What Makes a Democracy Strong?
Author: Kennedy Lucas
Many democratic components play special roles in making a Democracy strong and effective. A component that I find to be very important is participation. Democratic participation is a very vague topic in terms of how it can be achieved. Democratic participation refers to acts that are intended to influence the behavior of those empowered to make decisions”(Verba). Democratic participation encompasses a wide range of participation activities. This can range from something as simple as gaining knowledge on a particular policy to being civically engaged in one's political environment through voting, joining social organizations, or even running to be a member of one's local government. Democratic participation is what keeps the wheels of our governmental system turning.
A strong democracy is one that inclusively represents its citizens, works toward the advancement of the nation, is accountable and transparent, among a plethora of additional attributes. In order to achieve the three characteristics that I have presented, the participation of its citizens is crucial. In order for a government to represent its people, it needs to know its people. This is where participation through attending public meetings and town halls allows citizens to familiarize themselves with governmental officials. Protests and demonstrations also allow the government to hear and see what the people are thinking and feeling regarding the nation's government. The government can also be held accountable by its citizens, as they can participate in petitions and campaigns. Can take legal action regarding claiming policies unconstitutional and even use their First Amendment right of freedom of the press to share information or details about corruption within the government without censorship.
In Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone claims that “Systematic inquiry showed that the quality of governance was determined by longstanding traditions of civic engagement (or its absence). Voter turnout, newspaper readership, membership in choral societies and football clubs – these were the hallmarks of a successful region” (Putnam 376). For democracy to be strong, it requires all people to be actively involved. This is exactly what participation is. Participation enables citizens to hold leaders accountable, allows actual issues to be addressed within politics, and facilitates the advancement of human society through its direct influence. Without human participation, would democracy really be democratic?
References
Robert D. Putnam, ‘Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital’, in Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner (eds), The Global Resurgence of Democracy, 2nd edn (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD and London, 1998
Verba, S. (1967). Democratic Participation. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 373(1), 53-78. https://doi.org/10.1177/000271626737300103 (Original work published 1967)
