The political campaigns that have already been launched by the political parties – both existent and inchoate – is another opportunity for the politicians in our parliamentary democracy to demonstrate their commitment to its fundamental tenets. Unfortunately, from the early forays and polemics, it appears we are in for a further polarisation of our politics and society, which threatens democratic values not only in our country but across the globe and especially in the United States that plays such an important role in our affairs. How do we deal with this phenomenon?
A decade or so ago, as the polarisation of politics was becoming intensified both quantitatively and qualitatively in the US; political scientists Amy Gutman and Dennis Thompson presciently offered some very salutary advice to our political elites in their book, “The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It”. Their advice is even more relevant today after the attacks and mayhem inflicted by individuals self-described as “Scrapeheads” following the sad death of Adriana Younge, when several Opposition leaders excused the behaviour.
Here is Gutman and Thompson’s advice to those seeking to govern Guyana:
“If politics is the art of the possible, then compromise is the artistry of democracy. Unless one partisan ideology holds sway over all branches of government, compromise is necessary to govern for the benefit of all citizens. A rejection of compromise biases politics in favour of the status quo, even when the rejection risks crisis.
“Compromise is difficult, but governing a democracy without compromise is impossible. Why is compromise so hard in a democracy when it is undoubtedly necessary? Much of the resistance to compromise lies in another necessary part of the democratic process: campaigning for political office. Though valuable in its place, campaigning is increasingly intruding into governing, where it is less helpful. The means of winning an office are subverting the ends of governing once in office. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that in (Guyana) “every day is election day in the permanent campaign.
“Resistance to democratic compromise can be kept in check by a contrary cluster of attitudes and arguments—a compromising mindset—which favours adapting one’s principles and respecting one’s opponents. It is the mindset more appropriate for governing because it enables politicians more readily to recognise opportunities for desirable compromise. When enough politicians adopt it, enough of the time, the spirit of compromise prevails.
“In general, compromise is an agreement in which all sides sacrifice something in order to improve on the status quo from their perspective, and in which the sacrifices are at least partly determined by the other sides’ will. The sacrifice involves not merely getting less than you want, but also, thanks to your opponents, getting less than you think you deserve. The sacrifice typically involves trimming your principles. We call these defining characteristics of compromise mutual sacrifice and wilful opposition.”
What we recommend therefore, is that starting from today, the need for “mutual sacrifice and wilful opposition” be practised as the campaigns unfold. Take, for instance, the mundane matters of fixing roads in communities. Roads throughout Guyana are in a dilapidated state for a host of reasons – including the fact that local roads were not built to handle the number of “sand trucks” that are necessitated by the housing boom. All of these roads cannot be fixed immediately and the politicians across the divide must accept the need for compromise and not set community against community.
The authors warned about the dangers of almost continuously campaigning for elections, but with us in the run-up to the Sept 1st elections, the dangers are now potentially greatly magnified. However, because of the changed demographics that now deny either of the two major parties an in-built ethnic majority, only the spirit of compromise, for instance, will signal that the interests of others outside of traditional constituencies are being considered.
In this fashion, for purely partisan reasons, the politicians should ensure their rhetoric is less heated and the compromises more habitual
