Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, authoritarian governments dominated the world map. Free and fair elections were considered a luxury exclusive to wealthy Western countries, with few exceptions like India. Since its independence, India had held regular elections and largely respected religious pluralism and minority rights, except for a brief period of emergency rule. Indians felt slighted that their country's commitment to democracy and the rule of law was not adequately recognized.
However, the situation has now reversed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are undermining India's democratic values, yet both the Biden administration and commentators like Yale University's Walter Russell Mead are praising Indian democracy. Biden believes strengthening ties with Modi will serve America's geopolitical interests in the region, while Mead seems unaware of the ground reality and falls for Modi's propaganda.
India has become wealthier since independence, but its democratic performance has declined significantly. It ranks poorly in press freedom, and freedom of the press has been curtailed. India has been downgraded from "free" to "partly free" by Freedom House, and the country's democracy index has deteriorated. Despite these alarming trends, Western governments continue to refer to India as the "world's largest democracy," failing to acknowledge the erosion of democratic norms.
The Biden administration's attempts to court India are driven by the need to counter China's influence. However, this should not lead to turning a blind eye to Modi's human rights abuses and attacks on civil liberties. Moreover, India has shown no interest in joining international efforts to address human rights issues such as China's treatment of the Uyghurs or Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Walter Russell Mead's support for the BJP and Modi is misguided. He fails to acknowledge the BJP's anti-Muslim campaign, which includes violence, discriminatory laws, and targeted vilification. Mead also downplays the mistreatment of journalists under Modi's government, ignoring the arrests and harassment they face. Mead's comparison of the BJP to the Muslim Brotherhood, Chinese Communist Party, and Israel's Likud is flawed, as the BJP's commitment to democracy and markets is questionable.
The BJP's version of Hindu nationalism is far from the inclusive and tolerant faith espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. It aligns more closely with militant ideologies and has a track record of fomenting hate and violence against Muslims. Mead's failure to address this is a dereliction of his responsibility as a commentator.
India's democratic institutions are being undermined, the press is silenced, and opposition leaders face harassment. Mead's call for increased engagement with the BJP does not accurately understand the party's actions. Any engagement should be based on a comprehensive understanding of the BJP's impact on India's democracy. Unfortunately, Mead's analysis falls short of providing such an understanding.
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