Every crisis has a profound impact on our way of living and governance. Same is the case with COVID-19 which poses a number of public health, economic and democratic challenges not only for Pakistan but globally. Despite all the devastating effects of COVID-19, it gives us the opportunities of innovations like we see in the public health and many other sectors, to think outside the box, rethink strategies and explore new venues where the ones first to scramble to harness these opportunities will the ones to reap the early benefits.
The remarks were made by Prof. Dr. Aamer Raza, Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar during the second round of Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) to discuss the Impact of COVID-19 on democracy. The workshop was digitally attended by around 20 youth leaders from different public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and held as part of the Center’s efforts to continue to cultivate the young through online conduits for communication, in the absence of physical platforms of youth engagement and development.
Dr. Aamer said that democratic governance is where the will of the public is the core consideration and reflected in the matters of governance. Whether its war, financial crises or an epidemic like COVID-19, extraordinary situations and challenges force to take inevitable extraordinary and emergency measures. While these situations may last for a certain period of time, but the measures thus taken can become a new normal which – in case of COVID-19 – can be pose a threat to democracy.
Incase of COVID-19, some of the mitigation measures can pose a threat to democracy if they are continued beyond the crises period where the citizens continue to be deprived of some of their fundamental rights that they temporarily vested with the government given the seriousness of the crises. The powers vested with the government during such crises should not be abused and only be used to take measures which qualify necessity given the nature of the challenge.
Secondly, there should be a level of transparency with regard to the measures that are being taken by the government including what actions are being taken, how and the outcome expected.
Thirdly, the measures being taken should only represent a proportionate response to the challenge; nothing more, nothing less, to ensure efficient use of resources. This is especially for countries with limited resources to deal with the crises like COVID-19.
There is a tendency to centralize powers for swift decision-making during crises like COVID-19, which may though expedite the decision-making process but at the same time, it sidelines the democratic norms and checks and balance process. This can also increase probability of the abuse of powers vested with the executive authority through decisions inconsistent with the spirit of democracy, as well as continuation of exclusion decision making even beyond the period of crises.
The limitation of induvial liberties of movement and social interactions can be understood during the pandemic, however, they must be given back to citizens as their fundamental right when the situation is over. The expansion of surveillance of the public movement may be a necessity in the times of COVID-19, however it should not be intrusive and such measures that manifest the surveillance capacity of government should not be continued beyond the crises as it is contrary to the democratic rights and will curtail and compromise the individual liberties and privacy.
Another challenge that the COVID-19 poses to the democracy is shutting down public gatherings which is though need of the hour but banning to organize a public protest against the government should not be used as a tool to silence the citizens democratic voices later on after the crises will be over. The electoral component of democracy can also encounter a disruption in the countries into election years due to the absence of physical medium crucial to public mobilization, political lobbying and finally to cast vote.
All these limitations are in place in the wake of a very unprecedented situation and are very critical necessities as well, however, they should not become a new normal and serve as a justification to suspend the democratic rights of the citizens going forward.
Civil society plays a very vital role in the democratization process, human development and public relief especially where the government has a limited capacity to provide relief to the people. Therefore, its role will continue to be ever more relevant in the crises situations and we can say that strengthening civil society organizations is tantamount to strengthening the democratic values in the society.
Mr. Dr Aamir Raza congratulated CRSS for taking the lead in shifting to online conduits of communication with the youth; conducting Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops.
Ms. Shagufta Khalique, an educationist, noted that COVID-19 has presented itself as an unprecedented challenge but like all other challenges, it has brought along certain opportunities as well. The change making potential of youth can do wonders for any society. They must fathom their role and the core values key to peaceful coexistence. This is the time to innovate, step outside the comfort zone whose biproduct is always something good and new.
Mr. Malik Mustafa, Team Leader, noted that the social cohesion in the times of COVID-19 becomes ever more important where the role of citizenry becomes the primary capability to deal with the crises.
The participating youth leaders opined that the public education and awareness is very important and an essential prerequisite for a country’s social capital to respond to the extraordinary challenges like COVID-19. COVID-19 has presented itself as not only a health issues but also a political issue and has affected the political life of the society.
About Ulasi Taroon:
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of CRSS that aims to address the radicalization challenges and extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion in KP through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values. The endeavors aim cultivate and sensitize the target groups in these core values highlight the criticality of abiding by these concepts – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.