Democracy was presented as an ideal form of government where freedom and justice are institutionalized through constructive interdependence. But there is also increasing disenchantment with the systems of representation and forms of government in the context of the democratizing societies due to a number of systemic flaws in them.
High cost of elections, opportunism of the power elite, corruption at high places, factionalism and hierarchy in the political parties, majoritarianism, benign neglect of collective actions and social movements, beaureaucratization of social life, alienation of marginal groups, women and the minorities, and declining significance of citizens in the affairs of the state are some of the criticized aspects of representative democracy around the world. The imperatives of ethical politics have remained unexplored. The need of humane governance remains unfulfilled. There is ignoring of the call of citizen-centric polity. Therefore, a number of mobilizations have taken place in quest of participatory democracy in different parts of the world since 1960s.
The idea of participatory democracy was central of Gandhiji’s political thinking and practice. Later leaders like M.N. Roy, Jayaprakash Narayan and Rammonhar Lohia also advocated it at different forums. This collection of papers is aimed at promoting dialogue about dynamics of democratization. It is an effort to focus on the growing concern about the limits of representative democracy as manifested at several sites of democracy building around the world. It is also an engagement with the process of exploring major challenges in the quest of participatory democracy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arvind Kumar
Dr. Arvind Kumar (b. 23-03-1953), University Professor, Department of Zoology, S.K. University, Dumka has 24 years' experience as an outstanding teacher and researcher. He is a recipient of National Merit Scholarship all through his college and university years and got meritorial fellowship of CSIR, New Delhi. He has been awarded Professor W.A. Nizami Gold Medal by the Zoological Society of India in 2000during 11th annual Congress. He did his M. Sc. In Zoology in 1976 and Ph.D. in 1982 on Eco-Physiology of Aquatic Insect from Bhagalpur University. He has done pioneering work in the field of limnology, aquatic insect ecology, biodiversity, conservation and tribal ecology. Dr. Kumar has successfully guided more than 11 research scholars for Ph.D. and got more than 205 research articles and reviews published in reputed national and international journals. He has authored/ edited more than 15 books and is also on the Editorial Board of more than a dozen esteemed national and international journal. Dr Kumar is a fellow, life-member and member of number of organizations and is also working as office bearer of some of them. Dr. Kumar has charied a number of sessions of different seminars/ symposia. He was also made convener of the National Symposium organized by S.K. University in 1998. He has been invited to different Universities, such as, University of Madras, Chennai, Dr. R.M.L. Avadh University, Faizabad, etc. to deliver lectures' on different topics of Environmental Sciences. Presently, Dr. Kumar is the Charman of Board of Environment Impact Assessment & Ecoplanning, Jharkhand, President of Tribal Ecoconservation Society ad Secretary General of Society of Environmental Sciences. He is also the Chief Editor of Journal of Current Sciences and the Editor of Indian Journal of Environment and Ecoplanning. Professor Kumar has visited Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy & Vienna in 2005 and China, Japan & Singapore in 2006 in order to deliver lectures during international symposia. He is a fellow, life member and member of number of organizations and is also working as office organizations and is also working as office bearer of some of them. Dr. Kumar has chaired a number of sessions of different seminars/symposia in India and abroad. He has been editing there international scientific journals at a time regularly since more than fifteen years and is Editor-in-Chief of The Ekologia , Chief Editor of Journal of Current Sciences & Editor of Indian Journal of Environment and Ecoplanning. Dr. Kumar is also the hon'ble member, Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board, Ranchi.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Manish Tiwari
Manish Tiwari, M.Sc. M.Ed., an educationist in his own right, loves teaching and takes keen interest in research on educational subjects. For years, he has been devoted to academic matters and development of education. The close student contact afforded him insights into how students learn science, where they have difficulties, and what strategies can help them succeed. He has organized many national as well as international seminars, symposia, workshops and congresses on education and has been honoured widely for his significant academic contributions. As a prolific writer, he has contributed many learned articles in various journals and magazines and also authored a number of books in the subject.
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