There Is No Democracy Without Participation

How different things look with hindsight.

One of the basic ingredients of democracy is that it requires participation from citizens. For so many people around the world, politics has become so out of touch with society that voter apathy (especially amongst the younger generation) has risen to dangerous proportions. That is until something happens that the populace doesn’t like.

If you don’t vote, you have no right to protest the result.

The Trump and Brexit wins were down to engaging the disaffected minority in such a way that they became something bigger than the sum of their parts. When a minority becomes a movement, it gains momentum and sucks up huge amounts of floating voters who could vote either way.  

Britain voted to “take back control” from the unelected European bureaucrats, but also stop their European neighbours from moving there at the same time.  The U.S. voted to “make America great again,” shutting their doors to the rest of the world. I can’t believe that a majority of Americans or Brits welcome either of these scenarios, especially the younger sections of society, but this is what has transpired.

They are saying that Marie Le Pen “probably” won’t win the French Presidency, but who would bet against her? It will be interesting to see what percentage of younger French voters turn out. Will they have learned their lessons from the U.S. and UK? No matter what the percentage is, you can be sure that a reasonable amount will not vote.

Although basic freedom dictates that we can decide whether or not we want to vote, there are certain countries such as Australia where not casting a vote is (albeit lightly) penalised. There is a actually a fine if you don’t vote here. It is a shame that our society needs to be negatively incentivised to vote, but I think that once you get someone to the polling booth, at least they have to choose where to put their mark. They will have been exposed to some level of information, and although the media is not always objective, at least they will be having their say. If they do not want to vote for one of the main candidates as a mark of their dissatisfaction, that is fine, but at least they are taking part in the democracy.

I find it strange that many countries enforce matters such as jury and military service, but do not enforce the vote. It is almost as if politicians use this to their advantage. Marketing to an engaged minority is always easier than finding messages for the broader collective. If political parties think that a certain section of society will “swing” them enough votes, their messages and policies will focus on these people. Irrespective of what you may think of Trump, no one can say he is governing for the whole of the U.S. at the moment.

Maybe we simply need to take our medicine for a few years. The phrase “be careful what you wish for” has never been more apt, but the silver lining could be that democracy might be taken seriously again.  Apathy in our societies is a poison, but there is nothing like failure to wake society up from its comatose state.

It’s time for everyone to stand up and start caring that bit more.

Interestingly, when conducting market research, many companies will pay participants to ensure a fully representative sample of views is obtained on a particular subject or product. This is to attempt to obtain an understanding of the true opinion of the “market” and they know that there will be certain people who won’t get involved otherwise. It is fair to say that you might not care about the latest consumer brand, but if you have been paid a small amount, you are likely to give genuine answers. It is ridiculous to say that we should be paid to vote, but in a way, we might “pay” the consequences if we don’t vote, so it amounts to the same thing.

There are certain things that we take for granted in this life, hard-won freedoms that have been generations in the making, but if you didn’t make that short walk to the polling station on voting day, you are betraying all those who fought so hard for those freedoms. Those freedoms could disappear with a stroke of a pen on an Executive Order.  They have already.

Also, this is not only about the more “advanced” political nations. Fledgling democracies are growing through the developing world, and although the world still has plenty of autocrats, the more the people start to care that their voice matters, the less autocratic these leaders can be. If you are a sheep, you will be led - your lack of voice will be translated as consent.

By no means do I want to say democracy is dead.  I studied political science at university, and I truly believe in the power of people to steer their countries in the right direction. Many of us have far more say that we realise. In a world where social media has become so powerful, each of us can make our mark.

To everyone who does not vote, know that you have an incredible power to facilitate change, but it only works when you step into a polling booth.

In a democracy it is our duty and obligation to our fellow citizens to use that power.