Politicians often involve in
exchanges to enhance their power and influence over the people. Often the
visionary and skillful politicians calculate the return of their exchanges with their
clients or constituents and innovate ways of maximizing their returns. However
such exchanges become corrupt practices and often undermines the rights of
people and the democratic values. In a society like Maldives where democracy is
at the fledgling stage, politicians use political exchange in alarming corrupt
manners- often making it detrimental to the democratic values. For instance the
basic rights granted under the constitution such as rights to safe drinking
water and sewerage also has become a means of political exchange. Several
parliamentarians attend ribbon cutting ceremonies of projects for safe drinking
water, sewerage or road construction. The naive public were given the
impression that this services given to them on their tax money is a big favor,
which in turn begs for a return of favor in the form of votes in the next
elections.
Philanthropy used by rich and
powerful as an altruist duty has become a favorite political exchange capital
for Maldivian parliamentarians. The extent of giving and providing to
constituents in the name of philanthropy is so engraved within the system
people have begun to portray politicians as messiahs or saviors. The image of
politicians, especially legislators has completely transformed in to that of
the Good Samaritan. The naive people continue to believe the responsibility of
a legislator is to provide them financial support for their basic needs
including medicals and food. This naivety of people is used to garner public
support in return for the philanthropy.
The mass media of Maldives was
recently flooded with the news of a well-known charismatic parliamentarian giving medical equipment
to the health center of his constituency. He was also praised in the media for
giving a financial allowance to all newborns in the constituency and providing welfare support for
all his constituents. Another famous parliamentarian provided staple foods to
his constituents for the fasting month of Ramadan. These are clearly forms of
political exchange capitals provided to gain political returns. This form of political
exchange is perfectly legitimized and publicly accepted. Some people even began
believing it is their legal right to demand such favors from their representative in parliament. Ironically
in a country which follows Islam, where bribes are prohibited - such practices
becoming acceptable is alarming. In any functioning democratic society such
political exchanges will be considered bribes or corrupt deals. If the issue
is deeply analysed in a sociological context, the politician expects vote from
his constituents in return for such favors. Any learned human can judge this
as abuse of power to influence votes in the upcoming elections. In other words it
binds the constituents to an invisible contract, of returning favor in the
next election. Hence the politicians use political exchange capital of
philanthropy skilfully to buy the votes in the upcoming elections.
Philanthropy as a political
exchange capital undermines the basic tenets of democracy. It increases
dependency of people and hence impedes their freedom and independence to make proper
decisions. It also enslaves and entraps people in a social quagmire. Urgent
actions must be taken to stop abuse of democracy by such political exchange of
capitals. The dependent, naive and vulnerable people must be made aware that
such practices are against the religion as they are bribed to return a political favor.
The legislators of the country needs to learn their roles and responsibility embedded
within the constitution. For becoming a fully democratic society people must be
empowered to become independent of rich and powerful politicians. However in
western democracies also political exchange capitals are used in manners
detrimental to society. For instance different lobby groups influence
legislators to pass bills by funding their political campaigns. Nonetheless a
paradigm shift is required to enjoy the people power enshrined in
democratic governance.
