Popular Participation SS3 Civic Education Lesson Note

POPULAR PARTICIPATION                                      

Popular participation is the process of involving every citizen in the political affairs and decision–making process of their community, state or country. It also means the collective effort of the people to pool their efforts and resources together to attain their objectives. It means to have passion, and interest in the social, political, and economic activities of a nation.

TYPES OF POPULAR PARTICIPATION

1. POLITICAL: This involves citizens joining political groups and also getting involved in policy-making and implementation in their community, society or nation. It also involves eligible voters exercising their civic rights by voting or being voted for during general elections.
2. ECONOMICS: This means engaging in trade, commercial and business activities in a country. It means engaging in legitimate and legal business, to encourage local producers and manufacturers of goods and services by patronising them. This involves citizens and groups taking part in community-based projects through partnerships with government, private enterprises and foreign investors. Such projects are usually beneficial to the host communities in particular.
3. SOCIAL: This involves the use of our talent and skills for national growth and development. Talents in songs, music, dance, comedy, entertainment etc have exposed so many to international fame and recognition.
4. EDUCATIONAL: This involves a readiness to support and assist the government in the educational sector of the economy. This will make education competitive, and available and also increase the literacy level in the country.
5. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: This entails our involvement in research, discoveries and invention of new things as this will bring wealth and fame to the country.
6. ARTS AND HUMANITY: It is the involvement of citizens in visual arts, graphic designs, drawings, moulding, sculpturing and natural science.
7. SPORT AND ATHLETIC:  Students who are gifted and talented with athletic and other sporting skills should be involved and make good use of it. 

NEED FOR POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN CIVIL SOCIETY. 

The need for popular participation in civil society in recent years gathered much impetus because of the gain in it.

1. Sense of belonging: Popular participation is important because it gives a sense of belonging, and satisfaction, in sight to the individual and his society. Popular participation makes the citizens see themselves as part and parcel of society. It leads to social stability and harmony in society.
2. Involvement of the people: The youth and adults, male and female through popular participation come together in democratic principle to engage in activities they have an interest in. This helps to get the people enlightened and organised socially, economically and politically.
3. Stability in Government: Popular participation makes the government to be stable. This is because everybody is involved either as a good leader or a good follower. People are easily mobilised for societal action activities.
4. Popular consciousness and education:  It entails active participation by the citizenry in consultations, consensus building, political discussions and debates, constructive criticisms and contributions. Citizens in a well-informed society use popular participation in politics to develop.
5. Legitimacy of Government: Popular participation gives legitimacy to the government. The way and manner the electorate participates in the general elections, economic pursuits, sports and cultural activities that are obtained in the country shows their acceptability of the government in power.
6. Provision of opportunities: Popular participation provides greater opportunities for the citizens to develop their natural potential. It provides a suitable environment for wealth creation, income generation through employment opportunities, a market and transport system, a good road network, security, and so on.
7. Reduction of political apathy: Popular participation reduces political apathy in society. This is because people become active when their voice is heard and their opinions are taken into consideration in decision-making.

TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MODE OF POPULAR PARTICIPATION.

Traditional mode popular participation

All societies, the world over have developed various ways of approaching political, economic, cultural, judicial and other social issues in their environment. Popular participation in traditional societies consists mainly of the following:

1. Meeting at the town square, market square or palace of the Leader: In some communities, the community leader could be an Oba, Obi, Emir, Eze, or Baale in the whole palace meetings are regularly held, and issues of concern are discussed and resolved. But in some communities, meetings are usually held at the village square or market square to discuss issues that affect them.
2. Participation of youths: The youth in traditional settings are powerful power brokers in the administration of the local communities. In Igbo land youth were used in the past for defence and sanitation purposes. Up till now, the youths are used in executing policies and projects in many traditional communities.
3. Participation of Women Groups: The women are also involved in the administration of many traditional communities. Women’s associations and groups are powerful tools in meeting the needs of the community though, their participation if not as much as that of men;
4. Punishment of Lawbreakers: Community members in Pre-colonial societies enforced the law among their members. Anybody who acted against the rules and regulations and taboo was reported and punished accordingly if found guilty.
5. Participation as Agents of Socialisation: Community members are much involved in the socialisation process in the traditional setting.

Advantages of Traditional mode of popular participation 

1. It is simple to arrange 
2. It saves time and energy 
3. Saves cost
4. It gives confidence to both the leaders and  the followers:
5. Bribery and corruption practices are absent 
6. There is no court litigation
7. The issue of opposition does not encourage bitterness and rancour 

Modern Mode of Popular Participation:

The modern mode of popular participation has a lot of well-defined conditions to which all the participating interest groups or individuals must adhere to. These include:

1. Participation in general elections: This type of popular participation strengthens the democratic culture and legitimises the government. In elections, people directly elect their representatives in popular and periodic elections. 
2. Participation in Debates to Address Issue(s) of National and Common Interest: Through radio, television and phone-in programmes or articles on national dailies community members participate in the affairs of the country.
3. Youth Programmes: Youth programmes like NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) enable youths to participate in, and interact with youths from different ethnic groups during the compulsory service year.
4. The use of Agents of Mobilisation: Agents of mobilisation such as MESMER and NOA are used in Nigeria to enable people to participate in the affairs of the state. Such agencies enhance the capacity of the people through mass education, and awareness creation.
5. Sponsorship of programmes: Community members’ participation in the affairs of the state through sponsoring certain programmes on radio, television and newspapers as well as advertisements in the media.

 Advantages of Modern Mode of popular participation.

1. It gives the citizens the natural confidence to choose their leaders wisely.
2. It enables all eligible voters to participate in the electoral processes actively.
3. It promotes the growth and development of democracy, the rule of law, and economic and sport solidarity.
4. It makes voters or supporters become well equipped to access the performance of those in charge of the affairs of state.
5. There is a good link between the electorate and the elected members.

Disadvantages of modern mode of popular participation 

1. It is very expensive to carry out all the activities and get a fair result.
2. Many voters are illiterate, so they neither know why they are voting, nor understand how to vote correctly.
3. It breeds disorder, lawlessness and thuggery.
4. It encourages the use of money to lobby the electorate.
5. Mediocre are most often elected instead of the good political philosophers.
6. It encourages bribery and corruption
7. It gives room for stealing of ballot boxes and falsification of result, killing and kidnapping of political opponents
8. It is time and energy consulting.
9. It promotes unhealthy competition.