Why we need Education in Democratic Governance?
Democracy is a vehicle to social and human justice through which fair elections ensure participation of all tiers of society in the governance systems. Generally citizens only know the election bit and are unaware of their social and civic obligations and rights to participate in the governance systems even after elections. Political parties are vital democratic organizations but can loose effectiveness with meager participation of citizens. Democracy can only take place when significant masses are willing to dedicate time to serve as citizens and govern themselves, their elected representatives, and the public offices. Participation in general & local elections is one of the many indicators which highlight citizen's participation in the political process and governance.
Just as an example District Layyah of Pakistan indicate that 2008 party based general elections have contestability of 5.8 and 4.5 for provincial seats and national seats respectively. The contestability for local government elections 2001 was 2.15 for all levels. Looking at contestability figures, party based elections have higher contestability as compared to non party based elections. Political parties are playing significant role in political competition and creating conducive environment for democratic process.
On other hand the local government elections are non party based and low contestability indicates grass root level meager interest in the political system and democracy. It is quiet clear that the common citizen in the same district is less sensitive towards the political process and needs to be educated through or without political parties. Alternatively voter's turnout in 2008 had been 60.08% and 59.51% (PA & NA) as compared to 2005 LG elections voters turn out of 62.52%.
There seems to be no consistency between contestability and the voters turnout in party based and non party based elections. It is quiet clear that political parties have taken over the competition level and citizens have taken over the rate of participation in electing members.
Given the local environment and prevalence of feudal system the common citizen is less privileged to practice his rights and raise her/his voice. In present local government system of Pakistan the distance between policy makers, planners, and implementers has been minimized but common citizen participation is low in local governing bodies. The common citizen is unaware of his rights and privileges in local administrative and development process. For an ordinary citizen democracy is just practicing their right to vote and which by no means is cent percent by will; forced through feudal system and contested as politics being inherent from generation to generation. Same people from same families appear in every election and true spirit of democracy is killed in between.
It is imperative to work on both domains i.e. political parties and citizens to strengthen democracy at grass roots. Political parties need to be sensitized on roles of ordinary citizens in the democratic process, not only before and in elections, but also thereafter in fostering accountability of the elected ones. Ordinary citizen needs to be educated in democratic rights and their roles in fostering transparency and accountability through their active participation between election cycles and during elections.
Political parties are vital organizations in a democracy, and democracy is stronger when citizens become active members of political parties. A two way education program has to be implemented which can help in building synergies in these two actors of democratic process. Such education will enable citizens to overcome the barrier of rights ignorance, help increase political participation, and create general friction for anti-democracy practices. The political participation will build capacities of party members in effective role plays for carrying forward citizen's agenda and raise such points in provincial and national assembly which represent local interest and local development.
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