The problem of coalitions

There are two scenarios. One of them is through a film, and another is in a real life situation. The film can be disregarded, because they intend to be deliberate and distortional. But, in 2008, in India, the problem of coalition politics has to be addressed. Coalition politics, in many ways, stagnate the process of democracy. The Indo-US Nuclear deal has revealed the problem of coalition politics.

I do not intend to look at the advantages and disadvantages of the deal. This post must not be interpreted as a call for totalitarian dictatorships. Totalitarian dictatorships impede on freedom, but i am only focusing on the problem of coalitions, who either represent a thriving democracy or function in ways that stagnate democracy.

The bickering between the Congress and the left has threatened early elections. These kind of stagnations ensures that voter apathy remains. The media, instead of bringing out the issue and explaining clearly to the public about the nuances of the nuclear deal, are instead focusing on the dispute between the Congress government in the center and their allies.

On top of that, politics has once again been shown as a place of power bickering. As recent as 2007, a party in Uttar Pradesh called the SP was brought down by the congress party over certain issues. Today, for the congress to maintain power at the center, it refers to that same party as allies. They say that politics is full of strange bedfellows, and this situation proves it.

Coalition governments in this case are stagnating the democratic process. Citizens in this case are practicing apathy and their focus is elsewhere. The deal is too complicated, and the media is also obsessed with other issues. This puts issues under national interest and security under less priority. The problem with the media has been the focus on the political battle of egos and power, not on the original issue.

It may perhaps be time for the media to bring the issue out in the open and have a transparent discussion with the public. People who matter have to be cross examined, and certain media outlets have to pursue it vigilantly and aggressively. Most media outlets broadcast one hour of in-depth question answer sessions on issues. It has to focus more than an hour, or necessarily a day, to make people aware about the issue, so that people know what it is all about.

The problem of the coalition highlights the problem of people itself. No two people can agree upon anything. This is the case unfortunately with national security. Coalitions represent the depth and diversity of democracy, but in this case, it is proving to be a stumbling block for the whole democratic process.