World Democracy Summit 2021

This year saw several democratic countries become autocratic or dictatorial, for example, Myanmar, while US President Joe Biden inaugurated the first White House virtual âSummit for Democracyâ last week, addressing over 100 leaders on the need to shore up democracy against threats from autocrats. He stressed the need to renew the commitment to democratic principles for future generations. In his speech, he also alluded to United Statesâ domestic challenges to its democratic institutions and traditions.
Biden presided over a closed-door session where 12 leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were invited to make their interventions. Modi claimed the âfour pillars of Indian democratic governmentsâ are âsensitivity, accountability, participation and reform orientationâ.Calling for reform of international institutions, Modi also said that âprinciples of democracy should also guide global governanceâ.Official sources also added that the Indian prime minister claimed that since technology could impact democracy âpositively or negativelyâ, âtechnology companies should contribute to preserving open and democratic societiesâ.The Indian government has had a contentious relationship with IT companies Twitter and Facebook, overnew IT rules and compliance on requests to ban some accounts.
The US government had sent invitations to 112 countries to participate in the summit. Among the major powers, Russia and China were not on the invitee’s list. From South Asia, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Maldives were invited. Pakistan declined to participate but did not officially provide reasons.
In his speech, Modi praised Bidenâs initiative for organizing the democracy summit and asserted, being the worldâs largest democracy, India was always willing to share its experience.
Indiaâs âcivilizationalâ ethos is one of the âoriginal sources of democracyâ, Modi claimed, âthe democratic spirit, including respect for rule of law and pluralistic ethos, is ingrained in Indiansâ.He especially praised the Indian diaspora for their contribution to the economic well-being and social harmony of their adopted countries.
Earlier this year, the US government-funded non-profit Freedom House had downgraded Indiaâs status from a âfreeâ to a âpartly freeâ country. There had been an immediate and strong reaction from the Indian Foreign Ministry, Information and Broadcasting Ministry and even the Union finance minister, dismissing the assessment as âinaccurateâ.
Freedom Housedemocracy watchdog had observed that in India, the political rights of Indian Muslims are âthreatenedâ and âmarginalized segments of population face obstacles to full political representationâ. However, the watchdog failed to mention what Muslims did to Hindu minorities in state of Kashmir since Independence.
Modi also stated that, he is proud to represent the worldâs largest democracy at the Summit. The democratic spirit is integral to our civilization ethos,â Modi said. He mentioned of the elected republican city-states such as Licchavi and Shakya that flourished in India as far back as 2,500 years, by which democratic spirit and ethos had made ancient India one of the most prosperous.âCenturies of colonial rule could not suppress the democratic spirit of the Indian people.
The India story has one clear message to the world. Democracy can deliver, has delivered, and will continue to deliver.â