Political Trust, Democracy and the Pandemic: The Indian Scenario

Abstract

Since the last fifteen years there has been a vigorous debate on the nature of democracy in the entire world. Academic debates have focused on questions ranging from the trends seen, emergence of authoritarianism coupled with decline in popular sovereignty and thereby leading to the question of "political trust". In fact, the very idea of democracy has come under the scanner. Amidst this, the pandemic has not only renewed our interest in democracy but we have also witnessed a decline in respect to the values of democracy by the governments in the name of managing the crisis along with strong dictatorial tendencies and usurpation of freedom. It is against this backdrop that the paper seeks to reflect upon the nature of democracy worldwide and in India 10 particular. It would also focus on the trends related to political trust in India.