CAN WE RUN DEMOCRACY WITHOUT POLITICAL PARTIES?

(Thinking ahead of my time!)

By Promod Puri

Let’s face it—within the framework of our current democratic system, political parties matter more than the individuals who represent them.

In the electoral arena, voters often support candidates they’ve never heard of, whose backgrounds, qualifications, or experience are complete mysteries. Yet, we elect—or reject—them, based mainly on the banner they run under.

Is the party’s platform truly more important than the credentials of any Tom, Dick, or Harry?

For many voters, the answer is yes. Whether Left, Centre, or Right, a party’s ideological identity provides a sense of direction, a simplified compass in a complex political landscape. We assume, sometimes blindly, that the candidate will follow that path faithfully. But reality often tells a different story.

Party-switching is a global phenomenon. Elected officials jump from Left to Center, Centre to Right, and even to the ideological extremes—all in the name of personal ambition, shifting convictions, or outright opportunism.

And this isn’t just about individuals. Once firm in their ideological commitments, entire parties form coalitions that blend Left and Right, Centre and Fringe. The pursuit of power often overrides principles, and ideology becomes fluid, if not entirely irrelevant.

George Orwell once observed, “In our age, there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics.’ All issues are political issues.” And in today’s environment, political convenience often moulds those issues more than ideological conviction.

This raises a fundamental question: Do we still need political parties to sustain democracy? Or have they outlived their original purpose?

Imagine a political system in which parties are removed from the equation altogether. In such a scenario, voters would focus not on party labels but on the individual merit of candidates—their credibility, education, professional experience, and community involvement. Politics would become less about allegiance and more about accountability.

Could such a party-less democracy function effectively?

That’s a question for political theorists, constitutional scholars, and democratic reformers to explore. Rethinking everything from campaign financing to legislative organization would be necessary, but it would also open the door to a potentially more transparent, authentic, and person-centred democratic process.

In the meantime, perhaps the more immediate challenge is this: before we cast our votes, shouldn’t we ask who we’re voting for, not just what party they belong to?