Popular Participation
Civic Education S.S.S 2 First Term
WEEK 10
Popular Participation
Performance Objectives
Student should be able to:
1. Define popular participation in politics
2. Give reasons why people do not participate in politics
Content
1. Definition of popular participation
2. Reasons why people do not participate in politics e.g.
- economic obstacle, discrimination, illiteracy etc.
Definition of Popular Participation
The term, ‘participation’ means the involvement of persons in the process of determining decisions on matters that affect them.
Popular participation can be defined as the process whereby the majority of the citizens in a state or country show interest in partaking in the affairs and decision making of the state.
Popular participation involves the input of citizen and enabling them to be involved in the decision making of the state. It also ensures that decision are made in consideration of the majority
Popular participation gives unrestricted equal opportunities to all citizens in expressing their views towards the activities of the state. Popular participation thus suggests a process of involving wider sections of people in decision making on issues that concern them.
Reasons why People do not participate in politics
Poverty
Poor people are mostly focused on survival activities; their basic needs often need to be met first before they can participate, so they may have limited time or interest.
Education
Without information and knowledge, meaningful participation in politics can be difficult.
Social isolation
There is a limited network to support and encourage political participation. Personal factors when there is social isolation. People may have limited confidence or motivation to participate.
Stigma and discrimination
Majority groups may have prejudices, fears and discomfort towards people with disabilities and therefore may not support their participation.
Legal barriers
In many countries, people with disabilities are not permitted to vote, e.g. people with mental health problems.
Bad governance
Sometimes, government rules arbitrarily to law, customs, traditions, etc. This does not motivate certain people to participate in politics.
Past history of political occurrences
In the past, some citizens, parents, children, friends and relatives might have been victimized through political participation of various kinds. For instance, a wife whose husband was killed while carrying out political activities, would not want to participate in politics.
Lack of independent electoral system
The lack of an independent electoral system in a state is another reason why people do not participate in politics, the contribution of electoral commission to conduct an election is inevitable.
Violent campaign
Sometimes the way political parties carry out their campaign appears too violent and end up causing a lack of interests on political activities for some people, which is another reason people do not participate in politics.
literacy
Illiteracy is another reason why some people do not participate in politics. Those who can not read and write would not be able to understand political manifestoes and the procedures for voting in elections. The illiterates are completely ignorant of political affairs.