Citizen Participation in Government
...their nation. People play a vital role in democratic politics, be it through voting or running for office. Democracy is also a form of government in which public actions such as rallies or petitions can make a difference in swaying government policy. At every step of the process, there is a point where the average democratic citizen can try and make a difference, no matter what their belief, religion etc. Citizen participation in authoritarian styles of government is seen as a generally fruitless endeavour. Although many dictators will make every effort to involve the population through elections and plebiscites, these apparent forms of population involvement tend to be facades intended to give the population a sense of control. The only real direction the population provides for a dictator is the initial demand for change, as evident in Hitler’s Germany. The need for more jobs and a stronger economy opened a window for someone...