You Voted for Peace. You Got Power Plays Instead: How Modern Democracy Lost Its Way
You voted for peace. What if I told you that democracy, this bright, hopeful idea of government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” has been quietly slipping into something that looks democratic but acts otherwise?
It’s like ordering fresh fruit and being served sugar-coated candy that’s good at first bite but rots your teeth over time.
Every election season, hopeful slogans promise peace, fairness, and prosperity. Yet increasingly, once-elected rulers seem to use the very power we gave them to reshape the game in their favour. So let’s unpack why democracy’s dream is fading, how leaders manipulate the system, and what it looks like in the real world today, from Washington to New Delhi and beyond.
Why democracy?
The idea of democracy derives its moral strength – and popular appeal – from two key principles:
1. Individual autonomy: The idea that no one should be subject to rules which have been imposed by others. People should be able to control their own lives (within reason).
2. Equality: The idea that everyone should have the same opportunity to influence the decisions that affect people in society.
These principles are intuitively appealing, and they help to explain why democracy is so popular. Of course, we feel it is fair that we should have as much chance as anyone else to decide on common rules!
The problems arise when we consider how the principles can be put into practice, because we need a mechanism for deciding how to address conflicting views. Because it offers a simple mechanism, democracy tends to be “rule of the majority”; but rule of the majority can mean that some people’s interests are never represented. A more genuine way of representing everyone’s interests is to use decision-making by consensus, where the aim is to find common points of interest.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/compass/democracy
What Democracy Was Supposed to Be
At its root, democracy is a bit like a steering wheel for society’s car. You, the people, point it where you want to go toward fairness, progress, and peace.
Ancient Athens invented this idea so citizens, not kings, would decide laws and leadership. Over centuries, this evolved into the modern notion that governments get power from the consent of the governed.
Democracy’s core promises are simple:
- Free and fair elections
- Rule of law
- Independent institutions
- Free press
- Protection of rights
In theory, these keep leaders accountable.
But Somewhere, the Wheel Started Slipping
Instead of serving citizens, many leaders now shape the narrative citizens consume, because shaping the story is almost as powerful as shaping the law. Instead of voters choosing leaders based on clear, unbiased facts, many choose based on emotions, fear, and manufactured preferences.
How power manipulates democratic institutions today
- Elections without real choice
Yes, ballots are cast. But long before voters walk into booths, their decisions are shaped by curated media, filtered narratives, and social media ecosystems that spotlight some stories and bury others. Voters feel free, but the menu of ideas may have been quietly trimmed.
- Courts that look independent but don’t bite
Judicial systems are meant to check power. But when leaders can influence who gets appointed to benches, delay key cases, or surround judges with political loyalty, justice becomes oven-warmed rather than raw and fair. - Parliaments that applaud more than debate
Instead of a forum where diverse voices clash and refine policies, some legislatures become echo chambers. Party discipline, political pressure, and media narratives stunt healthy debate. - Media that watches power, or mimics it
Once a watchdog, the press now struggles to stay independent. Governments and allied businesses can sway coverage with advertising, pressures, or legal threats. Where press freedom was once a pillar of democracy, in many places it’s now under siege. Recent assessments show global press freedom at its lowest in decades and significant declines in democratic practice worldwide. (The Guardian) - Laws used as weapons against critics
From anti-terror statutes to tax audits, laws intended for public protection can be turned on dissenters. Instead of shielding democracy, they chill it. - International treaties are treated like optional suggestions
Democracy was supposed to extend internationally. Treaties on climate, human rights, trade, and peace are part of that structure. But when a powerful nation withdraws from these agreements, it strips away cooperative guardrails.
When Peace Candidates Turn Into Warmongers: The Trump Story
You voted for Peace since Donald Trump made peace-oriented promises about avoiding endless foreign wars, and voters heard it.
But actions can diverge from words.
In his latest term, Trump’s administration moved aggressively away from multilateral engagement: announcing withdrawal from more than 60 international organisations and U.N. entities, including key climate and human rights bodies. Critics argue this retreat weakens global cooperation at a time when the world desperately needs it. (Reuters)
In practice, instead of strengthening international law and diplomacy, these moves concentrate power: less shared decision-making, fewer global constraints, and more unilateral action. And on the ground, this shift has coincided with heightened military activity and expansion of defence budgets, creating a democracy paradox: voters sought peace, but governance now favours power projection.
This isn’t just American weirdness. It’s a pattern.
India’s Giant Leap Backwards: Modi’s Grip on the Narrative
India is often called the world’s largest democracy. But recent trends suggest that the democratic spirit can wane even in the biggest political system.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, several democratic indicators have shifted. Freedom House, a longtime monitor of global democracy and civil liberties, downgraded India from “Free” to “Partly Free,” citing pressure on critics, journalists, and civil society. (Freedom House)
Here’s how these shifts play out:
The Story India Was Told
Modi was presented as a self-made disruptor: a leader who would end corruption and fast-track development.
Media Capture & Narrative Control
Traditional independent outlets have been weakened while pro-government narratives grow louder. Media that once challenged power now often echo it, either through ownership changes or regulatory pressure. (SAMSN)
Digital Tools and Noise
Messaging apps like WhatsApp are awash with political content. Coordinated campaigns can skew public conversation and amplify fear or tribal sentiments, often drowning out nuanced debate. (arXiv)
Law & Order Used to Suppress Dissent
Colonial-era laws like sedition have been used more vigorously against critics, and NGOs face restrictions that hinder independent voices. (International IDEA)
The cumulative effect? A democracy that still holds elections but struggles to protect free expression, unbiased institutions, and equal citizenship for all.
Why Leaders Push These Moves
At a human level, people want security as much as freedom. Charismatic leaders tap into that desire. They say:
“Give me power to keep you safe.”
Fear makes decisions easier and scrutiny weaker.
For rulers, consolidating power:
- Reduces accountability
- Dilutes opposition
- Shapes narratives
- Strengthens personal political bonds
And as history shows repeatedly, fear-driven support often lasts longer than hope-driven support.
Why This Matters to You (and Everyone Else)
A democracy that stops protecting dissent isn’t dead, but it’s no longer truly democratic. It’s a copy, glossy and well-branded, but missing the gears that make it tick.
You still vote. You still have rights.
But if:
- Courts are softened,
- The media is silenced,
- International checks are weakened,
Then democracy becomes participation without influence.
So What Can Ordinary People Do?
You voted for Peace, now you might feel powerless amid high politics, but democracy is made of small choices:
- Stay informed from independent sources
- Question narratives that simplify complex issues
- Protect free expression
- Value institutions that check power
Real change doesn’t happen in a single election; it happens in the daily practice of critical thinking.
https://mrpo.pk/the-power-syndrome/
A Final Thought
Democracy is not a statue to admire from a distance. It’s a garden you tend daily.
If we neglect the soil, your voice, a free press, and fair laws, then even the strongest roots can shrivel.
Remember:
Democracy doesn’t die when people stop voting. It dies when people stop thinking.
Let’s keep thinking.
