POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

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.