All in the family

Dynastic politics tends to anger the thinking classes in India. The argument is sound: in a democracy, surely, it is merit and hard work that must count, not a famous surname or a legacy. The most reviled family in Indian politics is that of Jawaharlal Nehru, since he, his daughter and grandson have all been prime ministers. Subsequently, of course, many other Indian political families have also followed the dynasty route diluting the criticism.

However, the news that French president Nicolas Sarkozy has pushed forward his young son to a prestigious position tells us that dynasty is alive and well all over the world and becoming common even in the so-called merit-oriented western democracies. Sarkozy has been accused not just of playing dynastic politics but also favouritism — which also should sound familiar to Indians. A cabinet minister had to step aside for Jean Sarkozy, 23, a third-year student without much experience. He will over see a multi-billion euro expansion of Paris’s business district which houses top corporate headquarters.

Of course, India is not the only country where politics has been a family business. The US has had the Kennedys, the Roosevelts before them and now the Bushes and the Clintons. France booted out its Bourbon king and most aristocrats by chopping off their heads, then went back to a Republican form of dynasty soon after with the Bonaparte family. It may be facile to suggest that Sarkozy models himself on the legendary Corsican but nor can it be denied that he is not carving a new path here. His government contains Frederic Mitterand, nephew of the former president Francois Mitterand, whose autobiography recently caused a little stir.

The fact is that politics is murky business, whether in India or anywhere else. People in power tend to stick close to their own and when trust is an issue, they might well fall back on family. Besides, even in a democracy, people do get a sense of entitlement and it is not hard to imagine why sons, daughters, nieces and nephews of politicians feel that politics is a family business.

For a contemporary world, where democracy must mean equal opportunity, citizens have no option but to keep a stringent watch on what political leaders are up to. Voters do not have to buy into the “family business” theory and can instead hold each candidate up to the merit test. That should be the final answer.