OPINION:Citizens must play a more active role in governance of State, writes DARRAGH CONNELL
MANY ARGUE that Irish political culture must change with the times, but the question that must be asked is what role citizens can play in renewing our political system. In this respect the recent British election campaign gave rise to discussion of “the big society”. While this concept may be mere advertising puff, David Cameron was on to something when he talked about the need for greater civic involvement in day-to-day governance.
Benjamin Constant, talking about citizenship, drew a distinction between the liberty of the ancients and that of the moderns. For Constant, writing in France in 1816, ancient liberty was based upon direct participation in politics. Citizenship was a duty to be solemnly undertaken for the common good. This liberty was limited to relatively small societies, in which the people could be gathered together in one place to organise public affairs.
In contrast, the liberty of the moderns was predicated upon representative democracy because due to the size of the modern state, citizens could only rule by proxy. Civil liberties and the rule of law would ensure protection from excessive state interference. This view loosely corresponds with the modern state’s political framework.
Throughout the Renewing the Republic series, attention has focused upon constitutional governance and the nature of Irish representative democracy. Alongside such reforms, there must be a deeper reconnection of citizens with aspects of ancient liberty to ensure a greater role for the public in decision-making at local and national level.
A sense of community is still alive and well in Ireland. Sports clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations all point to a desire of Irish people to do more than “add the half-pence to the pence”. We need to harness this desire to play a role on a local level into a greater grassroots contribution to national decision-making. If the last decade has shown us anything, merely casting a vote once every five years is not sufficient to secure a sustainable future for all. Crucially, community, responsibility and citizenship are buzz words without the availability of avenues through which ordinary people are given the opportunity to be stakeholders in the future of the country. Much like the calls for credit to stimulate economic growth and enterprise, citizens have to be offered the means for greater direct participation in the governance of the State if we are to foster a healthy democracy.
In the political realm, there needs to be a greater effort by political parties to recruit good candidates from a broader range of backgrounds possibly in conjunction with a list system. Information should be made available to the public on what decisions are being taken in their name before they are taken so as to allow for active public discourse. Equally, the Dáil should be a forum for substantive debate and bipartisanship rather than a facade for the practical workings of the executive.
There must also be a greater willingness to plan for the future development of the country in a transparent way. Local decisions should, where possible, be made locally with appropriate oversight to prevent corruption. Vested interests should never dictate policy, particularly in areas like transport and the environment. In this respect, the initiation of local referendums coupled with public meetings and informed consultation would ensure people play a greater role in important decisions regarding their locality.
These are just some suggestions as to how citizens can engage in the democratic process. Of course no one is suggesting that the health service is going to be run by community groups.
However, the political elite should be reminded that politics is only legitimate when it acts for all people. Perhaps the best way to achieve this is by allowing those people to play a more direct role in planning for the future thereby reconnecting elements of ancient liberty with the modern governance of the State.
Darragh Connell is a barrister and graduate law student at Cambridge University