📋 Group Discussion (GD) Analysis Guide

🗳️ Should Politicians Have Term Limits?

🌟 Introduction to the Topic

Opening Context: The debate over implementing term limits for politicians is a recurring issue in democratic societies worldwide, with implications for governance, accountability, and political renewal. In nations with long-standing democracies, this topic raises questions about balancing experience with the need for fresh perspectives.

Topic Background: The concept of term limits dates back to ancient democracies, such as Athens and Rome, and has been revived in modern politics to prevent the concentration of power and promote fair opportunities. Term limits are in place for executives in many democracies, but the legislative branch often remains without such restrictions, creating a gray area in the pursuit of democratic fairness.

📊 Quick Facts and Key Statistics

• United States: Presidents are limited to two terms by the 22nd Amendment, but no term limits exist for members of Congress.
• China: Removed presidential term limits in 2018, sparking concerns over authoritarianism.
• India: No term limits for Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs); some politicians have served multiple decades.
• International Practice: Over 70% of countries with presidential systems enforce term limits, compared to less than 30% for legislators.

🔗 Stakeholders and Their Roles

• Governments: Enact legislation to establish or repeal term limits.
• Political Parties: Advocate for or against limits based on their impact on power dynamics.
• Citizens: Demand accountability and transparency in governance.
• Think Tanks/NGOs: Analyze and report on term limit efficacy globally.

🏆 Achievements and Challenges

Achievements

• Promotes fresh leadership by ensuring rotation of ideas and policies.
• Reduces corruption by limiting entrenched power structures.
• Encourages diverse representation by opening opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Challenges

• Loss of experience as senior politicians with institutional knowledge exit prematurely.
• Political instability from frequent leadership changes disrupting policy continuity.
• Potential for “lame duck” terms where leaders in their final term prioritize personal over public interests.

🌍 Global Comparisons

• Success: Costa Rica limits presidents to one term, resulting in dynamic leadership.
• Struggles: Venezuela’s term-limit repeal contributed to governance issues and authoritarianism.

📖 Case Study

India: Long-serving leaders like Jyoti Basu (West Bengal Chief Minister for over 20 years) raise questions about whether term limits would alter political dynamics.

📑 Structured Arguments for Discussion

• Supporting Stance: “Term limits can rejuvenate governance by reducing stagnation and entrenched power dynamics.”
• Opposing Stance: “Experienced politicians are critical for policy continuity and managing complex national issues.”
• Balanced Perspective: “While term limits enhance accountability, mechanisms like performance audits could achieve similar outcomes without mandatory restrictions.”

📣 Effective Discussion Approaches

• Opening Approaches:
  • Start with global examples: “China’s removal of term limits illustrates the risks of authoritarianism.”
  • Pose a thought-provoking question: “Should democracy allow unlimited tenure in leadership roles?”
• Counter-Argument Handling:
  • For “loss of experience,” cite systems where advisory roles for former leaders mitigate this issue.
  • For “instability,” present models where policy think tanks support long-term agendas despite leadership changes.

🔍 Strategic Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: Enhances democracy, reduces risks of autocracy.
• Weaknesses: Risk of policy disruption, loss of skilled leaders.
• Opportunities: Improves leadership diversity, attracts new talent.
• Threats: Increased lobbying for policy influence, risk of populism.

🎓 Connecting with B-School Applications

• Real-World Applications: Leadership rotation can inspire B-school projects on succession planning and leadership strategies.
• Sample Interview Questions:
  • “How do term limits impact political accountability?”
  • “Can corporate models of leadership rotation provide insights for governance?”
• Insights for B-School Students:
  • Analyze term limits as a case of balancing innovation with experience.
  • Study their implications for governance reforms globally.