The age of democracy beyond State

Challenges such as climate change necessitate democratic models not confined by geographical boundaries

The classic idea of democracy, so deeply embedded in the territorial nation-state, is increasingly questioned as contemporary societies evolve in the era of globalisation, technological change, and emerging forms of governance. Democracy, which has long been characterised by the territorial boundaries of sovereign states, is now confronted with the reality where citizens seek democratic responsibility transnationally, interacting with transnational actors, global movements, and virtual communities. Scholars and practitioners alike are witnessing the phenomenon of “democracy beyond state” and comment that traditional democratic institutions, bound by national borders, are insufficient in the wake of transboundary issues and the people’s demand for expanded participatory rights.

The experience of globalisation has dramatically transformed the shape of democratic governance. Challenges like climate change, economic injustice, migration, terrorism, trafficking, gender issues, and cyber-governance cross the borders of nations, thus necessitating a broadened democratic model. Political scientist David Held argues that state-based democracy is inadequate to address global phenomena, because the state has become embedded in extensive international governance networks. Held argues that the fragmentation of power into many overlapping jurisdictions necessitates new democratic ways of thinking beyond the conventional state models.

For instance, worldwide reactions to the climate emergency unambiguously illustrate the inadequacy of politics in nation-states. The Paris Agreement captures the intricacy of global democratic governance, where the emphasis lies on collective state and global citizens’ decision-making. In contrast, worldwide protests such as Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion capture citizens’ calls for democratic participation in global decision-making and exercising their right to shape choices that impact the human species in general. Such activism is democratic participation beyond the conventional national electoral and representative system.

According to analyst Jan Aart Scholte, contemporary democracy will be required to navigate sophisticated hierarchies of power including international institutions, multinational companies, civil society networks, and alliances of transnational activists.

Digital technology radically transforms democratic participation. Websites enable the construction of global public space, where citizens deliberate, mobilise, and campaign on global affairs. Social media, despite the dangers of disinformation and polarisation, offers citizens unparalleled channels of global democratic participation. Websites have mobilised tens of millions of people globally, influencing global policy debates and decision-making processes. The Arab Springs uprisings are a living example of digital democracy in practice, demonstrating how social media platforms enabled citizens worldwide to mobilise collectively to demand democratic reform.

In fostering democracy, the European Union (EU) under the Generalised Scheme of Preference (GSP) provides a duty reduction on 66% of tariff lines imported into the EU on implementation of core human rights values, fair labour practices, good governance, signing sustainable development conventions and fostering democracy from among the developing countries.

While globalisation opens the possibilities of transnational democratic participation, it also exposes democratic practice to challenges of legitimacy, representation, and accountability. As international governance increasingly includes non-state actors and technocratic institutions, the democratic deficit widens, disenfranchising many citizens from decision-making processes that affect their lives. Closing this deficit entails re-examining democratic institutions and principles to better represent citizens across borders.

Towards transnational democracy

Current democratic trends in different countries also show this interaction between international and national democratic processes. Current democratic reverses in Brazil, Hungary, and the United States prove how national democratic reverses affect international democratic aspirations. Hungary’s authoritarian turn under Viktor Orbán, for example, proves how democratic decline in states undermines international democratic norms more generally. India’s current democratic reverses also prove how domestic democratic health affects regional and international democratic trends, affecting transnational cooperation.

The institutions of the European Union are examples of path-breaking initiatives towards transnational democratic governance. The European Parliament, directly elected by citizens of several countries, is an experiment in democracy cutting across borders. Although it is not a perfect attempt, it is a precedent-setting attempt at accountability and participation in transnational democracy. Additionally, the EU citizen initiative procedure, whereby citizens from different member-states can directly table laws, is an exemplary example of democratic innovation at the transnational level.

Civil society action has been extremely effective in democratising global decision-making. The global campaign for a ban on landmines, and global economic justice campaigns, such as the Jubilee Debt Campaign, are the best demonstrations of the power of global collective action to democratise international policy in a real way, and influence decisions outside of the national sphere.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are a step forward in realising the collective efforts of the world towards promoting democracy. All the 17 goals are set to be achieved by 2030 and all the 193 member-nations of the UN have adopted the SDGs and work together towards realisation of these goals. In this quest, Goal 16 speaks of “Peace, justice and strong institutions.” It aims to establish democratic institutions and promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Democracy beyond the state challenges us to re-imagine democratic citizenship itself. Citizenship can no longer be limited by national borders but needs to be imagined across the globe, acknowledging that democratic obligations and rights are universal in character. As Seyla Benhabib points out, democratic citizenship in the contemporary world entails overlapping affiliations, multiple identities, and membership in multiple public spheres.

Ushering in democracy beyond state frontiers promises to re-imagine democracy itself as a dynamic, adaptive, and expansive political system for the globalised world. Transnational democracy is no longer a fantasy but a necessity in our globalised world. Solving global issues of the day democratically requires creative participation beyond borders, moulding democracy as a genuinely global process in which citizens engage actively in decisions that determine their shared future.

(Neil is an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, St
Joseph’s University, Bengaluru; Paul is Principal, St Joseph’s Evening College and professor, St Joseph’s University, Bengaluru)