HOD, VSJMC, Vivevekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi, India.
Abstract
Politics, media and democracy are intertwined for better or
worse. Politics, politicians and the media go cynical about
the notions of democracy, where democracy means doing
things for others, where freedom of expression and
association are guaranteed. What most people understand
from democracy is probably, “rule of the people, rule of the
peoples’ representatives, rule of peoples’ party, the well
being of people, majority rule, dictatorship of the
proletariat, maximum political participation, elite
competition for peoples’ vote, multi-partyism, political and
social pluralism, equal citizenship rights, civil and political
liberties, a free or open society, a free market economy,
whatever we do..”(Beetham, David, 2006). Democracy
entails different meanings at different points of time in
different contexts as per our own concerns. Democracy is a
symbol that stands for a series of institutions, procedures
and behaviour on the part of ordinary citizens. Democracy
is whatever we chose it to mean. There has been no time in
history when democracy has not been on crossroads. The
three shifting waves in democracy have been experienced
and probably the fourth one is brought by the new wave of
new media. The success of democracy can be derived only
when people demand democracy, as the power lies with
the people. Despite the crises, it is the most acceptable form
of government. It is a model where each voice is considered
to be heard. It is the tool of legitimacy in the hands of the
ones who attain power. Everyone claims to be democratic.
It is indeed a great concept that has engulfed humanity at
different periods in history and is still continuing to engulf
the human race even after thousands of years of its birth in
Athens.
Keywords: Politics, Social Media, Democracy, Participation, Civil Society, Revolution, Shift/change
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