Changing ‘Political Tokenism’ and Polity

Changing ‘Political Tokenism’ and Polity​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 13th July 2019

There seems to be a gloom in the opposition camp. The ‘rats’ in its camp jumping the ship make it but obvious. Basically the malaise is deeper as the polity of the major party seems to have gone astray rather than a one of electoral loss. The need to understand the ‘Game’ is very high so that polity can be steered in the right direction. One should read what kind of polity lost out in electoral gambit in a dispassionate manner. May be also appreciate the kind of polity that has been able to perform this trick is the same dispassionate fashion. Perhaps this may help the political sides to be able to ‘stay’ in the Game, or else the challengers are just about waiting. Even those challengers may also be wanting to muscle up and therefore need to master the Game is higher.

Basically the polity of ‘Good Samaritan’ played out through ‘political tokenism’ has lost. The polity concentrated on selecting possibly ‘right word and slogans’ and throwing them towards all or most the issues. In effect, it was supposed that people to draw solace from these. If they are complacent, they would make the necessary compromises or else they would steadily work their own way out of the problem with the Netas standing first in queue to take credit. To take a stock of the resulting situation, we still have temples where women and dalits face discrimination even though as a matter of government policy, this may be a ‘punishable offence’ – a shining example of political tokenism of yesteryears. Then of course we have some good noises around Right to Education and governmental responsibility towards ‘healthcare for all’ where such tokenism is repeated at the political level to the extent that corruption, incompetence, dis-order etc. are apparent. But thanks of political preaching around Bhagwaan seeped into the culture that makes compromise, an easy choice. So much so that there has been little attempt to make systemic attempt to improve rural/agri economy even as a huge proportion of population depending upon the same, but in perennial compromise political position. It is high time for them to realize the kind of polity which has lost and due its long reign is not in a position be an effective counter.

Now we need to look at the polity that has shattered the above. There are slogans around ‘economics for masses’ but a dearth of executable ideas. There has been some accelerated progress on ‘infra front’ where the foundation was already laid much earlier. Then a manufacturing revolution around base on domestic manufacturing of government purchases with a measure of protection to protect domestic businesses. In any case the growth in manufacturing has been quite limited with these measures so there are new ideas like labour reforms being touted with hazy ideas regards its impact on jobs. The slogans around water-ways, skill development, digital etc. have remained a slogan at best. The business supporters may have indeed benefited around some of the schemes but politicization of the same might not have happened as of yet. The silence of the political Netas as well as ‘Commercial News Media’ around defaulters of public money like Banks, Chit funds, Para-banks just about shows the level to which compromise has been extended. There seems to be a political consensus is around ‘who’ gets to distribute the rewards. Political competition is only around developing capability to engage masses with one’s slogans. This is quite evident as so called policy steps retain ‘tokenism’ of yesteryears although the politics of yesteryears isn’t still able to counter the same. The view from tokenism point in political parties (in states) views RERA as problem rather than opportunity and waits for national intervention for addressing issues around agri/water even though it is state subject. This while taking lead on such areas would perhaps yield opportunity for 'Change' but limiting oneself to tokenism would not yield such an opportunity.

The polity that evolved can however be easily counter by polity of ‘impact’ instead of a repeat of ‘a different cocktail of tokenism’ with which some of the Netas may be attempting. To give an example- while we have tokenism for push for Digital India/Start-ups/Fintechs however we just have monopolies around national electronic payment which is dominated by use of Phoren language. Another tokenism is attempting to resist the same though its track-record for facilitation of payments is pathetic at best. Whatever little counter the old polity is able to manage is easily countered by making the electronic payments free and thus further strengthening the monopoly. For Netas ready to take plunge into ‘Polity of Change’ and thus ready for ‘impact polity’, will have to make different choice/s. This could be like sponsorship for vernacular payments network where in payments can be originated in any one of the languages and whose beneficiary could be a user of the same vernacular language or another vernacular or Hindi/English. This would thus give people more choice while more electronic payments as well as jobs would be facilitated including people to ride on the bandwagon of digital. The large network corporates would have choose which networks they want to be integrate into depending upon the volume of business, however for a single vernacular network would be suffice. With CERSAI based identity, it should be easier to create the identity in vernacular with some support from states keen on this along with banks. Then of course we have issues around water, healthcare, agri/rural businesses etc. which benefit as a result of such polity resulting into jobs. However countering the present tokenism by same earlier tokenism might be a bit challenging for now as is being experienced. Let the ‘Game’ evolve…..

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

Title: Moving Beyond Political Tokenism: Building a Fair and Inclusive Polity

Introduction

Political tokenism, the practice of making a superficial gesture towards inclusivity without authentic efforts to address systemic inequalities, has long plagued political landscapes worldwide. This article explores the concept of political tokenism and its implications for a fair and inclusive polity. By understanding the root causes and consequences of tokenism, we can work together to promote genuine representation, respect, and positive change.

Understanding Political Tokenism

Political tokenism manifests in various forms, such as the underrepresentation of minority groups in political offices, the use of symbolic gestures instead of substantial policy changes, and the superficial inclusion of marginalized communities in political processes. These practices reinforce existing power structures and prevent true progress towards equality and fairness.

The Dangers of Political Tokenism

Political tokenism can undermine trust in the political system, as it creates the illusion of inclusion without addressing the underlying issues that perpetuate inequality. This lack of authentic representation can lead to:

1. Marginalization: Excluding marginalized communities from meaningful participation in the political process perpetuates their marginalization and reinforces systemic barriers to equal opportunities.
2. Inequality: Without genuine representation, policies often fail to address the unique needs and concerns of marginalized communities, leading to further inequality.
3. Cynicism: Superficial gestures towards inclusivity can foster cynicism among the public, reinforcing negative perceptions of the political system and discouraging participation.

Building a Fair and Inclusive Polity

To combat political tokenism and create a genuinely inclusive polity, we must focus on promoting authentic representation, policy changes, and civic engagement:

1. Authentic Representation: Encourage the meaningful participation of marginalized communities in the political process through measures such as:
   • Encouraging political parties to recruit and support candidates from diverse backgrounds
   • Implementing equitable voting systems that ensure fair representation
   • Promoting policies that address systemic barriers to political participation
2. Policy Changes: Advocate for policies that genuinely address the needs and concerns of marginalized communities, such as:
   • Implementing anti-discrimination laws and policies
   • Investing in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities
   • Addressing systemic issues that perpetuate inequality, such as racial and gender bias
3. Civic Engagement: Encourage active participation in the political process by:
   • Providing access to information about political candidates, platforms, and issues
   • Offering resources to support marginalized communities in engaging with the political process
   • Fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect in political discourse and decision-making

Conclusion

Political tokenism is a harmful and superficial practice that undermines the pursuit of a fair and inclusive polity. By understanding its implications and working towards authentic representation, policy changes, and civic engagement, we can create a political landscape that genuinely reflects and serves the needs of all members of society. Let us strive for a future where political participation is accessible, equitable, and meaningful for everyone.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Changing ‘Political Tokenism’ and Polity​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 13th July 2019

There seems to be a gloom in the opposition camp. The ‘rats’ in its camp jumping the ship make it but obvious. Basically the malaise is deeper as the polity of the major party seems to have gone astray rather than a one of electoral loss. The need to understand the ‘Game’ is very high so that polity can be steered in the right direction. One should read what kind of polity lost out in electoral gambit in a dispassionate manner. May be also appreciate the kind of polity that has been able to perform this trick is the same dispassionate fashion. Perhaps this may help the political sides to be able to ‘stay’ in the Game, or else the challengers are just about waiting. Even those challengers may also be wanting to muscle up and therefore need to master the Game is higher.

Basically the polity of ‘Good Samaritan’ played out through ‘political tokenism’ has lost. The polity concentrated on selecting possibly ‘right word and slogans’ and throwing them towards all or most the issues. In effect, it was supposed that people to draw solace from these. If they are complacent, they would make the necessary compromises or else they would steadily work their own way out of the problem with the Netas standing first in queue to take credit. To take a stock of the resulting situation, we still have temples where women and dalits face discrimination even though as a matter of government policy, this may be a ‘punishable offence’ – a shining example of political tokenism of yesteryears. Then of course we have some good noises around Right to Education and governmental responsibility towards ‘healthcare for all’ where such tokenism is repeated at the political level to the extent that corruption, incompetence, dis-order etc. are apparent. But thanks of political preaching around Bhagwaan seeped into the culture that makes compromise, an easy choice. So much so that there has been little attempt to make systemic attempt to improve rural/agri economy even as a huge proportion of population depending upon the same, but in perennial compromise political position. It is high time for them to realize the kind of polity which has lost and due its long reign is not in a position be an effective counter.

Now we need to look at the polity that has shattered the above. There are slogans around ‘economics for masses’ but a dearth of executable ideas. There has been some accelerated progress on ‘infra front’ where the foundation was already laid much earlier. Then a manufacturing revolution around base on domestic manufacturing of government purchases with a measure of protection to protect domestic businesses. In any case the growth in manufacturing has been quite limited with these measures so there are new ideas like labour reforms being touted with hazy ideas regards its impact on jobs. The slogans around water-ways, skill development, digital etc. have remained a slogan at best. The business supporters may have indeed benefited around some of the schemes but politicization of the same might not have happened as of yet. The silence of the political Netas as well as ‘Commercial News Media’ around defaulters of public money like Banks, Chit funds, Para-banks just about shows the level to which compromise has been extended. There seems to be a political consensus is around ‘who’ gets to distribute the rewards. Political competition is only around developing capability to engage masses with one’s slogans. This is quite evident as so called policy steps retain ‘tokenism’ of yesteryears although the politics of yesteryears isn’t still able to counter the same. The view from tokenism point in political parties (in states) views RERA as problem rather than opportunity and waits for national intervention for addressing issues around agri/water even though it is state subject. This while taking lead on such areas would perhaps yield opportunity for 'Change' but limiting oneself to tokenism would not yield such an opportunity.

The polity that evolved can however be easily counter by polity of ‘impact’ instead of a repeat of ‘a different cocktail of tokenism’ with which some of the Netas may be attempting. To give an example- while we have tokenism for push for Digital India/Start-ups/Fintechs however we just have monopolies around national electronic payment which is dominated by use of Phoren language. Another tokenism is attempting to resist the same though its track-record for facilitation of payments is pathetic at best. Whatever little counter the old polity is able to manage is easily countered by making the electronic payments free and thus further strengthening the monopoly. For Netas ready to take plunge into ‘Polity of Change’ and thus ready for ‘impact polity’, will have to make different choice/s. This could be like sponsorship for vernacular payments network where in payments can be originated in any one of the languages and whose beneficiary could be a user of the same vernacular language or another vernacular or Hindi/English. This would thus give people more choice while more electronic payments as well as jobs would be facilitated including people to ride on the bandwagon of digital. The large network corporates would have choose which networks they want to be integrate into depending upon the volume of business, however for a single vernacular network would be suffice. With CERSAI based identity, it should be easier to create the identity in vernacular with some support from states keen on this along with banks. Then of course we have issues around water, healthcare, agri/rural businesses etc. which benefit as a result of such polity resulting into jobs. However countering the present tokenism by same earlier tokenism might be a bit challenging for now as is being experienced. Let the ‘Game’ evolve…..

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