Democratic Slovakia? – Maroš Čupka – Blog
Democracy is a term that can add, if not all, political desires of people, or societies that have begun to emancipate themselves politically and civilly over the past approximately 250 years. Compared to the whole of human history, it is short, but it has affected history in such an unprecedented way that today we consider it the highest and most advanced political establishment that has ever existed.
Idealism versus capitalism
What is the ideal democracy? Its concept arose from the will of the first, not yet elected politicians – idealists and experts. The point was the establishment of such a government to respect the will of the majority, which promised the stability of political systems and a smaller number of internal and external conflicts. Against the background of these practical steps arose the philosophical direction of liberalism, recognizing the individual as an autonomous part of society, whose interest was to protect the individual.
However, the second level of liberalism built democracy, which paradoxically prevents its further development. Economic factors that depend on private property and are not dependent on democracy. Capitalism, which absorbed the means of production and linked them to the politics of the states. Simply put, economic interests have become the driving force of society from the lowest strata to the highest, while in what state they are, as long as they do not extend to private property.
Liberal democracy is undemocratic
Contemporary democracy was thus given the epithet liberal. While historically we associate liberal democracy with civil law activism, human rights, etc., today it is much better characterized by economic liberalism. To be honest, the author of the democratic concept from the end of the 18th century would probably be unpleasantly surprised. The administration of the state is run by democratically elected dictators with a limited time to achieve the most for yourself, or at least for some narrow part of society.
Economic factors make it possible to put capital into anything, including politics, and generate either a real or a fictitious profit, but someone always benefits. The power of economic interests motivates entrepreneurs to engage in the political process. Private interests are paramount. As a result, the entire democratic process of governance, elections and all processes is not democratic but economic in nature, which is contrary to democracy and its principles.1
From democracy to elitism
“Democracy protects, including basic human rights and freedoms, allows adult citizens to participate in the running of the state, includes citizens’ information. This type of political establishment stems from two principles, which are the principle of recognizing the freedom and equality of citizens and the principle of subordination of the minority to the majority.”2
By itself, this description evokes abstractness and ambiguity in what democracy is. It is true that the declarations adopted to protect people’s rights do not correspond with the development of democracy in the states. An example is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. Segregation of poor and black citizens in the US and other parts of the world continues.
Another controversial point is the principle of the minority’s submission to the majority. Democracy should not be a place of submission, but of constructive dialogue with the acceptance of compromise. The interpretation of submission to one another evokes casteism, elitism, nationalism, but not democracy.
Thanks to people’s imprecise and unclear ideas about the essence of democracy, especially among selected representatives, the quality of the interpretation is reduced and, in the end, also to erroneous interpretation.
Capitalism is the executioner of democracy
The awareness of free elections overshadowed the negative side of the free market economy. Economic shortcomings are justified by haunting the past. However, politicians hiding behind rights, freedom and democracy can lead to a situation where democracy will be on the back burner against the interest of the forces with the support of the people. After all, history offers many examples, and all without exception have a common denominator – a bad economic situation.
Capitalism is the executioner of democracy, whether idealistic or practical. In Hungary and Poland, right-wing parties that the suppression of rights is not the prerogative of authoritarian regimes, but also of democracy. In Western countries, right-wing nationalist parties are gaining influence, but also radical left-wing ones, which have diametrically different value frameworks. The democratically elected president of Russia had sufficient motivation to become a leader who dragged the country into war with popular support. The full stop for all is the USA, whose democratically elected representatives, usually billionaires, lead the state as a business, where the greatest emphasis attracts the attention of the world media.3
Unfortunately for Slovakia
The future of democracy in Slovakia is directly proportional to democracy in the world. Problems started already under the government of Robert Fico, along with whom the right-wing extremist party ĽSNS was brought to the parliament. However, I dare to say that if the ĽSNS and the Republic became governing parties with absolute power, Slovakia would not suffer from democracy as a result of their rule, but as a result of the disintegration and fear of the current oligarchic, or economic layers. Fear and uncertainty would make democratic institutions likely to function.4
It was partially revealed after the 2020 elections, OĽaNO won when it won. However, the anti-corruption program ran into a tough obstacle. In addition to Matovič’s party, Kollár and Sulík joined the government, and they did not sink “their” people. So it happened that although a large part of the state administration was replaced, a space was created for the private sector, which successfully filled the vacant positions.
The usual mechanisms remained, but only their representatives changed. Unfortunately for Slovakia, again these are not experts, but political nominees.5
There is no alternative
Democracy is not developing in Slovakia and society is feeling it. It is not a democracy by the will of the people, but by the will of the economic elites. Any nascent change is silenced by these elites. There is no alternative.
What is worse, most of society is not aware that it is the bearer of power and political will. He will be satisfied with the act of election and that will end a truly democratic initiative. If we are talking about the third sector and non-governmental organizations or civil associations, this form of citizen participation is at a minimal level as far as politics is concerned. And this despite the fact that a significant part of society trusts.4
The institution of the referendum is an indicator of the quality and level of development of democracy in Slovakia. Although the majority of the population supports it, or demands that it be functional, the elected government representatives of one or another party, on the contrary, undermine it, trivialize its importance. Why? As representatives of the elite, they do not want to directly oblige the citizens.
It is the same with the inference of material liability. Drafting a law and ensuring it is one thing, its impact is another. A collective voluntary decision (represented by elected representatives), although the given law may harm it, is justified.
Voters are dwindling, the elite are winning
Many think that democracy is represented by only a few precisely defined points, such as free elections or freedom of speech and the possibility for everyone to intervene in political events. People thus come to believe that we have democracy here, but they still do not allow it, because they do not trust the institutions, politicians, parties, or they have nothing to choose from, since their preferred choice does not even get the position in the polls.
Just as some parties become stronger due to declining voter turnout, the legitimacy of an establishment in which the majority is no longer the ruling minority but, on the contrary, the minority is the main position, also decreases.
The last parliamentary elections are a clear proof. Only 65% of eligible voters voted in them, and approximately 25% of them voted for the winning party. The coalition that emerged from this has enough deputies in the parliament, but in reality it won around 45% of the votes.
A total crisis of democracy?
As a result, I have to state that democracy is not developing in Slovakia, on the contrary, it is stagnating and its negative aspects are becoming more and more apparent. Whether it is the electoral system itself or the legislative process, there are more and more critics. Deviation of democratic principles is acceptable and we can exist not for the crisis of liberal democracy, but for the disintegration of democracy as such, since the current system is far from democratic ideas.
Nevertheless, I believe in positive solutions. And not just me, most people find democracy beneficial.6 I’m not worried about her, I believe that people will realize their value and overcome the crisis of creating a fair and democratic society.
Bc became the chairman. Maroš Čupka, DiS. art.
Sources:
- DOWNLOAD, Richard. To liberal democracy and its threat. 13.9.2019. Available online: https://nazory.pravda.sk/analyzy-a-postrehy/clanok/525634-k-liberalnej-democracii-a-jej-ohrozeniu/
- ÚPSV. democracy. 23/06/2017, Available online: https://www.slovensko.sk/sk/zivotne-situacie/zivotna-situacia/_demokracia
- GEIST, Radovan. Defending democracy. 10.12.2021. Available online: https://nazory.pravda.sk/dnes-pise/clanok/609908-braniaca-sa-democracia/
- Democracy in Slovakia is threatened by populism and corruption. 2017. Available online: https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/253252/7_dokument_dok_pdf_50580_27.pdf/ef7d2fa1-820d-1d72-4bf3-2da7cdb0e10c?version=1.0&t=15379684837
- KOWAL, Hubert. 31 years have passed since the Gentle Revolution and Slovak democracy is a Turkish bazaar. 17.11.2020. Available online: https://www.trend.sk/nazory-a-komentare/ubehlo-31-rokov-neznej-revolucie-slovenskéj-demokracie-je-turecky-bazar
- Slovakia and democracy. 15/11/2018. Available online: https://www.sav.sk/index.php?doc=services-news&source_no=20&news_no=7949