Democratic Pluralism: A Perspectival Study of American and Indian Nationhood Experiences- Challenges for the Malaysian Nation-State: An Instructive look at American and Indian Nationhood Experiences- Lessons and Challenges for Malaysian Nation-Statehood.

Abstract

It is of common knowledge today, that the world is undergoing much social and political upheavals and challenges in national and societal governance. ‘Duly democratically elected’ and constituted governments face varying degrees of poltical opposition in the governance of their societies, which often are made up of diverse ethnic communities. It is well acknowledged that the American and Indian nations are among the few longest surviving and ‘cohesive’ democracies. This perspectival study looks at the principles and practices of democratic, pluralistic governance in the above nations, and thereby the lessons that can be drawn from them, and thence the challenges for the Malaysian nation in further enhancing the cohesiveness and quality of life for its peoples. The research approach employed for the data input was the use of relevant secondary data sources. Current on-line available data and that from the national media, were also used. The analysis of all related data was mainly a documentary analysis approach. The findings of this study indicate that beyond the centrifugal pulls faced by the American and Indian democracies, a firm and undergirding commitment to the principles and values of democratic pluralism, has enabled them to generally function well and move forward in a cohesive societal framework. The Malaysian nation’s challenges can well be to draw appropriate lessons from the principles upheld and practised generally actively, of democratic pluralism at the grass-roots, in the above older nations. Further, the study shows that there is constant deliberation to concertedly initiate democratic measures to incorporate minority groups more assuredly as fully engaged constituent sections of its national citizenry, towards inclusiveness and the greater national good.