Skip to main content

Fostering dialogue amidst decline in public discourse civility, shrinking democratic space

By Sushant Kumar* 
The people of India, and indeed much of the world, are living through deeply troubling times, marked by rising inequality, and declining social cohesion. There is a considerable decline in the civility of our public discourse and trust in democratic institutions. All these things, when put together, constitute a grave threat to our collective national vision of realizing our constitutional values, and most of all to the idea of fraternity. As an engaged citizen deeply concerned about declining civility and increasing polarization, I have often pondered what I can do to address this pressing issue. To find an answer to this dilemma, I turned to Dialogues on Democracy & Development (DoD), which has been instrumental in fostering civil discourse and bringing people together for meaningful conversations around democracy in India for the last one year.

What can we do about it? - The Ineffectiveness of Social Media Venting:

“Ohh, have you seen how India has fared on the Freedom of Press index? It’s going rock bottom man!” said a frustrated friend. The next thing I see, he is putting this information on his Instagram story. Apart from his 2-3 hundred followers knowing this fact, what’s the impact it is going to have? Every day, I come across several such posts on social media which are nothing but people venting their frustration at the state of affairs, especially the youth. In the face of these challenges, it is crucial to acknowledge the limitations of venting frustration solely on social media platforms. While social media has provided a platform for voices to be heard, it often perpetuates echo chambers and reinforces preexisting beliefs. Venting frustration without engaging in constructive dialogue can further deepen divisions and hinder progress toward a more inclusive and cohesive society.
Studies have shown that excessive use of social media can contribute to increased polarization and a decreased willingness to engage in meaningful conversations with those holding opposing views. According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 64% of social media users in India reported witnessing hateful or abusive content on these platforms. Social media inhibits, most of the time, unproductive discourse and undermines efforts to bridge ideological gaps. That’s the reason I appeal to the youth - Participate in dialogue, Practice dialogue, & Propagate dialogue, outside the echo chambers of social media.

The Role of Dialogue:

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, DoD has championed the cause of fostering dialogue as a means to strengthen democracy in India. Dialogue provides a platform for individuals with diverse perspectives to come together, engage in respectful conversations, and bridge ideological gaps. By creating safe spaces for dialogue between people of different ideologies, DoD has encouraged citizens to move beyond echo chambers and engage in meaningful conversations with those who hold different viewpoints.
The latest report by the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) highlights the importance of inclusive and participatory processes for a healthy democracy. Dialogue fosters inclusivity by allowing marginalized voices to be heard and considered. Through dialogue, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives, challenge their own biases, and work towards common goals.

Dialogues on Democracy & Development:

Working alongside Dr. Anjor Bhaskar has been a transformative experience for me. Together, we have had the opportunity to knock on the doors of government institutions, civil society organizations, universities, and colleges, fostering partnerships and collaborations. Within one year, we conducted nearly 20 workshops across several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Gujarat. We also developed booklets that can act as resource material for those wishing to conduct similar workshops. We have also been engaged with developing curricula and training modules for social audit and accountability teams in NIRD and other training institutions, which also feeds into our larger interest in policy implementation, and in democracy and development.
Through our work, we have brought together individuals from all walks of life, facilitating conversations that transcend divisive boundaries. As a student of education, this has given me the opportunity to apply learnings from my classroom into practice. During my course in MA Education, I learnt theories about learning, pedagogy and assessment. All of these have been helpful in developing content for the workshops as well as in contributing to curriculum development for various institutions and training programmes.
It has been a rewarding and inspiring experience to witness the power of dialogue. We have seen individuals, initially at odds with each other, come together, listen empathetically, and find common ground. These dialogues have helped break down stereotypes, dispel misconceptions, and foster mutual respect. By nurturing dialogue, we have been able to create an environment where individuals can engage in constructive debates on key developmental issues and challenges while upholding the principles of democracy.

Conclusion:

The declining civility in our discourse and the increasing polarization in India pose significant challenges to our democracy. However, taking action through initiatives like DoD can make a profound difference. The V-Dem report's data on the decline of liberal aspects of democracy and social cohesion globally underscores the urgency of the situation. Venting frustrations on social media alone is not effective and may perpetuate divisions. It is through open and respectful conversations, as promoted by Dialogues on Democracy & Development (DoD), that we can ensure the preservation and strengthening of India's democratic values for future generations.

References:

  1. Sunstein, C. R. (2017). #Republic: Divided Democracy in the Age of Social Media. Princeton University Press.
  2. Barberá, P. (2015). Birds of the Same Feather Tweet Together: Bayesian Ideal Point Estimation Using Twitter Data. Political Analysis, 23(1), 76-91.
  3. Flaxman, S., Goel, S., & Rao, J. M. (2016). Filter Bubbles, Echo Chambers, and Online News Consumption. Public Opinion Quarterly, 80(S1), 298-320.
  4. "The Role of Social Media in Polarized Politics: Evidence from the United States" by Bakshy et al. (2015)
  5. "The Spread of True and False News Online" by Vosoughi et al. (2018)
  6. "Selective Exposure to Misinformation: Evidence from the Consumption of Fake News during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign" by Guess et al. (2018)
---
Co-founder, Dialogues on Democracy and Development

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING

Gujarat Information Commission issues warning against misinterpretation of RTI orders

By A Representative   The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has issued a press note clarifying that its orders limiting the number of Right to Information (RTI) applications for certain individuals apply only to those specific applicants. The GIC has warned that it will take disciplinary action against any public officials who misinterpret these orders to deny information to other citizens. The press note, signed by GIC Secretary Jaideep Dwivedi, states that the Right to Information Act, 2005, is a powerful tool for promoting transparency and accountability in public administration. However, the commission has observed that some applicants are misusing the act by filing an excessive number of applications, which disproportionately consumes the time and resources of Public Information Officers (PIOs), First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and the commission itself. This misuse can cause delays for genuine applicants seeking justice. In response to this issue, and in acc...
2 comments
»

Targeted eviction of Bengali-speaking Muslims across Assam districts alleged

By A Representative   A delegation led by prominent academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey  visited three districts in Assam—Goalpara, Dhubri, and Lakhimpur—between 2 and 4 September 2025 to meet families affected by recent demolitions and evictions. The delegation reported widespread displacement of Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, many of whom possess valid citizenship documents including Aadhaar, voter ID, ration cards, PAN cards, and NRC certification. 
Post a Comment
»

'Govts must walk the talk on gender equality, right to health, human rights to deliver SDGs by 2030'

By A Representative  With just 64 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global health and rights advocates have called upon governments to honour their commitments on gender equality and the human right to health. Speaking ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), experts warned that rising anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are threatening hard-won progress on SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality).
Post a Comment
»

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor*  This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.
Post a Comment
»

Is U.S. fast losing its financial and technological edge under Trump’s second tenure?

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The United States, along with its Western European allies, once promoted globalization as a democratic force that would deliver shared prosperity and balanced growth. That promise has unraveled. Globalization, instead of building an even world, has produced one defined by inequality, asymmetry of power, and new vulnerabilities. For decades, Washington successfully turned this system to its advantage. Today, however, under Trump’s second administration, America is attempting to exploit the weaknesses of others without acknowledging how exposed it has become itself.
Post a Comment
»

Gandhiji quoted as saying his anti-untouchability view has little space for inter-dining with "lower" castes

By A Representative A senior activist close to Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar has defended top Booker prize winning novelist Arundhati Roy’s controversial utterance on Gandhiji that “his doctrine of nonviolence was based on an acceptance of the most brutal social hierarchy the world has ever known, the caste system.” Surprised at the police seeking video footage and transcript of Roy’s Mahatma Ayyankali memorial lecture at the Kerala University on July 17, Nandini K Oza in a recent blog quotes from available sources to “prove” that Gandhiji indeed believed in “removal of untouchability within the caste system.”
Post a Comment
»

'MGNREGA crisis deepening': NSM demands fair wages and end to digital exclusions

By A Representative   The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM), a coalition of independent unions of MGNREGA workers, has warned that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is facing a “severe crisis” due to persistent neglect and restrictive measures imposed by the Union Government.
Post a Comment
»

On Teachers’ Day, remembering Mother Teresa as the teacher of compassion

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ   It is Teachers’ Day once again! Significantly, the day also marks the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta (still lovingly called Mother Teresa). In 2012, the United Nations, as a fitting tribute to her, declared this day the International Day of Charity. A day pregnant with meaning—one that we must celebrate as meaningfully as possible.
Post a Comment
»

Gujarat minority rights group seeks suspension of Botad police officials for brutal assault on minor

By A Representative   A human rights group, the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat,  has written to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gandhinagar, demanding the immediate suspension and criminal action against police personnel of Botad police station for allegedly brutally assaulting a minor boy from the Muslim community.
Post a Comment
»