Theories of Democracy and Democratisation Process: A Study of Telangana Movement in India

Abstract

Democracy and democrisation process play a vital role in the development of inclusive society where all individuals are equal and share common democratic values. If there are inequalities based on race, class, region, religion, sex and ethnicity, they could be resolved through constitutional procedures and state mechanisms. The question of rights, justice, equality could be upheld not merely by the state but also non state actors, non-party formations. To understand these critical dimensions, there are theories of democracy in the domain of social sciences and liberal arts such as participatory, deliberative, elite, cosmopolitan. Since the article emphasises on democratisation and democratisation process, it is an attempt to understand the theories of democracy i.e., deliberative, participatory and elitist explicitly. To understand theories and the process of democratisation, article try to evaluate the Telangana separate state movement in India demanded for separate state within Indian federal structure. In fact, it has been successful in achieving separate Telangana state as 29th state of Indian Union. This case, certainly support in understanding the formal and substantial democracy as not only political parties involved in democratic deliberations but other stakeholders like social activists, students, women, employees and cultural groups mostly from subaltern sections. Based on this case and understanding theories of democracy, this article proposes to argue that participatory and deliberative democracy theories deepen democratic culture, uphold inclusive development and educative function. It further tends argue that elite democracy, in fact, does not compete with participatory and deliberative democracy. This proposition is proved in Telangana state movement as it transformed formal democracy into substantial democracy in India