A tweet from this author unexpectedly went viral after the results of the 2024 polls. It read: ‘Can we refrain from creating another cult of personality – this time around Rahul Gandhi? Is it not healthier for Indians to ignore this basic anti-democratic tendency to make heroes or gods out of their political representatives. Some of the retweets were done by ordinary trolls in the business of discrediting Gandhi and the politics he represented. Others, however, are those who sympathize with his politics, but worry about any damage his personality-driven politics might do to India’s democracy. Recently, some expressed concern about Delhi CM Atishi treating Kejriwal like a holy figure.
Of course, communicating and even celebrating the visions, efforts, and achievements of political leaders is part of democracy. Mobilizing the support of various citizens is the way political representatives win elections to implement the socio-economic and political vision of these supporters. We’re seeing this happen right now in the US with Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz. But at what point does democratic support become undemocratic respect? And what is wrong with respect and worship in politics? Should it be considered undemocratic?
We can interact with leaders in two ways. First, we can elect a political leader or representative who we think best represents our interests, our goals and values, and our vision of what is good for our larger community and country. Here, our commitment to issues and values precedes support for political representatives. Our admiration for the leader remains democratic as long as the issues and values remain more important to us than the leader or the representative. In short, if the representative compromises on the issues and values we stand for, we will demand political accountability, criticize and even withdraw support, if necessary.
However, this support becomes undemocratic when we begin to interact with leaders in other ways – when we are so happy that we ignore the fact that these leaders openly sacrifice issues and values that we once believed to be important for the better. Full of admiration, we stopped to ask the leader. Instead, we make excuses and rush to defend them against criticism. Today, instead of democratic admiration and support, there is hero worship – a cult of personality that destroys democracy.
The cult of personality in politics is dangerous in three ways. First, they make citizens surrender independent political judgment to one individual. Citizens actively thinking about various issues and values, and the responsibilities of political representatives, are essential for a truly functioning democracy. Second, they undermine their own representatives. Since the leaders around the cult never faced criticism or questioning, they thought that they had no flaws. Such leaders act arrogantly and promote selfish or narrow interests at the expense of the common good. Third, by promoting uncritical citizens and mediocre, irresponsible leadership, the cult of personality encourages the neglect of important problems and values that must be faced or actively upheld for the country to progress.
For a country considered a democracy, regular elections are necessary but not sufficient. An important feature is ‘deliberation’, that is, debate, discussion, listening to other people’s points of view, and responding to their objections. By promoting uncritical worship, the cult of personality destroys the public discussion that is essential to a meaningful democracy.
We see the most dangerous cults of personality in history with Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Today, the cult around Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping keeps Russia and China autocracies. However, while it is most common in autocracies, the cult of personality is not limited. Some reports suggest that the cult around Donald Trump has undermined American democracy. In 1970s India, the cult around Indira Gandhi undermined Indian democracy with democratic criticism, and undermined democratic institutions like the legislature and the judiciary, and – independently – the Congress itself. Recently, many Indians have joined the powerful and engineered cult of personality around Prime Minister Modi who demand bhakti or worship. Therefore, it is not surprising – despite the cult of personality that can be denied – the 2021 report by the Democracy Institute based in Sweden, sees India placing 23 percentage points in the democracy index, listed (along with Brazil, Turkey, and the USA) among 25 ‘countries’ autocratization’. As Rahul Gandhi later expressed his concern about the erosion of Indian democracy, he should shun a superficial form of politics based on personality, which can diminish issues and values and further undermine Indian democracy. Also, Atishi should refocus people’s attention on governance issues that got AAP support in the first place.
Disclaimer
The views expressed above are those of the author.
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