Context-

In an era where traditional democracies are often marred by capitalist exploitation and superficial electoral processes, the vision of radical democracy offers a compelling alternative, presenting a revolutionary framework for achieving genuine freedom and justice in today's crisis-ridden world.

Background

In times of crisis, the need for a fundamental reorganization of society becomes apparent. This was evident in the 19th century when liberal democracy, corrupted by capitalist exploitation, pushed revolutionaries to seek better alternatives. Many of these radicals adopted collectivist doctrines that proposed transitional dictatorships and centralized economic planning as remedies.

●     The 20th Century Political Landscape: Dictatorships and Superficial Democracies

However, the degeneration of communism into dictatorship and the rise of fascism in the 20th century created a political landscape dominated by outright dictatorships and superficial democratic formalities. After World War II, as millions lay dead and chaos reigned, many realized that dictatorship was no solution, yet the quest for reconciling freedom and justice remained unresolved.

●     The Emergence of Radical Democracy

During this period of social crisis, Indian freedom fighter and humanist philosopher Manabendra Nath Roy, along with his Marxist colleagues, developed a theory they called radical democracy.

The Philosophy of New Humanism

●      A Scientifically Consistent Outlook: Before outlining a radical democratic political economy, a scientifically consistent philosophical outlook must be established. Roy and his colleagues developed the philosophy of new humanism, arguing that humanism, as ancient as humanity itself, could be enriched by new scientific discoveries. This enriched understanding of human behavior and rational thought was termed 'scientific' or 'new' humanism.

●     Morality and Rationality: Roy argued that human behavior includes the capacity for rational thought. Morality, he suggested, results from intelligent responses to surroundings and can be deduced from inherent rationality. In his work "Reason, Romanticism and Revolution," Roy posits that rationality is inherent in human nature and that reminding individuals of their biological heritage can help them regain faith in themselves and undo the harm caused by irrational influences.

●     Secular Rational Morality: The realization of secular rational morality opens new perspectives for the modern world. Concepts like human dignity, sovereignty, and creativeness gain meaning when derived from rational faculties rather than divine writ. Roy's vision emphasizes that revolution is not inevitable but requires a group of individuals who see the necessity, possibility, and develop the will to bring about necessary changes. Thus, individuals, aware of their capacity for reason, can reshape society through cooperation.

The Radical Approach to Elections

●     Beyond Mere Voting: Democracy, if reduced to mere vote counting, is deceptive, especially if voters lack dignity and understanding. In traditional parliamentary systems, demagogues often gain power by promising utopias but fail to deliver, resorting to strongarm tactics to retain power. The decay of liberal democracies has fueled collectivist doctrines that deny individual freedom, favoring demagogues who manipulate emotional prejudices to sway voters.

●     Intelligent Public Opinion: For a successful democracy, a conscious will to freedom, responsibility, and critical examination of promises and programs are essential. Roy argued that the character of a party should be judged by its principles and programs, not its ability to catch votes. Elections should reflect intelligent public opinion, which requires an educated electorate.

●     Local Democratic Participation: The radical democratic approach starts with local or regional conferences where people discuss political and economic issues. By understanding these issues, people realize they don't need to rely on parties to solve problems. This fosters independent judgment, allowing them to elect candidates from among themselves. These candidates, independent of political outfits, can rely on their conscience and be directly responsible to the electorate, eliminating party politics' mechanical nature and associated corruption.

●     People's Committees and Pyramidical Democracy: Local democracies would form 'people's committees' that elect independent candidates and eventually become the foundation of a pyramidical democracy. Empowered with recall rights and referendums, these local democracies would wield direct control over state mechanisms. This system ensures a progressive democratic movement through intelligent and conscious participation.

Humanist Economics

●     Centralization in Economics: Roy's "People's Plan for Economic Development" acknowledges the enormity of planning for a large population. Centralized politics often parallels centralized economics, whether through capitalist wealth concentration or state capitalism. Capitalism prioritizes profit over people's needs, curtailing production when profits are insufficient. Rapid industrialization is often suggested as a solution, but industries can only thrive with a satisfied home market.

●     Modernization of Agriculture: Roy emphasized modernizing agriculture to increase wealth production, focusing on three main issues: irrigation, land fertility, and infrastructure. Developing wells, reservoirs, canals, and incentivizing land fertility improvements are crucial. Additionally, new roads and the repair of old ones are vital for rural development. Organizing rural consumers and local industries on a cooperative basis can provide employment and income.

●      Welfare Provisions: A radical democratic program includes unemployment insurance, old age pensions, and provisions for citizen upliftment. Economic production should align with human needs, emphasizing health infrastructure, housing, and education development.

The Contemporary Relevance

●     The Contemporary Crisis: Today's world presents a dismal picture for those who value freedom and justice. Despite unprecedented awareness of the cosmos and its laws, humanity is closer than ever to disintegration. The solution lies in adhering to scientific thought and humanist philosophy.

●     Still, Need for Radical Democracy: In "New Humanism," Roy states that revolutions require iconoclastic ideas. A large number of conscious, creative individuals, motivated by the will to reshape the world and driven by the ideal of a free society, can create conditions for true democracy. Radical democracy, grounded in scientific humanism, offers a path to freedom and justice, making it highly relevant in today's tumultuous world.

Conclusion

Radical democracy, as envisioned by Manabendra Nath Roy, remains highly relevant today, offering a means to reconcile freedom and justice in a world facing political and social crises. Grounded in scientific humanism, it emphasizes rationality, local participation, and human-centered economics. By fostering intelligent public opinion and independent political judgment, radical democracy provides a viable path toward creating a just and free society.

Source- The Hindu