THE mob attack on the Capitol Hill engenders several questions about the future of democracy; has it become outdated in the modern age? In his book, ‘Iron Law of Oligarchy’, Robert Michels, a German-born Italian sociologist and economist, has lamented that only a handful of people within parliament make decisions for the whole country.

While American political dissident Noam Chomsky calls people in a democracy ‘a bewildered herd’, Michels’ theory states that all complex organisations, regardless of how democratic they are in the beginning, eventually develop into oligarchies.

Michels observed that since no sufficiently large and complex organisation can function purely as a direct democracy, power within an organisation will always get delegated to individuals within that group; elected or otherwise.

It is naive of Pakistan to attempt a China model overnight. The Chinese experience of the symbiotic relationship between political stability and economic progress is different from other countries. Mao Zedong led the long march over 6,000 kilometres to create awareness among people. Mao’s struggle reflects China’s fascinating Marxist transformation.

Pakistani leaders are not quite like him. Lee Bolman and Terry Deal say great leadership begins when a leader’s world view (Weltanschauung) and personal story, honed over years of experience, meet a situation that presents both challenges and opportunities. Let Pakistan face the truth. It needs to evolve and showcase a politico-economic model compatible with international practices.

Amjed Jaaved

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021