Which one of the following is not considered a form of participation in a democracy?

Abstract

Recent survey research indicates that democracy means different things to different people. For some, democracy is a method of selecting leaders, protecting civil liberties and political rights, and upholding the rule of law. Other citizens have more expansive views of democracy, viewing it as a mechanism for promoting social equality and economic growth, for example. While such studies provide strong evidence that the concept 'democracy' is multidimensional, to date scholars have not explained why citizens think of democracy in myriad ways, and whether such differences matter. We aim to address these issues using data gathered from field research in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Guatemala in 2001. Through open-ended questions, we asked diverse groups of respondents what democracy meant to them. Relying upon answers to these questions, we attempt to explain why respondents had such varying views of democracy, and examine the implications these conceptualizations of democracy have for regime stability. Recientes investigaciones basadas en encuestas de opinión pública revelan que la democracia significa diferentes cosas según de quién se trate. Para algunos, la democracia es un método para elegir líderes, proteger las libertades civiles y los derechos políticos, y mantener el estado de derecho. Otros ciudadanos tienen visiones más amplias de la democracia, y la ven, por ejemplo, como un mecanismo para promover la igualdad social y el crecimiento económico. Aunque estos estudios ofrecen pruebas fuertes de que el concepto 'democracia' es multi-dimensional, hasta ahora los investigadores no han explicado por qué los ciudadanos piensan de maneras tan variadas, y si estas diferencias importan. En este estudio, nuestra meta es abordar este tema utilizando datos recogidos en el trabajo de campo realizado en Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Guatemala en 2001. A través de preguntas abiertas, preguntamos a diversos grupos de entrevistados qué significa la democracia para ellos. Basándonos en las respuestas obtenidas, intentamos explicar por qué los entrevistados tenían visiones tan distintas de la democracia, y examinamos las implicancias de estas diversas conceptualizaciones de la democracia para la estabilidad del régimen democrático.

Journal Information

The long tradition of CEDLA, Amsterdam, as a centre of an information network on Latin American research in Europe is reflected in the European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe, which is published semi-annually, in April and October. The articles of ERLACS – in English and Spanish – reflect substantial empirical research and/or are theoretically innovative with respect to major debates within the fields of the social sciences and history. They are also subject to independent peer review. ERLACS includes book reviews and institutional news as well.

Publisher Information

The Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA), Amsterdam, conducts social science and history research, offers university courses, and has a specialized library for the study of the region. The Centre also publishes monographs and a journal on Latin America.

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European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe © 2004 Centrum voor Studie en Documentatie van Latijns Amerika (CEDLA)
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Overview

It is not enough to work only on setting up democratic institutions and processes. These institutions and processes must be put to work creating opportunities for citizens to lead healthy and productive lives. Ensuring that government actually works for the public good requires informed, organized, active and peaceful citizen participation. Citizens must, therefore, understand ideas about citizenship, politics and government. They need knowledge to make decisions about policy choices and the proper use of authority, along with the skills to voice their concerns, act collectively and hold public officials (i.e., elected representatives, civil servants, and appointed leaders) accountable. 

The term citizen has an inherently political meaning that implies a certain type of relationship between the people and government. Citizens have a set of rights and responsibilities, including the right to participate in decisions that affect public welfare. In addition to the intrinsic democratic value, participation is an instrumental driver of democratic and socio-economic change, and a fundamental way to empower citizens. Emphasizing locally-led, issue-driven approaches, NDI programs focus on citizens organizing around their interests and taking actions throughout the political cycle to open, access and occupy political space. We recognize that citizen-centered activism – driven by real community needs and desires – is a powerful transformative force.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are a vehicle through which citizens can aggregate their interests, voice their preference and exercise the power necessary to affect sustained change. However, this requires CSOs learning to work together and to play a variety of complementary political roles that include: acting as watchdogs; advocates; mobilizers; educators; researchers; infomediaries; and policy analysts. Through technical and financial assistance, NDI has supported the efforts of more than 15,000 civic groups across the globe.

What is considered a form of participation in a democracy?

What are the 4 types of democracy?

What is popular participation in democracy?

What are the types of government based on people's participation?