Machiavelli’s Advise to the prince about statecraft

Reasons Machiavelli‟s “ The Prince” is in the form of advice given to a ruler on the state
craft. Some significant aspects of the advise to the ruler are as follows:

1. Machiavelli elaborates the doctrine of „Raison D ‟Etat‟.

2. End justifies the Means.

3. State is sovereign, autonomus and non-religious.

4. A prince must combine the qualities of a lion and a fox.

5. Use a double standard of morality.

6. Favour despotic rule.

7. Maintain strong army.

8. Human nature is low and ungrateful, so Prince must consider this nature of man.

9. He should win the popularity of his people must not touch the property of the people.

10. A prince must have council of wise men and not of flatterers.

11. Separate politics from religion.

12. Remain free from emotions.

1. Machiavelli elaborates the doctrine of Raison D ‟Etat‟:

It means „Reason of state‟. It implies actions and policies promoting safety and security
of the state. Because the state must preserve itself before it promotes the welfare of its
people. For preserving and safeguarding itself all means adopted by the state are justified
by Machiavelli. According to him in politics, one is guided by the harsh realities of
political life which is a struggle for power and survival. The actions of the state must be
judged only on the basis of „Raison D „Etat‟. i.e. independent, self-sufficient and well
ordered and well maintain state. Machiavelli advised the prince in preserving and
safeguarding this type of state all means adopted by the state are justified. Prince should
give priority to power.

Morality and ethics have different spheres. It cannot be mingled with the reason of the
state. To a prince power of state is of supreme importance. Self sufficiency of the state
means the state will

have its own army, a strong and unified government, unity and integrity among the
people and solid economic foundation.

2. End justifies the Means:

It is a very famous statement of Machiavelli which he justified for the “Reason of state”.
He assumed that state is highest form of human association. State is to be worshipped
like a deity even by sacrificing the individual. A ruler must remember that whatever
brings success and power is virtuous even cunningness, shuredness is justified. Politics is
the most precarious game. It can never be played in a decent and orderly manner. The
state has some primary objectives and responsibilities like protection of life, maintenance
of law and order and looking after wellbeing of its members. Hence state must have
adequate means at its disposal.

3. State is sovereign, autonomus and non-religious:

Machiavelli said the state is superior to all associations in the human society. It is
sovereign and is autonomous, Moral and religious considerations cannot bind the prince.

He is above and outside the morality. He can use religion to realize his ends. Religion
cannot influence politics and the church cannot control the state. In fact sovereign state
enjoys absolute power over all individuals and institutions. State is must necessary of all
institutions. It stands on a wholly different footing and therefore be judged by different
standards. State power is the end and religion is its organ and instrument. Nothing is
unearthy in the state, State came into being to satisfy material interests of the people. He
divorced politics from theology and government from religion. He did not view the state
as having a moral end and purpose but gave importance to man‟s worldly life. He said
politics is an independent activity with its own principles and laws.

4. A prince must combine the qualities of a lion and a fox:

Machiavelli advised the prince he should imitate the qualities of fox and lion. The
imitation of the fox (cunningness, foresight) will enable him to visualize his goal and
means to achieve it. The imitation of the lion will give him necessary strength and force
to achieve that goal. A fox might have shrewdness and foresight, but he is powerless
without necessary force of a lion.

Similarly a lion without shrewdness and prudence of a fox would be reckless. Hence a
ruler who wants to be very successful must combine in himself the qualities of both fox
and lion.

He must possess bravery of lion and cunningness of fox, physical force is necessary when
there is anarchy and indiscipline. But law and morality is essential to check selfishness of
people and to generate civic virtues.

5. Use double standard of politics:

One for the ruler and another for his subjects. He said morality is not necessary for the
ruler. He is creator of law and morality hence price is above the both. A ruler has primary
duty of preserving the state. For this purpose he may use instruments of lie, conspiracy,
killings and massacre etc. Because absolute morality is neither possible nor desirable in
politics. He insisted that morality is essential for people. Only moral citizens willingly
obey laws of the state and sacrifice their lives for their nation. It cultivate civic sense and
patriotic spirit. Thus Machiavelli prescribes double standard of morality.

6. Favoured despotic ruler:

Machiavelli did not recommend the republican form of Government, because republican
form requires virtuous, honest and patriotic citizens. He also advised the prince to
convert his monarchy into a republic. If his heirs are corrupt and misuse their power for
evil purposes. According to Machiavelli foundation of Government is the reason of state
Government is not created by God

to punish men for their sin. Machiavelli says that the government is founded upon the
weakness and insufficient capacity of men. If in a society men are corrupt and selfish and
the law is powerless, then normal administration is not possible at all. A superior power
is essential for bringing the society into order. The government with absolute power stop
the excessive desires and control the behaviour of the people.

7. Maintain strong army:

He recommended constant military preparedness for the preservation of the state. Prince
should organize a strong army to meet any internal and external threat to his power.
Strong and regular army was must for a state for its own defense. The state try to build up
its own independent, regular and faithful army. Such an army should consist of its own
citizens and be prepared not only to defend its national borders but also to expand. The
citizens must be trained for army service and there should be compulsory military training
for all able persons.

8. Human nature is low and ungrateful, so prince must consider this nature of man:

According to Machiavelli rational analysis of politics must begin with an account of human
nature, Machiavelli viewed the activities of man with special interest and explained
human nature. He viewed men to be a compound of weakness, ungradeful, fear, lust for
power and assumed all men are bad. Prominent traits of human nature are

(1) there is no limit to human desires. He is selfish and aggressive. Hence there is strife
and competition.

(2) The masses are interested in security. They realize that only laws of the state can
ensure security hence they co-operate with the state and obey the laws. Hence a ruler
who wants to be successful must ensure security of life and protection of people.

(3) People must be restrained by force because force breeds fear. Only force and
repression can keep control and check on the evil tendencies in man. Hence the method
of government should be force and not persuasion.

(4) By nature every human being is ambitious and remains unsatisfied. No human being in
content with his position. He is always after domination. The enmities and wars are the
outcome of this desire. Thus human nature is selfish, power hungry, quarrelsome and
guided by materialistic considerations. Only fear of punishment is a powerful bond and it
never fails.

9. Should try to win popularity of his people:

Prince should try to win popularity, goodwill and affection of his people. He should keep
his subjects materially contented by not taxing them. The prince should not interfere in
age old customs and traditions of his people because by nature

people are conservative. He should not have craving for wealth and women of his own
subjects. He should keep a watchful eye on his dissidents.

10. A prince must have council of wise men and not of flatterers:

Powerful government and internal unity were essential for any state. Prince must choose
wise men in his council and should give them full liberty to speak the truth to him. He
must ask them about everything and hear their opinion and afterwards deliberate by
himself in his own way.

11. Separate politics from religion:

Before Machiavelli medieval political philosophers believed that the religion was the basis
of the state. But Machiavelli emancipated the state completely from the control of the
church. He denied medieval philosophy of religion. He repudiates the theory of Aquinas
that man needs the guidance of the divine law. Machiavelli said

that only end which man can place before himself is the pursuit of his well being in his
material values in life. He did not view the as having a moral end and purpose but gave
importance to man‟s worldly life. He believed that politics is an independent activity with
its own principles and laws. Moral and religions considerations cannot bind the prince,
state is above and outside the religion. Machiavelli does not ignore religion and morality.
In the opening chapter of the „Discourses‟ he says princes who want to maintain
themselves respect all religions preserve the purity of all religions.

He said religion is useful only as an organ of the state. He gave only an instrumental value
to religion. He advised the ruler that religion play important role in the life of a
community. According to him religion is necessary for unity and integrity of the people
within the state. Common religion creates a sense of unity among people. Religious rites,
beliefs establish social harmony. It also cultivate civic sense and patriotic

spirit. Decline of respect for religion among the people is a sign of ruin for the state. He
said religion cannot influence politics and the church cannot control the state. In fact the
sovereign state enjoys absolute power over all individuals and institutions.

As such the church is subordinate to the state. Thus Machiavelli separated religion from
politics and paved way for emergence of the secular state. He was not against the religion
and morality. He only propose two different standards of morality and placed the sate
above morality and religion. According to Machiavelli state is the highest form of social
organisation and the most necessary of all institutions. It stands on a wholly different
footing and must therefore be judged by different standards. He said politics is an
independent activity with its own principles and laws. State is non-religious and secular.
It has its own rules of conduct to follow. Machiavelli sanctioned the use of immoral mans
by the ruler whenever it was necessary to do so to save the state. Thus the

separation of politics from ethics is the essence of Machiavellian.

12. Prince must be free from emotions:

Prince should exploit emotions of his people for the purpose of the state. He should be
cool, calculating and opportunist. His suggestion is that a prince must know how to act as
a beast.

13. Ordered state:

In “ The Prince” Machiavelli advocated absolutism and an effective government. This

advocacy of absolutism was due to the fact that he had witnessed anarchy, lawlessness,
corruption and misrule that prevailed in Italy of his times. He had witnessed how king
Charles VIII of France had captured Florence without being offered resistance. Therefore
Machiavelli advocated a well-organised, ordered and militarily strong state. Without a
strong state, any country had no hope of survival in international politics.

He believed that an ordered state was the only security against forces of external
aggression and internal chaos.
MODULE 2

Plato's ideal state as given in ' the republic ' - concept of philosopher king:-

In Plato's "The Republic," he presents the concept of an ideal state or society that is ruled
by philosopher kings. The notion of a philosopher king is a central part of Plato's political
philosophy and reflects his belief in the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and virtue in
governance.

According to Plato, the ideal state is one in which individuals are assigned to different
social classes based on their inherent abilities and qualities. At the top of this social
hierarchy are philosopher kings, who are individuals with a deep understanding of truth,
justice, and the Forms (abstract and ideal representations of reality).

These philosopher kings are not rulers by birth or political power, but by their exceptional
intellectual and moral qualities.

Plato argues that philosophers possess the necessary qualities to govern effectively
because they have engaged in rigorous philosophical education and have acquired
knowledge of the Forms. They have a deep understanding of the ultimate nature of reality
and are capable of making wise and just decisions for the benefit of society as a whole.
The philosopher kings are motivated by the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to
promote the common good rather than personal gain or power.

Plato suggests that the philosopher kings should be selected and trained from an early
age through a rigorous educational system. They should be exposed to various disciplines
and taught to develop critical thinking skills, moral virtues, and a comprehensive
understanding of the world. Only those who have demonstrated exceptional

intellectual and moral qualities should be entrusted with the responsibility of ruling.

The philosopher kings in Plato's ideal state are not authoritarian rulers but benevolent
guardians of the state. They are expected to rule in the best interests of the people,
promoting justice, equality, and the pursuit of knowledge. Their primary goal is to
establish a harmonious and just society where individuals can flourish and achieve their
highest potential.

It's important to note that while Plato's concept of the philosopher king is an influential
and enduring idea in political philosophy, it has also been subject to criticism and debate
over the centuries. Critics argue that it may be impractical or unrealistic to expect
philosophers to possess the necessary qualities for effective governance, and that it could
potentially lead to an elitist and undemocratic society. Nevertheless, the concept of the
philosopher king continues to be a significant contribution to discussions on political
leadership and the ideal form of government.
Aristotle's classification of government :-

Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, classified different forms of government based
on who holds power and the interests they pursue. In his work "Politics," he identified six
main types of government, which he further categorized into three ideal and three
perverted forms. Here is a summary of Aristotle's classification:

Ideal Forms of Government:

Monarchy: Monarchy is a form of government where a single ruler, usually a king or

queen, holds supreme power. According to Aristotle, a just and benevolent monarchy is
the ideal form of government, as long as the ruler acts in the best interest of the people.

Aristocracy: Aristocracy is a form of government where power is held by a small group of

virtuous and capable individuals. This ruling class is believed to possess superior wisdom
and virtue, making them best suited to govern for the benefit of society.

Polity (Constitutional Government): Polity is a form of government in which power is

shared by the citizens, with an emphasis on the middle class. It combines elements of
democracy and oligarchy, seeking to strike a balance between the interests of the rich and
the poor. Aristotle considered polity to be a favorable form of government when it
promotes the common good and prevents the dominance of any particular group.

Perverted Forms of Government:

Tyranny: Tyranny is a perverted form of monarchy, where a ruler gains power through
illegitimate means and rules in their self-interest, disregarding

the well-being of the citizens. Tyranny is characterized by the oppression and exploitation
of the people.

Oligarchy: Oligarchy is a perverted form of aristocracy, where a small group of wealthy

individuals or a specific social class rules in their own interest, often exploiting the
majority of the population. Aristotle viewed oligarchy as an unjust form of government
that promotes inequality.

Democracy: Democracy, in its perverted form, is characterized by the rule of the majority
without due regard for the rights and interests of the minority. According to Aristotle,
excessive democracy can lead to instability, demagoguery, and the tyranny of the masses.

Aristotle's classification of government is based on his belief that different forms of

government have inherent strengths and weaknesses. He argues that the best form of
government depends on the

specific circumstances, the size of the population, and the character of its citizens.
Aristotle's ideas on government have had a significant influence on political theory and
continue to be relevant in modern discussions on governance and political systems.
Unitary and federal government:- meaning, definition, features, merits , demerits and
comparative study :-

Unitary and federal governments are two distinct systems of government that determine
the distribution of power and authority between central and regional or local
governments. Here's an explanation of their meaning, definition, features, merits,
demerits, and a comparative study:

Unitary Government:

Meaning and Definition: A unitary government is a system where all power and authority
are

concentrated in a single central government. Local or regional governments exist, but

their powers are derived from and can be overridden by the central government.

Features:

Centralized Power: The central government holds ultimate power and authority over all
aspects of governance.

Uniform Laws: Laws and policies are generally uniform across the entire territory,
ensuring consistency.

Limited Regional Autonomy: Local or regional governments have limited powers, which
can be altered or abolished by the central government.

Single Constitution: There is usually a single constitution that governs the entire country.

Merits:

Efficient Decision-Making: Centralized power allows for quicker decision-making and

implementation of policies.

Uniformity: Uniform laws and policies promote consistency and harmony across the
nation.

Clear Hierarchy: Power relationships are well-defined, reducing conflicts between

different levels of government.

Demerits:

Lack of Local Autonomy: Local regions may feel marginalized and unable to address their
specific needs adequately.

Central Domination: The concentration of power in the central government can lead to
authoritarian tendencies and disregard for local concerns.

Limited Flexibility: The uniformity of laws and policies may not accommodate regional
variations and diverse local contexts.

Federal Government:
Meaning and Definition: A federal government is a system where power and authority are
divided between a central government and various

regional or state governments. Each level of government has autonomous powers and
specific jurisdictions.

Features:

Power Division: Power and authority are divided between the central and regional
governments.

Dual Governmental Structure: The country is governed by two sets of governments -

central and regional - each with its own legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Shared Powers: Some powers, such as defense and foreign affairs, may be shared between
the central and regional governments.

Written Constitution: There is usually a written constitution that delineates the powers
and responsibilities of each level of government.

Merits:

Regional Autonomy: Regional governments have a degree of autonomy to address local

issues and tailor policies to their specific needs.

Power Sharing: Sharing powers between central and regional governments fosters
cooperation and accommodates diverse interests.

Flexibility: Regional governments can respond to local variations and implement policies
that suit their specific circumstances.

Demerits:

Coordination Challenges: Coordinating between different levels of government can be

complex and time-consuming.

Potential Conflict: Conflicts may arise over jurisdictional matters or when there is
disagreement between the central and regional governments.

Inefficiency: Decision-making processes can be slower due to the need for consensus and
coordination among different levels of government.

Comparative Study:

Unitary government is characterized by centralization, efficient decision-making, and

uniformity, but it may lead to limited local autonomy and potential central domination.

Federal government allows for regional autonomy, accommodates diverse interests, and
provides flexibility, but it requires coordination, can result in conflicts, and might be
perceived as less efficient.
The choice between unitary and federal systems often depends on factors such as the
country's size, diversity, historical context, cultural differences, and the preferences of
the population.

Unitary systems are more common in smaller and culturally homogeneous countries,
while federal systems are often found in larger countries with diverse populations.

It's important to note that the effectiveness and success of either system depend on how
well they address the specific needs and challenges of the country and its people. The
merits and demerits of unitary and federal systems can vary in different contexts, and
countries may adopt variations or

hybrid models that blend aspects of both systems to suit their unique circumstances.

Quasi - federal state, India as a quasi federal state :-

A quasi-federal state, also known as a quasi-federal system or a quasi-federation, refers to

a political system that exhibits some characteristics of federalism but also retains strong
central control and authority. In a quasi-federal state, power is shared between the
central government and subnational units, but the central government tends to have
more influence and authority.

India is often considered as an example of a quasi-federal state due to its unique system
of governance. While India is officially described as a federal state in its constitution, it
also exhibits several characteristics that make it quasi-federal:

Strong Central Authority: The central government in India holds significant power and
authority,

particularly in areas such as defense, foreign affairs, and national security. It has the
ability to exercise control over the states in certain situations.

Asymmetric Powers: Unlike a fully federal system where all subnational units have equal
powers, Indian states have different levels of autonomy and powers. Some states have
more powers and resources compared to others, leading to an asymmetrical distribution
of power.

Central Interventions: The central government has the authority to intervene in state
affairs under specific circumstances, such as in times of emergency or when states fail to
comply with constitutional provisions. This allows the central government to assert its
control over state matters when necessary.

Central Control of Finances: The central government in India exercises a significant degree
of control over the financial resources of the states.

It has the power to distribute funds to the states and impose conditions on their
utilization.
Single Constitution: India has a single constitution that applies uniformly across the
entire country, unlike a fully federal system where states may have their own separate
constitutions.

Strong Union Judiciary: The judiciary in India, particularly the Supreme Court, plays a
significant role in interpreting and resolving disputes between the central government
and states. The Supreme Court has the power to adjudicate on matters related to the
distribution of powers and constitutional issues.

These characteristics reflect the quasi-federal nature of India's political system. While
India has devolved significant powers to its states and has a federal structure, the central
government's authority and control over certain key areas make it a quasi-federal state.

Parliamentary and presidential government:- meaning and definition, features, merits

and demerits and comparative study :-

Parliamentary and presidential governments are two distinct forms of democratic systems
that determine the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of
government. Here's an explanation of their meaning and definition, features, merits and
demerits, and a comparative study:

Parliamentary Government:

Meaning and Definition: In a parliamentary government, the executive branch (headed by

a prime minister) is accountable to the legislative branch (parliament). The prime minister
and the cabinet are members of the parliament, and the government's survival depends
on the support of the majority in the parliament.

Features:

Fusion of Powers: The executive and legislative branches are interconnected, as the prime
minister and other ministers are members of parliament.

Prime Ministerial Leadership: The prime minister, as the head of government, exercises
executive power and is responsible for policy-making and governance.

Collective Responsibility: The government is collectively responsible to the parliament

and can be removed through a vote of no confidence.

Flexibility: The parliamentary government allows for quick decision-making and

adaptability, as the executive can respond swiftly to changing circumstances.

Merits:

Efficient Decision-Making: The fusion of powers and close relationship between the
executive and legislative branches facilitate quicker decision-making and policy
implementation.

Accountability: The government is directly accountable to the parliament, ensuring

transparency and responsiveness to public concerns.

Flexibility: The government can respond promptly to emerging issues or crises due to its
ability to call for early elections or change policies swiftly.

Demerits:

Instability: Frequent changes in government can lead to political instability and policy
inconsistency.

Lack of Separation of Powers: The fusion of powers may undermine the checks and
balances that a strict separation of powers provides.

Dominance of the Majority: The majority party or coalition holds significant power,
potentially leading to the neglect of minority interests.

Presidential Government:

Meaning and Definition: In a presidential government, the executive branch (headed by a

president) is separate and independent from the legislative branch. The president is
elected by the

people and exercises executive powers independently.

Features:

Separation of Powers: The executive and legislative branches are separate entities with
distinct powers and functions.

Presidential Leadership: The president serves as the head of state and government, and
their authority extends to policy-making, governance, and administration.

Fixed Terms: The president's term is typically fixed and not subject to the confidence or
majority of the legislature.

Checks and Balances: The separation of powers ensures a system of checks and balances
between the executive and legislative branches.

Merits:

Stability: The fixed term of the president provides stability and continuity in governance.

Separation of Powers: The clear separation of powers enhances checks and balances,
preventing excessive concentration of power.

Direct Accountability: The president is directly accountable to the electorate, as they are
elected by the people.

Demerits:

Gridlock: Disagreements and conflicts between the executive and legislative branches can
lead to political gridlock and hinder policy-making.

Lack of Flexibility: The separation of powers may make it difficult to respond swiftly to
emergent issues or changing circumstances.
Potential Authoritarianism: The strong executive power vested in the president may
increase the risk of authoritarian tendencies if proper checks and balances are lacking.

Comparative Study:

In a parliamentary government, the executive and legislative branches are closely

connected, and the executive's power is dependent on the support of the majority in
parliament. In a presidential government, the executive and legislative branches are
separate, and the president holds independent executive power.

Parliamentary systems tend to be more flexible and efficient in decision-making, while

presidential systems provide greater stability and separation of powers.

Parliamentary systems emphasize collective responsibility and direct accountability to the

parliament, while presidential systems highlight direct accountability to the electorate.

Parliamentary systems are more prone to frequent changes in government and potential
instability, while presidential systems may face challenges of gridlock and difficulty in
policy-making.

The choice between parliamentary and presidential systems often depends on a country's
historical, cultural, and political context, as well as the specific needs and preferences of
the population.
Election Commission of India- Composition, Powers, Functions

Election Commission of India is a permanent Constitutional Body. The Election

Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950.
Originally, the commission had only a Chief Election Commissioner. From 1st October,
1993, the Election Commission is a three- member body, consisting of Chief Election
Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The President appoints Chief Election
Commissioner and Election Commissioners. They have tenure of six years, or up to the age
of 65 years, whichever is earlier. They enjoy the same status and service conditions as are
enjoyed by the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

The Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office, except on the grounds
and in the manner on which the Supreme Court judges can be removed. However, since
the other Election Commissioners and the Regional Election Commissioners work under
the Chief Commissioner, they may be removed by the President on his recommendations.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Delimitation of Constituencies- To facilitate the process of elections, a country has to be

divided into several constituencies. The task of delimiting constituencies is generally
performed by the Delimitation Commission consisting of five serving or retired judges of
the Supreme Court and the Chief Election Commissioner who is its ex-officio member. All
secretarial assistance (at all levels, national, state, district) is provided to the
Delimitation Commission by the Election Commission. The Delimitation Commission is
constituted by the Government from time to time

Preparation of Electoral Rolls- Each constituency has a comprehensive list of voters. It is

known as the Electoral Roll, or the Voters’ List. The Commission prepares the Electoral
Roll for Parliament as well as Legislative Assembly elections. The Electoral Roll of every
constituency contains the names of all the persons who have right to vote in that
constituency. The electoral roll is also revised from time to time generally before every
general election, by-election and mid-term election in the constituency. The revision is
carried out from house to house by the enumerators appointed by Election Commission
and all eligible voters are registered.

Recognition of Political Parties- One of the important functions of the Election

Commission is to recognise political parties as all India (National) or State (Regional)
Political Parties. If in a general election, a particular party gets four percent of the total
valid votes polled in any four states it is recognised as an all India (National) Party. If a
party gets four percent of the total valid votes in a state, it is recognized as a State or
regional party.

Allotment of Symbol- Political Parties have symbols which are allotted by the Election
Commission. For example, Hand is the symbol of the Indian National Congress, Lotus is
the symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Elephant is the symbol of Bahujan
Samaj Party. These symbols are significant for the following reasons: 1. They are a help
for the illiterate voters who cannot read the names of the candidates. 2. They help in
differentiating between two candidates having the same name.

SOCIAL MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON ELECTIONS IN INDIA

Social media has changed the political game, allowing incumbents and newcomers alike to
speak directly to voters on everything from their own vs opponents parties’ policies.
Almost all Indian political leaders have taken up social media, predominantly Facebook
and Twitter, to express themselves without the filtering by conventional media.

Current age new political aspirants get extended support from using social media
platforms, which cost less than one percent of the main media cost and are easily tapped
by anyone with just a smartphone having an internet connection. Based on the elections
happening around the world, it ’s a known fact that social media can help level the playing
field in politics, where money and access to formal communication channels pose huge
barriers to newcomers in politics.

Political campaigns are not just confined to posters and banners. Social Media campaigns
are full of info-commercials, advertisements, blog posts, and lakhs of tweets, Instagram
posts and Facebook posts. Politicians are now able to convey their message through
endless info-commercials and gauge their communication by viewing direct responses to
their actions on social platforms.

Political Fake News stories or hoaxes are created on social media to deliberately
misinform or disinformation and deceive the voter. Usually, these stories are created to
influence the voter ’s views, push a political agenda, or cause confusion or manipulate
perceptions. What would happen to our communities, our business or our government if
we can’t trust what we read, hear or see?

As political campaigns are expensive and the need to reach out to constituencies is
becoming more imperative, social media will undoubtedly play a more important role in
influencing electoral results.
Pros of Social Media in Election Campaigning:-

• Easy to get details on events, schedules an election agenda

• Representatives can directly interact live with voters
• Minute by minute information is available on social media
Cons of Social Media in Election Campaigning:-

• Connecting local masses and reaching out to individual voters who are not on the
Internet is difficult
• Politicians use this to make more noise and are sometimes a way to encouraging
polarisation
• Is a threat multiplier and can increase overall suspicion, outrage, hatred, and violence
because of Misinformation and Disinformation
• Political minorities are using social media to create a political gridlock
Media Certification & Monitoring Committee in India:-

This committee clears political advertisements before being telecast on television

channels and cable networks by any registered political party or by any group or
organisation/association or by any contesting candidate during elections. MCMC ’s three
major functions are (1) Pre-certification of Political advertisements on electronic media
including social media. (2) Monitoring and action on Paid News cases. (3) Monitoring
media violation cases during the election process.

The Election Commission has developed a set of ‘Voluntary Code of Ethics’ for the General
Elections prior to the Lok Sabha 2019 elections. Voluntary Code of Ethics’ has been
developed to ensure free, fair and ethical use of social media platforms and to maintain
the integrity of the electoral process.

At a high-level, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee approach looks good, but
in practicality, there are plenty of open statements in the approach, as we seeing every
day political parties speak defamatory about opponents and sometimes issuing
provocation statement with intent to incite violence.

ECI scrutiny on Social Media

Authentic social media account (if any) should be informed by the candidate in para 3 of
Form-26 at the time of filing of nomination. Since social media websites are also
electronic media by definition, therefore Commission’s instructions with regards to pre-
certification of political advertisements shall also apply mutatis mutandis to websites
including social media websites.

Provisions of Model Code of Conduct and related instructions of the Commission issued
from time to time shall also apply to the content being posted on the internet, including
social media websites, by candidates and political parties. Candidates and political parties
have to include all expenditure on campaigning, including expenditure on advertisement
on social media while submitting final statement of expenditure. This shall also include
payment made to internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and
campaign related operational expenditure on creative development of content,
operational expenditure on salaries and wages paid to the team of workers employed by
such candidates and political parties to maintain their social media accounts etc.

Any political content in the form of messages/ comments/ photos/ videos

posted/uploaded on the ‘blogs/ self accounts’ on website will not be treated as political
advertisement and therefore would not require pre-certification, even if the same is
posted/uploaded by the political parties/ candidates. Chief Electoral Officers and the
District Electoral Officers are expected to activate their official accounts on various social
media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc. for establishing a more interactive system. A
Social Media Cell will also be set up by the CEOs to professionally handle the Social Media
and disseminate all the necessary information regarding voters’ awareness, pre-
certification, MCC, etc. Complaints received on this platform would be promptly
responded to.

At the ECI level, a Social Media Cell is also setup to disseminate all election related
information to various stakeholders and to monitor the performance of the State/UTs and
District and to guide and train them to maximise the use of Social Media, making it more
interactive and interesting for the general public. The Social Media Cell also closely
monitors the web for election related news and developments and regularly reports to
the Commission.

The Commission has issued instructions to appoint Media Certification & Monitoring
Committees (MCMC) at District and State level for. These MCMCs have three major
functions : 1. Pre-certification of Political advertisements on Electronic Media including
Social Media. 2. Monitoring and action on Paid News cases. 3. Monitoring the media
violations cases during election process