GSELF

POLITICAL SELF

POLITICS, CITIZENSHIP AND THE SELF

· As members of the society, people are naturally obligated to participate in a politicalsystemas

socialcitizens.Politicsreferstotheactionsoractivitiesconcerned

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 with achieving and using power in a nation or society. It is also defined as the ways
that power is shared in an organization and the ways it is affected by personal
relationships between people who work together.

· As Aristotle stated, “man is, by nature, a political animal.” This is because man is a social being and that
people naturally drawn to various political involvements in order to satisfy their social needs.
Here are some facts about “Politics”. Read and understand each of them.

Politics as imbibed by man implies several things:

· Politics is concerned with power. Power inequalities can be observed within societies. The
one who holds power holds influence.

· Politics functions based on a particular social economic and cultural context. The nature of politics
and political systems is dependent on the culture of the state. Political claims made by advocates
are influenced by their geographical location and ideology.

· The political is also personal. One’s personal choices reflect his/her personal politics;
both are indistinguishable.

· Politics goes hand in hand with the society. Politics pervades the structure of society, and thus influences
inhabitants in their beliefs, ethics, and behavior.

· However, the political self is not only shaped by one’s political affiliation or beliefs. One’s sense of
accountability should be manifested in promoting certain advocacies through healthy political
engagement. This is aligned with the concept of active citizenship.

Are you now more aware of your Political Self? Let’s learn more about it.

ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

· Active citizenship refers to the structured forms of engagement with political processes and
everyday forms of participation in society. It is also defined as the process of sharing decisions which
affect one’s life and the life of a community in which one lives. Participation is the fundamental right
of citizenship.

· Active citizenship is anchored on one’s cognitive and behavioral engagement to participate in

formal and informal political activities. Different people manifest different levels of active citizenship;
some they take a more active approach in making their voicesheard.

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 · Active citizenship is a practice of democracy. Democracy should not only be thought of as a form
of government. It is a communal system that allows volitional freedom of citizens to make informed
choices that allow them to be heard.

· Activecitizenshipisasocialconstruct.Itfosterssocialrelatednessand belongingness.

· The most important goal of active citizenship is to instill change and influence society at large.

· Active citizenship is also associated with the “sense of community.” People, including adolescents,
participate in communal activities because it gives a sense of belonging in a particular group. Active
citizenship may facilitate ethnic pride and provide a voice to the woes of their social group.

· For the younger generation, active citizenship can contribute to their social development.
Engaging in such activities can also enhance efficacy and competence of the younger generation, as
they are considered to be the “future leaders” of the society. The participation of the youth in nation-
building activities enhances their value orientation and fosters integrity, compassion, and the senseof
justice, which are crucial to the holistic development of a citizen of a nation.

· Active citizenship helps an individual embrace their individuality through the choices they make and the
behavior they manifest. The political self is a result of various personal and environmental factors that
impact the individual. The participation of the youth in political discourse and social activities can result in
cultural and political paradigm shifts that may be felt even by future generations.

During the Enhanced Community Quarantine period, as a result of the Covid-19

pandemic, so many social, economic, and political issues filled the local and international
news. Many people were affected by the pandemic, losing jobs and businesses, the lack
of basic services, and, to a certain extent, suppression of basic human rights. You probably
experienced any one of these and you might have started to take a position on these
issues.

***EXERCISE: List down the major social, economic and political issues that you think
affected you very strongly.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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 ELABORATE

As the pandemic worsened, people become even more involved

in the issues. In fact, they might have started to raise their voice
through many ways. The social media is the most accessible and
practical form for people to express their stand on these
issues. How did you express your position on the issues that have affected
you?

Such positions are inherent among all people because we put

importance to our own values. We will certainly defend our positions
because these are based on our values that we hold dear. These
values are dear to us because they could have been passed on from
our elders and which we will be passing on to the future generations.

We have a set of values that we learn from our interactions with our
families and the society we live in. We use these values to understand and
rationalize the various issues that affect us. In so doing, we get to
demonstrate our Political Self.

JOURNAL ENTRY #7: Developing My Patriotism

In your journal, write an entry on developing

your patriotism as you develop your political self
and Filipino values and identity. Your entry can
be in the form of an essay, poem, or original
song composition.

References:

Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self.
In the Philosopher's Way: Thinking Critically about Profound
Ideas. Pearson. 106 — 169.
Diokno, MS (1997). Becoming a Filipino Citizen. In Perspectives
on Citizenship and Democracy. UP Third World Studies Center. 17
— 38 (For the topic, Unpacking the Self
- The Political Self)
Neudorf,A.Smets,K.PoliticalSocializationandtheMakingof
Citizens https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com 2017
Salvacion, V., Quillope, A., Tunac R., and Borja, E. (2018).
Understanding the Self. Nieme Publishing House Co. Ltd., Rm. 413

Property of and for the exclusive use of SLU. Reproduction, storing in a retrieval system, distributing, uploading or posting online, or transmitting in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 4
 Villasi Mansion, N. Domingo St., Brgy. Kunlaran, Cubao, Quezon
City, Philippines.
Ziatcita, F. (1997). Barriers and Bridges to a Democratic Culture.
In Perspectives on Citizenship and Democracy. UP TWSC. 39 — 68
(For the topic, Unpacking the Self - The Political Self)
https://utsged101portfolio.wordpress.com/section-1-the-political-
self- developing-active-citizenship/

Property of and for the exclusive use of SLU. Reproduction, storing in a retrieval system, distributing, uploading or posting online, or transmitting in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise of any part of this document, without the prior written permission of SLU, is strictly prohibited. 5