Procedural Democracy

♤ The observers of the procedural democracy largely believe that democracy in India has been

successful. The criteria for this assessment are - participation and competition. These are indicated by the frequency of the elections in India and competition among political parties to contest elections.

♤ Procedural democracy was meant to contribute to the nation-building in India. Theorists believe that universal adult franchise and periodic elections usher modernization process. It would be accompanied with socio-economic modernization, urbanization, spread of mass media, education, wealth and equality.

♤ It was believed that development in India would strengthen democracy and divisions based on caste and religion would disappear.

♤ But these hopes were belied in 1960s and 70s. The decade of 1960s witnessed recurrent episodes of linguistic and ethnic violence. Unable to meet the challenge democratically the political executive responded to these by authoritarianism, personalization of the institutions and imposition. Imposition of emergency was one such example.