SS1 GOVERNMENT
3rd Term
1st Week
POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
Meaning: It is the
extent to which an individual is involved in the political activities of his or
her country. citizens, should be
proud of the extent to which they can take part in the political system.
Whether they are voting for a new local government chairman, serving in the
electoral board, or just participating in a public protest, they can be fairly
certain that their actions are going to have an influence on their country’s
politics in some way. For them, this is important because it is one of the ways
in which citizens can contribute to their communities and be active members of
society.
Forms of
political participation
Political participation can be conventional, unconventional or
illegal.
1.
Conventional
participation: these
are activities that we expect of good citizens.
1. voting,
2. volunteering for a political
campaign,
3. making a campaign donation,
4. belonging to an activist group,
5. serving in public office.
2.
Unconventional
participation: These
are activities that are legal but often considered inappropriate. Young people,
students, and those with grave concerns about a regime’s policies are most
likely to engage in unconventional participation. Unconventional
political participation includes:
1. signing petitions,
2. supporting boycotts,
3. staging demonstrations and
protests.
3.
Illegal
participation: These are activities that break the law. Most of the time, people resort to
illegal participation only when legal means have failed to create significant
political change. E.g.
1. political assassination,
2. terrorism,
3. sabotaging an opponent’s campaign
through theft or vandalism.
Purposes
of Political Participation: Different persons have different reasons for doing
what they do. However, one could participate in politics for any of the
following purposes:
·
conventionality:
some
persons participate e.g. in voting, just because it is a norm.
·
Idealism: Some participate because
they believe strongly in a particular idea.
·
Responsibility: For many, participation is a
responsibility of democratic citizenship.
·
Self-interest: One might work to promote an issue
or a course that personally profits oneself.
·
Enjoyment: Some simply enjoy public activity,
either because of the activity itself or because of the friends they make while
politically engaged.
Factors affecting
political participation
(1)
Universal adult
suffrage: this is an unlimited franchise given to all adult citizens of the
country. In contrast, when citizens’ franchise is limited by race, income,
tribe etc., participation in politics will be limited. Thus, popular
participation is determined or encouraged by universal adult suffrage.
(2)
Political and
civic education: this will enable the citizens to become enlightened about
their political and civic rights and duties. When they know these things, they
will be more disposed to political participation.
(3)
Multi-party
system: each party has its ideology and manifesto. In a one-party system, the
single ideology may not accommodate or represent the diversity of the people’s
will. Hence, they may not participate. But a multi-party system gives room for
all the diverse interests to be fully represented. Thus, people will simply join
the party that promotes their interest.
(4)
Direct democracy:
this is a situation in which the people are directly engaged in the political
decision making. In contrast, indirect democracy prevents the people from
direct participation in decision making; it is their elected representatives
that decide for them.
(5)
Federalism: in
this type of government, political participation is broken down from center to
state to local or grassroots level so as to carry everybody along in the
political decision process. People are at liberty to participate at any level
that is convenient for them
(6)
Technology:
application of modern technology in the electoral system can boost
participation by making it easier for even the least motivated to participate.
One of such technology is online voting, digital biometric accreditation,
digital database of eligible voters, etc.
(7)
Economic reason: Some
people only put their hand where their mouth is. So, if they earn nothing from
politics they may not spare it any amount of their time.
(8)
Social
classification: one’s social class can do a lot in encouraging or discouraging
one’s political participation.
(9)
Track record of
government’s performance: if the government has always been disappointing
people may lose faith in the government, but conversely, they will be willing
to participate
(10)Electoral
System: if the people trust the board to be impartial then they will be
encouraged to participate, but if they already know the electoral board to be
partial, they will see no need to participate.