Pandemic and Political Communication: Oppurtunities for Transformation
This pandemic has inflicted substantial damage to the existing stock of knowledge, besides bringing out both the best and worst part of human nature. Theologians, Godmen and Spiritual leaders are clueless. State's apparatus' helplessly watch their essential component population disappearing en masse. The unpredictability of the virus's behaviour, lack of data, and lack of institutional infrastructure to respond to the change to the external environment had put humanity into a crisis with no clue. The multiple identities of the pandemic as the first wave, second and subsequent waves are challenged. In the absence of concrete data, the efforts of the Indian Government to share what it had to other developing countries under the rubric of its traditional South- South Cooperation has drawn flak in domestic arena. Armed with a social media handle/platform, we see a never before venting out of individuals against the political order, Government and establishments, often with self-contradicting yet aggressive postures. Vaccines against the pandemic were criticised initially with a few takers, and as the death toll raises exponentially, crowding is seen at the Vaccination points (based on my experience in Pondicherry).
Regardless of the social control factored as physical distancing, wearing masks, maintenance of a standardised personal and public hygiene protocol and other similar actions which ought to come out of social conditioning, India is no exception of being a liberal democracy with its baggage of the largest population with a lesser degree of participative civic culture compared to her estranged western neighbours. These arguments have their legitimacy in the canvas of liberal democracy, and as per the consensus arrived among the world countries, democracy is the best form of Government. Given the current pandemic situation at a disproportionate scale threatening the basic fabric of the stability of the democratic state, I wish to argue for a calculated remodelling of the essential functions of practical politics, the need for incentivising the change and the importance of structural change from the top. Those who counter-argue that changes should come from below may answer me if in the past 24 months, did one single Panchayat President/ Mayor of Corporation have raised this question or passed a resolution: "What is the status of National Disaster Management Plan? What is the role of local bodies in COVID 19 pandemic?"
The modern interpretation of practical politics of a liberal democracy pays due credit to political communication, which forms the basal line of contact between the leaders and the followers. Election-related campaigns, canvassing, graffities, banners, posters and all form of traditional means of communication require (1) resources (2) a Network of men on the ground and (3) concerted efforts. Even casting a vote warrants gathering of men and women in a given place, which is unthinkable in a situation like a pandemic in addition to the cost involved. Hence why not the change begins? A transformation starts to replace these traditional means of political communication with a digitised model, thanks to substantial internet penetration in the vast subcontinent country. The 3D roadshow managed by Narendra Modi in the 2014 elections though was not found in the 2021 elections, could have been a wonderful mitigator of community spreading of the deadly pandemic. Social Media platforms, online meetings, memes, discussion forum in social media could make a constructive change that can put the country in a better position provided they get incentivised by the political system. By incentivisation, I mean the seed for a drive for adoption as a motivation. Even in developed states such a Scandinavia, one can find how electric cars are incentivised with a free parking lot and charging points. in about a decade, the entire Scandinavia is now green energy conscious.
Is this not the time for the Election Commission to work on standard operation Protocols on quantifying the political communication during the days of model code of conduct and incentivise the political parties if they increase the digital part of the campaign and do away the conventional forms of communication? A pandemic can lead us to light down the tunnel. Will our Political parties think? Election Commission be assertive to believe in this line?
( I thank my PhD candidate Ms Aswini Varna V V, doing her PhD on Political Communication for throwing light on the issue which sparked this post)
