Topic 9 Democracy & Participation of the People Topic Purpose The purpose of this topic is to equip the learner with knowledge of the concepts of democracy and participation of the people, as well as the benefits and challenges towards the promotion of the principle of democracy and participation of the people. Expected Learning Outcomes Explain the concepts of democracy and participation of the people. Provide Assess Kenya. examples of practice of democracy. the challenges to democracy in Introduction Democracy and participation of the people refers to a political culture of involving people at all levels of decision making, where everyone is equally bestowed with the powers to exercise personal skills, access information, utilize opportunities, elect their representatives, express their views, and participate in governance without prohibition. It also refers to the right to contribute to societal and national issues particularly in reference to leadership and governance. Democracy and participation of the people go hand in hand. The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life. Citizen participation is one of the key building blocks of sustainable democracy. Types of Democracy Direct democracy • Representative democracy. Direct Democracy is a system where the people make the key political decisions by themselves. This abolishes any distinction between the state and the citizens as it is a form of self-government. The effectiveness of this model of democracy is directly proportional to the extent of popular participation. In a direct democracy, the people’s influence on the state is not limited to electing representatives to the parliament or government. Citizens can express their views and intervene directly on their representatives’ activities through a popular initiative and/or referendum. • Features of Direct Democracy Genuine democracy: It is the only pure form of democracy as it ensures popular participation and not representative democracy. Popular participation is direct: This is where citizens themselves make decisions. Popular participation is unmediated: the people are the government, there is no separate elite or ruling-class between the government and their people. Popular participation is continuous: Citizens engage in politics on a regular basis as all decisions are directly made by the people. Representative Democracy Representative democracy is a form of indirect democracy in which professional politicians act for or on behalf of the people. This is typically expressed through a system of regular and democratic elections which enable politicians to be removed and made publicly accountable. It seeks to ensure that government and parliament reflect and respect the opinions of the people. Politicians seek legitimacy from elections. Representative democracy is the most prevalent form of democracy in the world today. Elements of Democracy Democracy as a system of government has four key elements: A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections. The active participation of the people as citizens in politics and civic life. Protection of the human rights of all citizens. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens. Indicators of democracy and participation of the people Good governance. Regular, free and fair elections. Participation of the people in elections and public decision making. Adherence to the rule of law. Protection of fundamental freedoms and rights. Improved welfare of the citizens. Freedom of assembly, demonstration and open public discussion on all issues. Majority rule and respect of the rights of the minorities. Respect of human dignity and sanctity of life. Methods of citizens participation Participation of the people in voting during elections. Offering oneself as a candidate for political office. Debating public issues. Attending community meetings. Petitioning the government and even protesting. Active membership in independent NGOs or civil societies. Paying of taxes by the citizens; and Monitoring and evaluation of governance processes and activities e.g. legislations, policy development, implementation and interpretation. Benefits Increased citizen participation in local governance which leads to improved service delivery. Democracy gives citizens a guarantee that the will of everyone in the community shall be duly considered and that no one shall be neglected by the government. Democracy is an avenue for public education, stimulates interest and it provides a platform for information sharing. Benefits (cont’d) Public participation bridges the gap between state actors and non-state actors such as the civil society, private sector and the general public. Public participation encourages civic and community responsibility. Democracy and participation of the people empowers vulnerable groups to demand and exercise their rights. It is essential for good governance as it improves information flow, accountability, due process, and gives greater voice to those most directly affected by public policy. Challenges In some democratic societies, institutions that get involved in elections and other political processes exhibit weaknesses, e.g., election management bodies that appear to lack capacity, public trust and in some cases legitimacy. Inadequate and inappropriate international approaches in supporting democratic development. Inability to establish and in some cases re-establish, the political infrastructures and ideologies that support sustainable democracy and participation of the people. Electoral conflicts and political violence that reflect the problems of transition to democracy associated with managing elections and building institutions of competition that are widely accepted by winners and losers. Political parties that have weak internal processes and lack internal democratic system and acrimonious inter-party relations and weak civil society involvement in the electoral cycle. Challenges (cont’d) Poor political leadership resulting from disrespect for the constitution. The lack of resolve by the democratic countries to empower important social economic actors that could mitigate against economic conditions such as the abject poverty, illiteracy, deprivation and hunger shocks. Democratisation takes place in often still authoritarian environments that resist change, in countries with weak states that provide insufficient security to their citizens, in countries with incomplete processes of nation-building, and in countries with poorly developed or skewed economies. Lack of sufficient attention to the non-existent or poor economic and social infrastructure e.g. roads, railways, harbours, and communication systems. Inability by the democratic countries to achieve economic self-reliance and independence as a result of internal and external mismanagement of the economy. Revision Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. Name and discuss indicators of democracy and participation of the people. Examine challenges faced in Kenya in the promotion of democracy and participation of the people. Discuss the benefits of democracy and participation of the people. Propose possible solutions to challenges faced in the promotion of democracy and participation of the people.
