Thanks to citizen initiatives gaining popularity, citizens express their concerns and opinions more often. These changes might seem daunting for politicians and policymakers, but they should not be! Citizen participation is the key to effective policymaking in a democratic society. But why is citizen participation important, exactly?
Why is citizen participation important?
There is not one but several possible answers to why is citizen participation important. Let's dive in!
- Citizen participation builds trust between the local community members and their representatives.
- Citizen participation is inseparable from a democratic system. By including citizens in decision-making, the government can make policies more accurate and efficient, which in turn creates legitimacy for the government's position and policies. In other words, it is a win-win.
- Evaluating people's opinions and taking them into account when creating new policies allow politicians to be more prepared for elections.
- Citizen participation improves the community's sense of well-being, as people feel their ideas matter.
The takeaway
Citizen participation is an essential element in the relations between the local community and its representatives. When people are heard and their opinions are taken into account, they regain trust in democratic government. Thus, investing in citizen participation projects and initiatives is possibly one of the smartest investments that a politician can make.
