Changing Political Culture From The Bottom Up: Role Of The Middle Class

By Siri Gamage –February 1, 2018

In recent weeks, there has been much talk again about the political culture and the need to reform it if the country is to move forward. A seminar organised recently by a group called Inception of Change (vena saka Arambuma) at Maharagama had this theme as a key point. Bond Commission report or at least excerpts are out in the public domain and there is considerable airtime and media attention drawn into it. Political stages are being erected throughout the country for esteemed politicians of various colours to empty their stomach on routine performances adhering to party lines in front of eager audiences waiting to get a glimpse of their favourite national leaders after they moved to Colombo to act on their behalf. Some get mesmerised by the sight of most modern and luxurious vehicles they travel back to the localities in the backdrop of exploding cracker sounds- the rewards that elected parliamentarians get for their hard work. Some in the audiences get enthused by the loud attacks against those on opposite sides and discourses on righteousness, social justice, human rights, development and progress, anti corruption, how they saved country – even though proving purity on Corruption ground has become increasingly difficult lately. Amidst all these background dramas, noises and political ceremonies, some wonder what really is happening underneath Sri Lanka’s political landscape? 

In my view, it is high time that we reflect on why the country has not been able to generate a progressive political party free from corruption and truly seek to offer service to the people based on altruism rather than self-interest from the middle class that embodies considerable talent, wisdom, foresight, drive and ambition? In this article I offer some thoughts.

Many commentators have recently pointed out the failures of two mainstream political parties over the 70 years since gaining independence and expressed frustration for the lack of a progressive alternative. One reason for adopting such ‘a pessimistic attitude’ is the continuing foreign debt syndrome. Another is the lack of concrete and visible legal action against those who have plundered public coffers during the previous regime and the present one, though the attorney general and other law enforcement agencies contemplate such action, we are told. A third reason is the plight of the common man and woman in terms of cost of living whether they are in urban areas or the countryside. A fourth reason is the lack of credible action on reconciliation and associated matters including the new constitution making. On positive side, peace prevails, freedom of expression is available, extra judicial killings, harassment, and white van disappearances have subsided, and the populist-dictatorial tendency that existed before has declined. However, the promise to do away with the executive Presidential system by the current President seems to be on the back burner.

Commentators are using yahapalanaya or good governance and promises made during last national elections by party leaders as a yardstick to measure current doings and undoings of the national government. For the average Sri Lankan, this is not a problem of this or that democracy, old or new model. For them, it is a matter of how to correct the course on ground practically rather than political theory. Thus it is important to dwell on the composition of middle class and its role in a movement for course correction by way of a new progressive party or some such outfit.

The Middle Class –LMC and UMC

The middle class comprises of two layers or fractions. One is lower middle class (LMC) and the other upper middle class (UMC). Strictly speaking, we could consider JVP and Peratugamee Pakshaya or Frontline party etc. as progressive political parties that seek to improve the conditions of existence for those segments of society that are disempowered by the existing economic, political and social systems. Their political strategy seems to be to work in a bottom up manner. LMC includes workers, peasants, policemen and soldiers, school teachers and clerks without land and other wealth, carpenters, masons, labourers, fishermen etc. Nava Sama Samaja Pakshaya led by Bahu also falls into the category of a progressive party though some question its support for the yahapalanaya government? This is a charge levelled against JVP also.

During Dr. Newton Gunasinghe’s time, there was an Institute for Workers and Peasants to study and promote the welfare of these neglected social strata. Newton was Sri Lanka’s foremost Marxist activist anthropologist who obtained his PhD from the university of Sussex but passed away some decades ago prematurely. Some upper middle class intellectuals who supported the movement led by Rev Sobitha prior to last Presidential elections are supporting the JVP at the Local Government elections. This is a new trend.

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