The Difference Constitutional Literacy Can Make: Critical Insights from Crisis-Ridden India

Abstract

Awareness of the Constitution and the system it creates, or “constitutional literacy,” is often seen as aiding people in acting as collective guardians of constitutional democracy. However, constitutional literacy alone cannot effectively battle today’s sophisticated attacks on constitutional democracy, particularly in Global South countries. Using the example of present-day India and its democratic erosion under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule, this article demonstrates why this is the case. In doing so, this article illustrates how the health of constitutional democracy in India would probably not have been significantly different today had there been greater constitutional literacy. On the contrary, minor net negatives could have potentially occurred if constitutional literacy existed in India. Although constitutional literacy might be a long-term goal for such countries as India, for constitutional democracy’s immediate survival, it would be prudent for all stakeholders to focus on strengthening elements like political parties and organizations.