Like Aristotle, J.S.Mill opines that ‘which is the best government?’ is a relative thing that varies from people to people. One form of government which is better for one state may not be sustainable for the other. He says that it depends on two things, (i) the condition of the society, and (ii) the character of the people. Secondly, he had mixed the organic conception with that of the Mechanistic theory with regards to the state. While, on the one hand, he agrees that state is an organistic and a natural growth, yet on the other hand he says that human beings can develop and adjust the state according to their own particular conditions. Human intervention is possible in making the state according to a nations peculiar need.
Mill prefers Representative Government as it performs two main functions: it must use the existing qualities and skills of the citizens to best serve their interests, and it must improve the moral, intellectual and active qualities of these citizens. A despotic government may be able to fulfil the first purpose, but will fail in the second. Only a representative government is able to fulfil these two functions. It is a representative governlent that combines judiciously the two principles of participation and competence which is able to fulfil the two functions of protecting and educating the citizens.
Representative government scores over despotism not because it better protects the given ifiterests of the citizens, but because it is able to improve these citizens. The citizeils develop their capabilities by being able to participate in government, minimally by casting their vote, and also by actually taking decisions in local government. At the same time, this participation is leavened by the principle of competence to ensure that the political experience does have an educational effect.
But Representative Government is good only if the character and quality of the people must be of high standard. Only civilized people can make this a good government. It is not suitable for uncivilised nations of Asia and Africa for whom he prescribes despotic rule.
Mill was well aware of the defects of the system of Representative Government and has suggested reforms to make it really good.
Defects of the Representative Government, according to Mill are as follows:
1) General ignorance of the masses
2) Incapability of the people to speak moderately.
3) Insufficient mental and moral standard.
4) Overflow of the group interest, vested interests
5) Pressure group politics
6) Majoritarianism
To stem the aforesaid rots, he has suggested following reforms to the Representative Government.
1) Minorities should be well represented. He advocated proportional representation for minorities.
2) He strongly advocated female enfranchisement.
3) Advocated adoption of open voting in place of secret ballot.
4) He recommended system of plural voting or weightage, i.e. more voting rights to more educated and worthy individuals. He was critical of one-man-one vote system.
5) He strongly advocated educational and property qualifications for voters.
6) No salary should be paid to the representatives of the people because it may dilute their commitment to serve the nation.
7) He was in favour of complete independence of members of Representative Assembly from the control of strict party discipline.
8) Political parties should not be allowed to make pre-election promises, which are often misleading.
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General Studies