India is a role model for Global economy; not China: Greece Ex-PM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 04 February 2016 14:18 IST
The Indian model of democracy is the right path to become the world leader and not the political system prevalent in China, feels George Papandreou, former prime minister of Greece.
He also says that nationalism has become an illusion in a globalised world and all countries need to function as one entity in a global village.
Delivering a lecture at the 9th D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas on ‘Intercultural dialogue for humanising globalisation’, the former prime minister of Greece felt that India has a bigger role to play in the process.
“India is a role model for the whole world due to the kind of democracy it practices, which needs to be protected and nurtured to become a global player in the world economy”, felt Papandreou.
Besides having the whole country together in spite of having varied cultures and languages, he said your country has a long long tradition of non-violence, even beyond Mahatma Gandhi, back in the history.
“India has lots to contribute in the inter-cultural dialogue for humanising globalisation, not only because of its population, but because the country has a tradition and culture of democracy”, he observed.
The president of the Socialist International also wondered whether China is a real model to progress in the world economy.
“When I talk to the people world over about democracy, they feel the real model is Chinese because they are progressing very fast. But I don’t know how long the Chinese model would be viable”, he said.
Papandreou however did not deny the fact that democracies have its own difficulties and challenges.
But more deep the democratic process is and the more you engage the citizens in the developmental process, he felt the problems are solved in a better way in the long run.
The president of the newly founded party ‘Movement of Democratic Socialists’ also pointed out that democracy is not mere election but much more than that.
He does not deny that tyrants can also come to power through democratic elections, but cannot survive for long if there is no continuous participation of the people in the developmental process.
“If you don’t participate, you become a private person. In Greece we call such people idiots, who have no capacity and no obligation. You can’t succeed by imposing things on the people. The real path to success is through dialogues, deliberations and integration”, said Papandreou.
Linking this whole democratic method of governance to the global economy, the former prime minister said the real path to the success of a Global Village is to adopt democracy as the path of governance and develop the whole world through participative process.
In this background, said Papandreou, , who was named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2010: “Nationalism thus becomes an illusion in a time of globalisation.”
This is what Europe has experimented successfully and now is the time to make it a success at the international level, breaking the walls of identities and nationalities, said the leader of global organisation of progressive political parties.
Greece should open a Consulate in Goa and start issuing Greek Passports to all those who want to become Global Citizens 😁