Clan-based politics

In the name of democracy and pluralism, political clans are taking a step forward in the Maldives.

The separation of powers is an unknown concept in Maldives. Efforts are now being made to reform the current system and separate the powers of the state in order to create a fair system of governance and to hold public officials accountable for their responsibility. The absence of a political ideology and institutional traditions is making it much harder and time-consuming to achieve the transition.

Though Maldives has made record economic growth during the past 15 years, the nation still faces some key challenges.

Disparities in income and living standards vary significantly between the capital Male' and the outer lying islands. Employment opportunities are also very limited in the outer islands. As a result there is a huge influx of migration to Male', making it a social burden on Male'.

A centralised system of control has prevailed in the Maldives where the people from the outer islands have to come Male' which houses the government offices as well the commercial centre. Everything from education to employment is available from Male'. Even most of the uninhabited outer islands are leased by the rich and wealthy who reside in Male'.

Due to the lack of economic diversification, many people from the islands have traditionally come to depend on the benevolence of an elite class of people who own wealth, business and exert political influence in Male.

In the past the elites of society comprised of distinguished elders who served the community, knowledgeable persons, wealthy individuals and policy makers. The elders and scholars no longer have the same clout and social standing unless they are financially rich, since progress is currently measured only in financial wealth.

Thus a person's status in society is defined by the government job that he or she holds and the wealth of their material possessions.

The values of thrift and sharing have ceased to be strong community-binding forces for this 100 percent Muslim nation of 360,000 people.

Our society is caught up with western consumerism that believes that increasing the consumption of goods is good for the economy.

Maldives is a country where you are looked upon depending upon who you are in the government or the wealth of your material possessions. In these situations it is very tempting to form political clans and factions which are emerging as an abiding force in the current political reform process.

A historical example of a country that has suffered and continues to be mired in clan politics is Philippines.

The late 1960s and early 1970s Philippines saw economic development that was second in Asia, next to Japan.

Ferdinand Marcos was, then, the elected president. Barred from seeking a third term, Marcos declared martial law on September 21, 1972 and ruled the country by decree. Marcos extended both his power and tenure by force. His authoritarian rule became marred with unmitigated, pervasive corruption, cronyism and despotism.

The country's economic prosperity was thwarted and today Philippines is among the bottom of the list of the Asian economies.

Two decades after President Ferdinand Marcos was driven out from power in 1986 by people power, he still draws the faithful to his farming town where his lavishly waxed corpse lies in a family mausoleum.

Clans are very strong in Philippines. Today, Philippine democracy is little more than a ruthless contest among rival clans with such names as Aquino, Arroyo and Marcos. Political parties are largely irrelevant, and most Filipinos are relegated to the role of spectators.

To the average persons on the street, the oldest democracy in East Asia has failed to improve their lives.