PEOPLE’S well-being is prioritized by democracy. Through a democratic formation, all residents are treated with equality and parity. The evolution of democracies has been driven by the increasing world population. The growth of cities into large urban centres created numerous challenges for democracies worldwide. The concept of sustainability was adopted by democracies in developed countries for the betterment of people’s lives. Nevertheless, the governments of developing nations have struggled to create sustainable mega cities as the required planning and investment are beyond their reach.
The quality of democracy in developing states has suffered as a result. Democracy strives to establish cities that offer residents an ideal environment for living, surviving, and flourishing. To achieve this, democracies promote the idea of sustainable cities that provide decent opportunities, supportive working conditions, and ample business and trade options. Moreover, democracy seeks to assist people by providing them with the essential elements of sustainable cities, including reliable transportation, affordable electricity, clean water and effective sewerage systems.
Moreover, the rise in population has presented democracies with the problem of power concentration, a persistent issue for democracy. Social mobility is negatively impacted by this restriction on social inclusion. However, the concept of sustainable cities counters the curse of power concentration by prioritizing inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone to grow. Sustainable cities pave the way for social mobility, allowing those in the middle and lower-middle class to attain the utmost prosperity. As a consequence, democracy is made stronger. A sustainable city creates income opportunities to minimize inequality and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. One of the main goals of a functional democracy is to achieve this. The smaller the class gap, the greater the democratic power in a nation.
In a sustainable city, education is designed to be fair and accessible, enabling everyone to take full advantage of a high-quality educational system. This educational system brings society together, reducing ethnic tensions, minimizing gender inequality, and preventing anti-state sentiments. These goals serve as the essential foundations for a real democracy. If a democracy does not ensure equal access to quality education, it fails to meet its objectives. Thus, sustainable cities uphold the democratic spirit, ensuring that democracy serves the people’s best interests. Efficient governance structures in a sustainable society ensure public service delivery. Therefore, cities must establish a local government model that involves residents in policy-making.
Furthermore, a sustainable city creates organizations to offer swift justice to people, enabling vital social contracts necessary for the advancement of a democratic society. Without this, individuals break social agreements, disregard laws, and exploit disadvantaged segments of society. These violations demonstrate a complete disregard for democracy’s goal of ensuring a fast and effective justice system to protect people from exploitation.
Additionally, mega cities have made it increasingly challenging for people to live in a healthy environment. A sustainable city prioritizes environmental sustainability above all else. In a sustainable city, air and water pollution are kept under control. It protects land against unwanted exploitation. This city prioritizes efforts to minimize the potential spread of contagious diseases. Moreover, a sustainable city safeguards both the environment and the ecosystem, thereby protecting people’s lives. One of the key aims of a sustainable city is to reduce carbon footprints. These are the core principles of a genuine democracy that aims to protect people from environmental risks.
A democratic government seeks to bring about positive change in people’s lives. The essence of democracy is not limited to political representation; it focuses on empowering individuals to lead easier and more productive lives. The conversion of contemporary cities into sustainable entities is crucial for supporting global democracies. Democracies can significantly increase their importance by embracing sustainability. Without sustainable cities, urban areas will suffer from congestion, crime, pollution, and lawlessness, undermining democracy.
The lack of sustainable development in cities fuels ethnic, sectarian, and religious conflicts, impeding social progress and undermining democracy. By limiting the equal distribution of income across different social classes, these cities exacerbate the gap between the rich and the poor. It creates a system where elites seize resources, resulting in the downfall of democracy. The failure to embrace sustainability in cities leads to mistrust, reduced civic participation, and an unequal divide between affluent and impoverished areas. This undermines the democratic pillars of a state, eroding its ability to build a stable society.
Modern cities can become stronger democracies by embracing sustainability. Prioritizing affordable energy for households and business communities is crucial for modern democracies to improve city infrastructure. The objective of democracies is to achieve economic well-being and embrace green infrastructure. Cities today are intricate systems that connect millions of individuals through social, economic, and political networks. Modern democracies are about to confront a significant challenge. The goal of modern democracies should be to ensure parity and equality by integrating people in social, political, and economic spheres.
The fulfilment of modern democratic needs relies on a sustainable city plan. By integrating sustainability into democracy, we can enhance economic opportunities, raise living standards, prioritize public health and safety, and promote environmental sustainability. The cities of Pakistan paint a dismal picture when it comes to sustainability. Although the country is governed democratically, sustainability is not given much importance. Due to this, the cities in Pakistan have been unsuccessful in distributing resources and opportunities based on democratic principles. The lack of a sustainable society in Pakistan is evident through the rich-poor divide, unemployment, rising living costs, and business vulnerability, highlighting a failure of democracy.
—The writer is an educationist and a Commoner from 44th Common, based in Sargodha.
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