------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.casadegoa.org -------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr Fernandes, Your article (forwarded by Fred Noronha) was quite an eye-opener and the analysis persuasive. You rightly lament the decay in political institutions and a sham democracy when it is the parties that decide the agenda and select the candidates. What struck me is the close parallel with political goings-on in the UK. Let me elaborate. 1. The state is meant to be neutral in its dealings with its citizens but in practice the interests of the elites take priority. The elites include the landowners, capitalists and senior decision makers in government & various state institutions. In the final analysis, the police, courts, armed forces and other state trappings are there to protect the property of the elites against the masses. 2. The state institutions are simultaneously tied to the elites and kept detached from the masses. Army personnel are segregated from the rest of society and to a lesser extent this is also true of the police and prison officers. The legal system is wrapped up in jargon that shields it from the ordinary people. There is little public access to the higher echelons of the civil service. 3. Once in 4 or 5 years, the citizens are allowed to vote for a candidate (not chosen by them but by the party) but thereafter have little say in government policies. These policies are usually biased in favour of the profit seeking bosses rather than promote the legitimate aspirations and welfare of the working classes. MPs are elected but in practice people have little influence over them. The heads of the military and secret services, the judiciary and the police are all appointed and wield enormous power but remain unaccountable to the people. 4. The Marxist Nikolai Bukharin explained the function of the state in Imperialism & World Economy (Bookmarks 2003): The state becomes more like an 'executive committee of the ruling classes'.It is true state power always reflected the interests of the upper strata of society.Matters are totally different now. The state apparatus also embodies the collective will of the ruling class. Parliament serves more as a decorative institution, passing on decisions already made in business organizations. Here too in Britain there is very little difference between the parties - both are there to serve big business first. Here too we've had the Cash for query scams and with both the parties. Here too MPs are prone to defect as it suits their careers. Unfortunately, India has merely copied the western political system warts and all. Indians have never been noted for their originality. Yet we need a system suited to India's diverse needs. In my view, it is time for concerned political scientists and intellectuals like you to get together with like minded people and devise an analytical framework for a robust system that suits the Indian context - political, cultural, religious. Can they rise to the challenge? Best wishes. Eddie D'Sa London (www.new-diaspora.com) ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
