Britain, Bougainville, Thunberg: Is it time to question values?

Recent events the world over, including the United Kingdom's clear mandate－yet again－in favor of Brexit and Bougainville's massive vote for independence from Papua New Guinea in a referendum last week, are beginning to raise serious doubts about the relevance of so-called democracy (of the Western kind) and the efficacy and sanctity of the ballots cast by ordinary citizens.

Take India. My country takes pride in the fact that it is "the world's largest democracy", insofar as the Western bicameral parliamentary model is concerned.

Several recent state elections, however, have shown that the people's mandate, as indicated by ballots cast, can be easily disregarded by unholy, opportunistic post-poll alliances of political parties. Voter proposes, politician disposes－that has been the theme for a while now.

In the UK, from which the notion of modern Western-style democracy was exported globally in the 20th century, the majority of Britons have been repeatedly expressing their desire to leave the European Union through Brexit.

Every time, however, the elite found ingenious ways to somehow trash people's will and perpetuate the grip of the few over the fate of the many. In Papua New Guinea, Bougainville emphatically voted for freedom last week, but the vote is nonbinding, making a mockery of people's will.

The less said about the never-ending political circus in the United States, the better. It is as though the Americans' collective will is being muzzled by both the brazenly polarizing mass media and the vested interests of the political class.

In France, disgruntled citizens have been irate for several years now, feeling that they have lost their voice in the policymaking apparatus of the state.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany… you name it, not a single developed or developing country with Western-style democracy as its system of governance can claim it is the paragon of the idea that the people's will is paramount and sacred.

A number of countries in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe appear to be in ferment, as globalization's intended (or theorized) benefits are seen as somehow failing to uplift the masses, and the perception of ever-widening economic inequality engulfs disenchanted people's minds.

Amid all this turmoil and uncertainty, two elitist arguments have been bandied about: 1) Westernstyle democracies are not inherently flawed－they just need to evolve past majoritarianism and become more nuanced.

Stated differently, the elites know better because the masses are incapable; so, the elites must be trusted, and allowed to continue to run the show, never mind their dismal record so far; 2) Big Tech is guilty of evil deeds (deepfakes, illegal personal data mining, voter manipulation, yada yada) that have undermined democracy.

So, rein in Big Tech, and everything will be fine in Western-style democracies.

Against this tumult and sometimes downright ridiculous background, which country is arguably the only one that has managed to keep its focus firmly on the economy, social progress, development, technology, innovation and prosperity?

Take these clues please. It's not a Western-style democracy. Its news media outlets are not crass nor do they plump for a trade-off between a dumbed-down, sensationalist, reckless editorial approach and commercial success.

Many of you might "get it" quickly.

Perhaps, we adults have got all our priorities mixed up, wrong. When Swedish teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg emerges as Time's Person of the Year, it's time to question all fundamentals, theories, concepts and ideologies.