Sustaining Democracy - What You Can Do
Democracy – rule by the people – requires the people to contribute so that it can function. With more autocrats in power, it has become even more vital to do your part to keep democracies, to keep up fair and equal societies.
As it literally means rule by the people, you – as the people – have to do something.
Vote
Voting obviously is vital. Some countries’ voting age is 16, while for other it is 18, but if you can – go vote! If you cannot legally, try to encourage others to vote. Participation is vital.
Election Worker
Depending on the voting age, you yourself can be an election worker. Each country has a different process for this, but in general once you are in the team, you will register the voters and then count the results. (It is not only contributing to democracy, but also very exciting to count and see the results first-hand)
Read & Read even more
Staying informed about current issues around you, as well as general structures of democracies and politics is a major element to supporting democracies. The more you know, the better you will be able to act and understand current affairs.
Reading the news to track political changes should be done regularly – as you as a part of the people have to know so that you can ‘rule’. Try to follow reliable sources such as The Guardian, BBC, Le Monde Diplomatique (and not be immersed by headlines and unreliable sources of news).
There are many books you can read from authors such as Rutger Bregman, George Lakoff, Michelle Obama, Timothy Snyder, or even George Washington that explain how politics, democracies, states work.
Having the mindset and perspective of a democratic person in itself will support democracies.
Protest & Unrecognised Protests
Attend protests for democracy, for fair elections, for political honesty, or on other matters. Showing that you care will show others that they should care too, which will show those in power that it matters to the people. Gathering – peacefully – can be very impactful.
But it does not have to be physical action. Discussing topics with family members, questioning their opinions, and trying to shape your own opinions are all small elements that can contribute to the greater whole.
Stay Hopeful
Staying motivated and keeping an optimistic mindset helps you and others as well. The situation is never only bad or good, there are layers to it – something that needs to be remembered in the current world. Try to see the positive and hope-invoking actions that happen all around you. There is never a shadow without any light.
Try to do your part so that the fragile democracies that we currently have can be protected and stabilised again.
Here are some more suggestions that you can have a read through and be inspired by:
Image Citation:
Peaceful Protesting. Digital Image. Dawn. May 22, 2012. https://www.dawn.com/news/720434/showing-solidarity-with-yemni-journalist
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