Peaceful transitions of power contribute to political health

“What do Nelson Mandela, George Washington and a Roman consul have in common?” The 'ShareAmerica', in a recent issue of their newsletter, posed the above question followed by an answer --“Each walked away from political power.” South Africa's Nelson Mandela stepped down voluntarily after one term as the President in 1999. He followed the footsteps of Roman statesman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519–430 BC), who on two occasions renounced near-absolute emergency authority to return to his farm. America's first President George Washington set a similar example by declining to run for the office of the President for a third term. Michigan State University political scientist William B. Allen, while leaving office voluntarily said, “Peaceful transitions of power contribute to a nation's political health.”

The above observations reflect the commitment towards democratic norms and values, and for the greater good of the nation. In developing countries like ours, perpetuation of such democratic values is essential to give democracy a chance to flourish through peaceful transition of power by holding elections in due time. Every government of the people should start its journey by retaining and forwarding people-oriented development programmes and projects undertaken by the previous government.

Professor M Zahidul Haque
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System, SAU Dhaka