In these times, what meaning could a new Parliament have?

Source– The post is based on the article “In these times, what meaning could a new Parliament have?” published in “The Indian Express” on 23rd September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2 – Indian Polity

Relevance- Institution in modern democracy

News – The article explains the socio-political changes introduced by the current government. It also explains the global trends towards degradation of institutions of modern democracy.

Does the inauguration of a new Parliament building signify a fresh start?

What is the significance of a parliament building?

A Parliament has a huge symbolic significance, instead of just being a concrete structure. It is the conceptual space where state power intersects with the concept of community. Coercion and consent are both parts of it.

However, at this symbolic level, there has been a global trend of introducing substantial changes in the methods of popular governance.

What is the global trend across many democratic nations?

Rise of authoritarian populism – Many democratic nations, including India, are shifting toward authoritarian populism. Power has concentrated in a single supreme leader who enjoys popularity among a dominant segment of the population.

Degradation of institutions- Populist regimes lead to the degradation of the institutions of modern democracies. These institutions are used for promoting the supreme leader’s agendas.

Institutions crucial for the deliberative aspects of democracy, such as the media, universities, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy, are particularly targeted. The institution of Parliament is also impacted in this process. It often experiences marginalisation.

How have institutions changed in current times as compared to institutions established after independence?

After independence– The country inherited and established a set of institutions that were not aligned with the longer history of Indian society and its traditional power structures.

The elite in power during that era established institutions such as Parliament and the Constitution based on certain values.

Current times-The current elite in power wants to create new institutions that align with their own values.