Political participation could be defined as the process of voluntary involvement of the people in the political activities of their country. i.e. when they take active participation in chosen their rulers and also involve in decision making in the government of their country.
FORMS OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Belonging to political parties: This is an active political participation in which activist come together to form political parties. Members of the parties do take active part in electioneering campaigns, political rallies and other forms of political meetings.
Contesting elections: some active political participants’ stands as candidates seeking elective public offices on the platform of political parties or as private candidates if the constitution allows it.
Sponsoring of political parties: sponsoring political parties financially is another form of political participation. Some wealthy citizens sponsor political parties as their own way of political participation.
As a voter: voting in an election gives one an opportunity to participate in the election of people’s representatives in government .
Polling agents: by acting as government representative at the polling, a person is directly involved in the political activities of his country.
THE PURPOSE OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.
As a political animal: according to Aristotle the famous Greek philosopher, man by nature is a political animal. Man therefore, takes part in political activities in order to satisfy that instinct in him as a political animal.
To write the wrong of those in power: some people desires participation in politics in order to correct atrocious activities of those in power.
For equitable distribution of resources: if the resources of a country are inequitable distributed, many people may be forced to take part in politics in order to equitably distribute such resources.
The need for self- actualizing: these are those who have made it in order fields of human endeavor that seek participation in politics as self- fulfillment.
As a status symbol: some other people desire political office n order to increase their self- image. These groups of people are not after the material and economic gains of political office but as status symbols.
ASSIGNMENT
Explain five ways how popular participation can be promoted
CENTRALIZATION.
The term centralization refers to a system of governmental administration in which power is concentrated in one single central authority.
The highest degree of centralization is achieved in unitary states.
Unitary states like Britain, Italy, France, etc. are examples of centralization of governmental administration.
ADVANTAGES OF CENTRALISATION
1.It is easier for decision making
2.The cost of it running is cheap
3.It makes for quick action
4.It is very easy to amend
5.It makes for strong government
FACTORS THAT GIVES RISE TO THE ADOPTION OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT.
Size of the country: small size of a country gives rise to the adoption of unitary system of government for example; Togo and Ghana, etc.
Absence of tribal differences: a unitary system of government is adopted in countries with homogeneous people which remove ethnic differences.
Lack of fear of domination: countries where the difference sections of the nation do not fear any form of domination usually adopt unitary system of government.
Political expediency: this may be as a result of the need for solidarity and cohesion for the defense and survival of the country.
Absence of minority groups: where there are no minority groups unitary system of government can work well there.
MERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT.
• Stronger and stable government: it tends to be stronger and more stable than federal system of government. By virtue of the fact that, the citizen shows loyalty to one central government.
• Reduction in cost: the cost of running a unitary system of government is reduced because there is no duplication of government offices.
• Quicker decisions: quicker decisions are made because; he single authority into which powers are concentrated need not consult any order authority before taking decisions.
PROMOTION OF NATIONAL UNITY
No double loyalty: the citizens shows loyalty to only one government or authority – the central authority.
DEMERITS OF UNITARY GOVERNMENT
• Encouragement of dictatorship: It leads to dictatorship as a result of centralization of powers in a single authority.
• The central government is over burdened with too much problems as a result of centralization of all governmental powers in one single authority.
• Government is kept far away from the people.
• It kills local initiatives.
• It leads to domination of minority groups.
• ASSIGNMENT
• Compare decentralization and centralization
DECENTRALIZATION
The term decentralization refers to a system of governmental administration in which powers are not concentrated in a single central authority but shared among component regional and local units or state district from the central government. Decentralization exists in a federal structure. USA, Nigeria, Federal Republic of Germany, etc. are examples of decentralization of government administration.
FORMS OF DECENTRALIZATION
- Devolution: This is a system of administration in which semi- autonomous Regional governments are created with defined powers and functions but subordinate to the central government. South Africa and Northern Ireland are examples of devolutionary government.
- Deconcentration : This refers to a system of administration in which powers are shared in such a way that the component states are not directly subordinate to the central authority.
REASONS FOR THE ADOPTION OF DECENTRALIZATION
• Fear of domination: in a multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria, the fear of one ethnic group dominating others may give rise to the establishment of federalism.
• Tribal differences: differences in culture, religion, language, custom, tradition, etc. among different grounds of a country may lead to the establishment of federalism.
• The size of the country: large population and wide geographical areas are some of the reasons that give rise to the establishment of federalism.
• To bring government nearer to the people.
• For security reasons: separate and sovereign states may come together and form federalism e.g. U S A< Australia and Switzerland.
MERIT OF DECENTRALIZATION.
• It brings government nearer to the people. E.g. local government council and states.
• Political unity: It unite people of different of political, social, geographical, cultural, religious historical and linguistic origin together.
• It encourages healthy competition in states or regions which leads to rapid development.
• It guarantees human rights where the constitution is supreme.
• Creation of more employment opportunities where duplication of offices are available.
DEMERIT OF DECENTRALIZATION.
• Inter- state friction : this is as a result of differences in opinions into which powers are divided.
• It is expensive to operate.
• There is difficulty in taking quick decisions.
• There is problem of co-ordination: it is problematic in coordinating a federal state as a result of many areas in to which powers are divided.
• It causes disunity : this is because emphasis is more on areas of differences among various ethnic groups in the country.
EVALUATION:
- Define political participation
- What are the forms of political participation?
- What are the purposes for political participation?
- Give reasons why nations adopt unitary government.
- Account for the reasons for the adoption of decentralization.
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