergence of working practices that respect the right of the Opposition and that set standards for political behaviour that in time become traditions. Even constitutional provisions like those for an independent election