Democracy vs. Republic: America was not created a “Democracy”—that word was coined around 1930s. It does not exist in the American constitution

The root of the word “republic” is from the French which means “of the public”. Pakistan was created by constitutional means. The dictionary defines the word “republic” as:

  1. (initial capital letter, italics ) a philosophical dialogue (4th century b.c.) by Plato dealing with the composition and structure of the ideal state.
  2. a state in which the head of government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.
  3. An autonomous or partially autonomous political and territorial unit belonging to a sovereign federation.

Was America created as a “Democracy”? What did the founding fathers say about Democracy? Did Socrates really repudiate democracy? Did Plato denigrate women and consider them community property? Was our declaration of independence changed from Life Liberty and Property to Life Liberty and “Pursuit of Happiness” because women would have been included as “propoerty”. Why did the Ameican Revolution deny Adult Franchise to women after the British had already given it to the colonies? Why does the word “Democracy” not appear in the American Constituion? Why did the founding fathers denegrate “Democracy”? Was the word “Democracy” coined in WW2 to fight Italy, Germany and Japan? Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia?

The truth and the chimera Jefferson wanted an “Constitutional Convenion” ever 100 years. How to resolve the issues infecting American Democracy:

1) Majoritarianism
2) Commercialization of elections
3) Impediments to the general population from getting elected
4) Lobbies
5) Foreign meddling by dual citizens 6) Gerrymandering
7) Impediments to a Third Party 8) Campaign Financing
9) The balance betwen the 3 branches is out of kilter
10) Introduction of a “No confidence motion” for President like parliamentary democracy

Pakistan’s glorious experiment in establishing the first Islamic republic after the Meeskh e medina” cannot be ridiculed by ill-informed authors. Our experiment in democracy boldly declares in the preamble:

“Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;” 

Any audit of our republic clearly shows that we have not lived up to all the ideals of the Quaid-eAzam and or Quaid-e-Millat as listed in our constitution.

“Wherein the principles of democracy freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, shall be fully observed””. (from the preamble of the constitution of 1973).

However this is no reason to repudiate all Islamic republics.

Various definitions of democracy and sovereignty have been around for years. Moulana Mawdudi used the term “Theo-democracy” for Islamic state in his book “Political Theory of Islam”. He didn’t deny the term ‘democracy’. Rather he accepted democracy while this system will work under the sovereignty of Allah. Our Pakistani experiment in establishing a republic eliminated the kingship and hereditary succession. It places parameters on sovereignty because we believe that all sovereignity rests with God not man/woman.

Reading Farrukh, at first I thought I was reading Daniel Pipes or Emersen. I was disappointed that Furrukh’s article mirrored the ideas of the Hindu “akhand bharat” propagandists. I just finished writing a letter to the editor of the Pioneer which proclaimed that Pakistan is a failed idea.  Farruk’s self-flagellation fails to mention the CIA and KGB intervention in eliminating the elected leadership of Pakistanis,