Innovations in Governance: Political Theory, Liberal State and Active Democracy

Abstract

The article deals with evolution of political theory and state and efforts to activate democracy, especially in the Third World countries still operating in a feudal/monarchic manner, as against liberal/progressive democracies in Anglo-American-Scandinavian countries. This needs to re-energise existing institutions of governance through much-needed innovations, leading to transformations in the respective roles of state, market and civil society to ensure responsibility/accountability, transparency and reduction in fiscal deficit in national economy. While liberal/progressive agenda of continuing reforms for common welfare must be dynamically pursued to accomplish timely innovations in governance, minimising exclusive production, putting huge burden on economy and reducing per-capita share, may help-reinvent an active democracy, thereby further expanding freedom of choice and opportunities to all in the era of digitalisation preceded by liberalisation and globalisation.