This year, four South Asian democracies will go to the polls: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. What is the importance of political literacy in a democracy? How can it be instilled in the population? What are its benefits, individually and collectively? Chalani Patabendige An overview is shown below.
Political literacy is a weapon against discrimination, speaks to reality and becomes a whistleblower against bribery and corruption. But it doesn’t exist (or gets little or no attention). Therefore, it is essential to instill and improve political literacy for a variety of reasons.
What is political literacy?
According to Exposure 2023, political literacy is the set of skills needed to participate in a democracy, including an understanding of elections and government processes, knowledge of how to engage in politics, and critical thinking skills to evaluate different points of view. Refers to skill. but, According to McManus and Taylor 2009, political literacy is “not just about being able to explain and analyze political institutions and governments, but about being able to obtain information and exercise rights and responsibilities.” It means you can do it.” These two definitions together reveal a lack of political literacy. How many citizens have the skills to participate and engage constructively in politics, and how many genuinely care about having their voices heard and exercising their rights and responsibilities diligently? Is it?
Before considering the importance and impact of political literacy, it is useful to consider different categories of civilians. People who are apathetic about politics, people who have given up on politics, people who are genuinely interested in politics, people who only react when it directly concerns them, and people who notice changes in politics only when the media points it out and spreads it. There are some too. The first category is found in the context of certain young people in society who are focused on their career and goals and politics are not important to them. Conversely, the third category is also colored by youth activists who are passionate about creating change. The latter reach the point of giving up for a variety of reasons, but primarily a lack of trust in their leaders and organizations. The last category may be victims of modern media, where social manipulation and content manipulation exist.
Why is political literacy necessary?
Is political literacy a curse or a blessing? Because the more informed voters are, the more likely they are to question the legitimacy of unjust decisions, demand accountability, and demand rights. , political literacy poses a subtle threat. This is why even popular democracies sometimes undermine or censor certain news and opinions. All governments have the right to restrict information to maintain national security and peace, but news and incidents are covered up to prevent education or to keep the public informed of government decisions that involve them. If so, the question arises as to why it is being done. .
Regardless of their personal interests and interests, many citizens remain politically ignorant and ignorant of their rights and obligations in both individual and collective capacities. This had many downsides, including poor representation of groups and issues. Politically ignorant individuals may abstain from voting or discourage their colleagues from voting. Abstaining from voting has direct consequences and can lead to a lack of representation.
Of course, abstaining from voting can also indicate dissatisfaction with the government and a desire for change. Another consequence of political ignorance is the escalation of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, which is a serious problem in all modern electoral democracies. This reinforces beliefs in fabricated narratives and oversights of important issues. Another challenge is that lack of knowledge and participation prevents people from reaping the benefits of public policy initiatives. For example, when a government introduces laws to suppress falsehoods and monitor content, less educated or disinterested individuals may lack the knowledge or diligence to explore the rationale for the policy.
Political illiteracy is now also closely related to national security, which includes (along with political, economic and social security) information security and cybersecurity. Political ignorance undermines political security and causes political instability. When citizens refrain from voting, democracy erodes because their perceptions are not expressed. Lack of political literacy in response to the flood of social media propaganda is increasingly influencing voters’ choices, potentially resulting in the election of candidates unsuited to the position. Misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech are so pervasive that the resulting polarization and division can create avenues for anti-national forces (such as terrorists) to exploit this distrust. there is. In addition to political instability, such interference can also cause economic and financial instability. If people do not recognize the gravity of their economic decisions and their impact on them, they will turn a blind eye to the costs. On the other hand, it is also possible for citizens to oppose political decisions regarding the economy without understanding its ultimate benefits. For example, misunderstandings about trade agreements or taxation can lead to incorrect preferences.
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Political ignorance has a variety of negative effects that should concern all democracies. Cultivating the political literacy of the people cannot be done alone; the role of the family, which is the basic unit of society, is essential. Parents and older adults should openly and constructively discuss and discuss current events as one way to increase political awareness within the family. Schools and universities also have a role to play in consolidating political knowledge and strengthening expression by enabling healthy debate, so students can learn to respect and empathize with each other. Media have a great responsibility to abide by media ethics and regulations (including community guidelines). As the protector of the people, the government must ensure the interests and welfare of the people. In order to acquire political literacy, it is important to acquire media literacy and information literacy. Finally, opposition parties (all other political parties) also have a role to play in engaging in constructive debate, rather than mere opposition or criticism.
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The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the ‘South Asia @ LSE’ blog, the LSE South Asia Centre, the London School of Economics and Political Science, or the Sri Lanka Institute for National Security Studies. Click here for comments policy.
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Banner image © Parker Johnson, 2018, Unsplash.
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