Governing tripod needs fundamental values for social stability

by Afreeha Jawad

Though to self serving agenda holders view sociologists as cynics what they - I mean the sociologists perceive is not fiction but fact. Against this backdrop, it was a paradox to hear a senior sociologist at that - Professor S. T. Hettige's interest in meditation programmes.

Describing his experience to the Sunday Observer last week he smilingly yet not unmindful of his usual sarcasm said, "Yes, I did go through it and I was transferred into a land of beautiful hills, valleys, green meadows, lakes, ponds filled with fish and swans.

That over - I opened my eyes, switched on the television only to find so many killed and hacked to death, the radio doled out names of missing persons, the newspaper informed me of several gang rapes. Yet my Guru tells me to think positively. The whole social world around me is collapsing. Still for all I'm supposed to shut my eyes and think positively.

There's something fundamentally wrong with you my Guru told me and I asked him," Now how would you expect me to think positively when all I see, hear and read is appalling? Either something is wrong with me or society."

Having said that Professor Hettige arrived at his central theme - the social collapse and the causes leading to such.

Root cause

Looking at the problems around us - of violence, drugs, murders, arson, looting child abuse, crime, robbery, rape ethnic conflict and the rest, one begins to think of where the problem really exists. Being social problems, the tendency is to blame society but the problem perse lies elsewhere. If the root cause remains that way, Professor Hettige believes the present quagmire to continue and even precipitate.

The social whole rests on three pillars - the judiciary, executive and legislature. Unless these pillars are strengthened by re-arranging society on fundamental values there's no hope. We have turned are back on these fundamental values for the past 50 years. For instance modern societies depend on public institutions for stability and sustainability. If these public institutions are eroded then society becomes disorganised. For example when law enforcement and judicial systems are weakened, it has an adverse impact on society in various ways.

People have no respect for law and order. They take the law into their hands and subvert the legal system. These institutions are based on certain value systems called the rule of law which when weakened the institutions also become weak. Rising crime, then is only inevitable. See the number of unresolved land disputes. If these cases are not disposed of one cannot address violence connected with crime and this is in the hands of those that deliver justice.

Unruly legislature

The legislature is another public institution. Laws are formulated here. If this is not functioning in the way it should then the institution itself becomes weak. For desirable legislation this place must function effectively. There must be debate discussion before laws are formulated. When parliamentarians do not attend debates don't contribute much, are unruly, resort to mud slinging, put forth abuse, physically assault one another - these are signs of parliament not performing its legitimate functions. A fundamental value of this institution called parliament is to maintain dignity and decorum so that it will be taken seriously by the public.

As a result of this eroded state, what comes out is incorrectly formulated legislation which reflects a process not properly managed.

Apart from what drew Professor Hettige's attention, this writer was also reminded of the lack of knowledge among parliamentarians to engage in oratory and debate. The lack of intellectual stamina is a great drawback and still worse is when in its membership are manipulators of crime, noted drug traffickers, black marketeers and racketeers of all sorts. How then could one expect to see intellectual eminence as we once saw long years back in these one time hallowed portals. After all debate and discussion are part of intellectuality so vital for formulating legislation. The lack of such coupled with the unruly behaviour coming from within the legislature itself is a weakening of the rule of law - again a factor that negatively impacts society itself.

Apart from the judiciary and legislature the third pillar on which society rests is the executive - the President Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers.

Constant interference with the state bureaucracy ever since the public service lost its independence and the most willing co-operation on the part of public servants again weakens the rule of law in public institutions. The bureaucracy is supposed to maintain and monitor programmes in the country to check on whether such are implemented according to AR and FR rules.

Over the years the state bureaucracy is an appendage to the political establishments. In order to please the voter, the politicians influence public servants and in doing so they dump all the rules. Yet, the bureaucracy is there to safeguard rules and disallow others from violating it.

Professor Hettige's revelation also necessitate the coins other side. Bureaucrats also have earned a reputation for dishonesty. They have succumbed to various offerings coming their way and are into self fostering ventures. They've been widely known for loss of credentials, being spineless and not able to say 'no' to political advances. Hence their disrepute into being even called 'Boorucrats'. Gone are the days of pristine glory when in Ceylon as the country was then known had the most prestigious of civil servants that kept politicians at bay. In India even today the status quo remains of an independent public service.

So this pillar is shaky as well. A polluted and corrupt bureaucracy weakens society that rests on it.

Political

Public institutions are the fourth pillar on which society is placed. The public depend heavily on these institutions to get day to day work going. But then who are those that are appointed to these boards, council and corporations. Its constitutions clearly indicate whom to appoint and what work it should engage in. Yet, its legitimate functioning is tampered with by way of political appointees. For instance to handle education matters a businessman is appointed. Isn't this a moving away from the fundamental value of rule of law. For over forty years we've turned our backs on fundamental values upon which modern societies are based. The rule of law is what these values are all about. If these values are not taken seriously, society, itself is undermined.

Negative sentiments

"When 90 per cent over the years express negative sentiments such as Oh! we have no future in this country, The country has gone to the dogs, lovely country but politicians have ruined it", these then are to be taken seriously for they reflect a weakening of the four pillars on which society rests which weakening has negatively impacted society giving way to social frustration and rising crime.