Multiple Meanings of Democracy: Citizen Voices From Across the World
17:00 to 18:30, 6th December, Bangalore
The Globalbarometer Survey measures public opinions on democracy through surveying of ordinary people. The goals of the Globalbarometer are:
- To generate a worldwide base of scientifically reliable and comparable data on public opinion about democracy, prosperity, and human security.
- To strengthen institutional capacity for survey research in all participating countries.
- To disseminate survey results to popular and policy audiences.
The executive board meeting of the Globalbarometer survey on 6th & 7th December is hosted by Jain University. The Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Education (Jain University) along with Centre for Public Policy at IIMB hosted an event to share the findings of the various surveys conducted all over the world with academics in the city. The panel of experts consisted of representatives of different barometers (regions) within the survey.
The panel consisted of:
- Prof. Yogendra Yadav, CSDS, Delhi (Moderator)
- Prof. Robert Mattes, representing the Afrobarometer, from South Africa
- Dr. Yun Han Chu, representing the East Asia barometer, from Taiwan
- Prof. Christian W Haerpfer, representing the Eurasia barometer, from the UK
- Prof. Mohammed Al Masri, representing the Arab barometer, from Jordan
- Dr. Marta Lagos, – representing Latinobarmetro, from Chile
Each panelist spoke about the results of the survey from their region. The two survey questions common across all regions were:
- The open ended question: What does democracy mean to you?
- Respondents were asked to rate three political issues (like Political rights, fair elections etc.) & economic issues (development, social mobility etc.) as essential, important & not important
The answers depended on the history & context of the country where the survey was conducted. It was found in Africa that those who thought economic issues were more important are far less likely to agree with the ideals of democracy. Prof. Mattes paraphrased Joseph Schumpeter – people support any regime which provides the common goods.
In the Arab survey, they found close to 30,000 different definitions for democracy. About 70-80% of Arabs are in favor of democracy & not in favor of technocrats or authoritarianism. 20-30% of Arabs, mostly in Saudi Arabia are in favor of a system based on Sharia law.
Prof. Haerper spoke about democracy in former Soviet Union. People in ex-USSR are only just getting used to the freedom – free market economy, freedom from unlawful arrest, freedom of association & even the freedom to travel freely. The absence of communism, state planning & the KGB is a basis for democracy in the region & it will take years for the ideals of democracy to take root.
The Latinobarometro results showed that each of the 18 countries surveyed have 18 different ideas of Democracy. Nicaragua has been under the same party almost continuously from 1979 & yet Nicaraguans consider their country democratic. Guatemala however does not consider their country democratic; Dr. Lagos says it is because of the discrimination against the 50% of indigenous Mayan speaking Guatemalans.
Prof. Yadav concluded that democracy should expand to cover a range of human aspirations instead of just confirming to checklist of ideas.
The Globalbarometer is in the process of putting together & consolidating the results from across the world.
The event was incredibly timely. I am involved in research studies at work which follow the survey methodology and the discussion about the difficulties of capturing certain ideas in a survey resonated with me. The surveys prove beyond doubt that multiple variations of democracy exist & foisting one idea over the other is just wrong.
The panel was truly international, having a representative from every major region of the world (except the US & western Europe – indeed it was a refreshing change to listen to a panel without them). The highlight for me came after the session. I spoke with Dr. Lagos about the Fujimoris & democracy in Peru – probably my first in-person discussion about politics in Peru after returning to Bangalore.
