Topic: Political Participation

Source/Reference: Faulks, K. (1998). Political Sociology

Discussant: Glen S. Basilisco
Date of Presentation: January 20, 2016
A. Salient Points/Summary
Political Participation is the active engagement of the people in politics
Political Participation can be understood by looking at the lens offered by

Democratic Elitist, Rational Choice, and Participatory Theories.

While the three theories provide views and insights in political participation,

Participatory theory offers the ideal view on political participation.

It is interesting to note that there are emerging trends of political participation in
liberal democracies: 1. A More informed Citizenry; 2. Declining Political Trust; 3.
Declining Loyalty to Political Parties; 4. Falling Electoral Turnout; and 5. An

Increase in Unconventional Participation

Political participation can be enhanced by introducing structural reforms and by

employing the powers Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Incorporating the ideas of ordinary citizens in policy-making, as manifested in
citizen juries, can produce positive results- in maintaining democracy and survival
of civil society.

B. Objectives of the Presentation

At the end of the session, students are expected to:
Define Political Participation and identify its classifications
Familiarize and critically assess the three theories of political participation
See Barbers argument on the liberal citizens passiveness in the Philippine

Context
Understand Barbers concept of thin democracy and his ideal alternative-strong

democracy
Be aware of interesting trends in political participation in Liberal democracies
Learn how political participation can be enhanced, especially by looking at the

impacts of ICT in political participation

Understand the concept of citizen juries which is starting to gain prominence

C. Discussion Outline
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I.

Introduction
French political thinker and historian de Tocqueville posited that the State has the
tendency to centralize power, thereby threatening the maintenance of liberty in the
society. There is a need therefore for civil and political associations to rise as an

alternative to counteract it.

The survival of civil society largely depends on the citizenry. Citizens must be
willing to participate in the governance of their own lives. It is an expression of
citizenship and is crucial in engendering a shared political culture.

II.

Definition of Political Participation

How do we define political participation? There are various definitions conceived
by scholars in existing literatures. In this discussion, however, political
participation is defined as the active engagement by individuals and groups with
the governmental processes that affect their lives. It is crucial to emphasize here
the word active. This implies that membership alone in any political organization

does not necessarily mean that one politically participates.

Political participation can be classified as: 1. Conventional, such as voting,
standing for office, campaigning for a political party; 2. Unconventional, such as
signing a petition and attending peaceful demonstration; and 3. Illegal, such as
violent protest and refusing to pay taxes

III.

Theories of Political Participation

How do we view political participation? Who takes part in political movements?
Democratic Elitism, Rational Choice, and Participatory theory are the three

theories that provide further understanding of political participation.

Democratic Elitism theory of political participation (Schumpeter) believes that the
masses are generally ignorant and apathetic. The idea is that in policy-making, the
masses tend to make poor decisions. Their extensive political participation can
undermine stability. Thus, it is imperative that policymaking should be left to
those who are intellectually suited to the task, and to those who make politics as

their career.
Rational Choice theory of political participation (Olson and Downs) suggests that
individuals who can personally gain from participating will lead political
movements. The mobilization of other people can be made by making them
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believe that they can benefit from such participation, and the gains will outweigh

the costs.
Democratic Elitism and Rational Choice can be considered as instrumental
theories because political participation is viewed as an instrument to achieve a
certain goal-political stability for Democratic Elitism and political gain for

Rational Choice.
Participatory theory views political participation not just a mere instrument but an
activity that is geared towards the purpose of cementing civil society together, and

educating citizens in the art of governance

Barber (1984) argued majority of individuals in liberal democracies are passive
recipients of elite decisions, rather than citizens who actively shape politics. This
is a dangerous state of affairs, because participation is a necessary precondition

for our freedom.

Barber also introduced the concept of thin democracy wherein democratic

values are provisional, optional, and conditional.

As an alternative, Barber offers a vision of strong democracy as an ideal
alternative where politics is done by, not to, citizens. It can be achieve by
strengthening local government, and extending democratic practice into the
institutions of civil society, increasing opportunities for the use of: 1. National

referendums; 2. Citizen-led policy initiatives;

By extending the responsibility for decisions to everyone, democracy is more
successfully defended against its opponents because every citizen would have a
stake in its survival. It may: a. develop the political competence of individuals
thereby increasing the quality of decisions made; b. would foster amongst citizens
a sense of empathy for those with different interest, thus enhancing a shared
political culture, and c. openly resolved conflicts between social groups rather
than by secretive elites representing only the most powerful groups within civil
society

IV.

Short Assessment of Theories of Participation

Originally, rational choice theory is an economic theory that tries to understand
the rational interaction of consumers and producers. Putting it in the political
dimension may be very problematic as ideology, social networks and sense of
citizenship play in the formation of peoples behavior. Basically, the said theory
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fails to explain the efforts of citizens put into their membership of voluntary

political associations.
Democratic Elitism is criticized for its weak commitment to democracy. The role

of the people is reduced as a mere giver of consent.

For Faulks, developmental theory of democracy is more compelling. Political
participation is seen as good in itself, something all individuals can play a part in
and through which they develop not only their own political competence, but also
forge the links that form civil society.

V.

Interesting Trends in Political Participation

A More informed Citizenry. Two most important factors raising citizens
awareness are: 1. Increase in educational achievement which was promoted with
the rise in numbers of people attending higher education; and 2. a greater much

availability of information supplied by the mass media, particularly, television.

Declining Political Trust. Peoples faith in their politicians and the way that
democracy functions in their country has been decreasing. On the other hand,
theres a growing willingness of citizens to cast a critical eye upon their political

institutions.
Declining Loyalty to Political Parties. Available evidence supports the claim
that citizens are becoming less loyal to political parties. Electorates are also
becoming more influenced by current political issues in casting their vote, rather

than voting out of a sense of loyalty to a particular party.

Falling Electoral Turnout. Low turnouts are a worrying sign of a lack of
engagement with conventional politics, particularly as general levels of political

competence are rising.

An Increase in Unconventional Participation. Citizens are more inclined to
engage in challenging act such as demonstration, a boycott, an unofficial strike
or occupation a building; membership of campaign organizations such as
environmental or womens group now outnumber membership of political parties

in many countries
So what can we conclude is political participation in liberal democracies is in a
period of transition. Generally more educated and informed electorates is
increasingly skeptical of the ability of elites and existing political institutions to
meet their expectation-growing mistrust of traditional forms of participation4

concerned with post-material and material; and b. Citizens are more likely to take
part in a wide range of alternative forms of participation to express their
opinions-increase in unconventional political acts
VI.

Enhancing Political Participation

Changes necessary to enhance participation may involve removing institutional
barriers to conventional forms of participation or increasing the use of devices

such as referendums that are already utilized to some extent.

a. Institutional reforms-include measures to make participation easier and more
worthwhile-Ex. Simple and more comprehensive systems of voter registration;
greater use of postal votes; extension of the time allowed to vote ; compulsory
voting in the least national elections~ may help offset socio-economic
inequalities in voting.
b. Even potential significance for political participation are advances in ICT and

the intensification of participation through innovations like citizens juries.

Budge (1996) posited that ICT removes the barriers of size, time, and space by
allowing instantaneous and interactive forms of participation Ex. Via. E-mail,
internet, video conferencing, two-way computer and television links. It is no
longer necessary for citizens to meet face to face to discuss and decide policyParticipants can remain at home, listening and contributing to debates before

voting
Main positive implications of ICT for poltical participation can be summarized

as follows:
1. ICT presents unprecedented opportunities to increase the diffusion of
information in order to legitimate and enhance awareness of government al
decisions
2. Information can also pass more easily from citizens to government
-communicating more easily
-bridge the gap between state and civil society
3. New technologies increase the potential for associations of civil society either
to publicize themselves cheaply, or recruit new supporters, or to canvass opinion
4. The interactive qualities of ICT may release citizens from a passive
dependence upon the mass media and contribute to open government.

5. Social services may also be more effectively targeted at those most in need.

It is by no means certain that all the implications of ICT will be positive ones

for democratic practice:

1. Problem of regulating ICT
2. Increase opportunities for surveillance
3. Questioned the effects of ICT upon participation
What is needed is an undogmatic and practical approach to ICT innovations. As
Adonis and Mulgan (1997) argue, what is required is an experimental approach
to all aspects of ICT to ascertain what the effects, both positive and negative,

might be upon democracy.

Interesting developments in political participation is the use of citizen juries by
providers of public services such as health care, or by local governments to
advise on local planning issues. It involves the use of ordinary citizens,
statistically representative of the population, to consider and make
recommendations upon questions of public policy. Citizen juries also make
informed recommendations, as they are empowered to hear and question

relevant experts.
Other experiments in citizen participation support the view that ordinary
citizens are capable of making intelligent decisions, and that active involvement
has numerous advantages in terms of increasing: self-confidence, sense of
citizenship, and enhancing the legitimacy of policy-making.

D. Conceptual Application Plan

In explaining political participation, examples that is highly observable will be

given.
Barbers argument will be applied on Ateneans response to additional 5% tuition
fee increase next school year. How do we respond to the increase of Mango shake

in canteen from 15 to 30 pesos?

Examples in Philippine politics and society will be explored in order to grasp the
concepts that will be discussed.

E. Synthesis Points
Political Participation is the heart of civil society. Inactive participation of the
people in political affairs or the way the state govern our lives may mean the
death of democracy, and the end of liberty.
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It is essential therefore for citizens to shape politics rather than being a recipient
of the decisions from the state. The success of citizen juries supports the idea that

ordinary individuals can make positive and informed recommendations.

There are various ways in which political participation can be enhanced. One of
the powerful tool is the ICT.

F. Reflections and Personal Insights

From what I observed, many Filipinos still conceive political participation as an

instrument to gain political benefits.

The Philippines has a thin democracy. Participation in democratic processes

became provisional, optional, and conditional.

This is hope after all. The rise of ICT can be employed not only to enhance
political participation but also to change how people understand it. Facebook,
Twitter, and Youtube are some of the media to achieve this end.